Remote Controlled Light?

MossRoad · Nov 16, 2001

The X10 signal travels over your home wiring. It shouldn't have any limitations. I have several runs that are over 150' out in my garage. I think the 100' range that you are reading about might be for the remote controls, which us Radio Frequency(RF) to transmit to an X10 module that has an antenna on it.

 MossRoad

JJT · Nov 16, 2001

10 years ago I switched all my outdoor quartz and incandescents to high pressure sodium, dusk to dawn. 70 watts of Sodium provides more light than 1000 watts of quartz, and no big deal to leave on all night. At $75 per fixture and $15/bulb they are not cheap, but the bulbs last ast least 10 years.

MossRoad · Nov 16, 2001

psalisbury,
Maybe I didn't read that right. No wires between the two buildings? Are they on seperate electric meters? If so, X10 won't work. If they are on the same meter, it should work fine. They do sell a signal booster and a bridge for 3 phase systems as well.

 MossRoad

MossRoad · Nov 16, 2001

I don't like to leave my outdoor lights on for two reasons. One, power consumption. Even though it's really cheap, it still uses power. Two, light pollution. My kid has never seen the milkyway from our back yard because you can't see it from the city anymore due to all of the yard lights, street lights, etc... While outdoor lights are almost a must for security, we have many motion sensors that take care of that. X10 motion sensors are really cool. If one goes off, it can trigger all of the other flood lights around the property to go aff as well. It can even trigger a $69.00 camera to go off and start the VCR recording before it trips the lights. That way, the critter or intruder will be caught on video. Cool stuff for cheap. Can't beat it.

 MossRoad

TWINKLE_TOES · Nov 16, 2001

JJT,
High pressure Sodium are great lights for plant growth and outdoor lighting.
70 watts of Sodium provides more light than 1000 watts of quartz
This may be a little optomistic, the following link provides a good comparison of different lighting technologies. It's complete with pictures/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Comparison
Al

JJT · Nov 16, 2001

No light pollution here, my Sodiums are shielded. If we break out the telescope I can always flip the switches off.

It's also nice to always come home to a lighted front yard. We live in the boonies and you never know when a neighbor's going to pop in, no problem, the lights are always on.

MossRoad · Nov 16, 2001

My yard is lighted too, just not when I'm not in it. I pull in the drive, the lights come on. If it's between 5:30 and 6:30pm Mon-Fri, the kitchen and living room lights in the house come on at 50% brightnes to welcome me home. The outdoor lights go off after 10 minutes if there is no motion.

 MossRoad