IR mains switch

[[email protected]]

That's what I cannot understand.
People who are doing Homeplug stuff are already running TCP/IP over the
house wiring. How hard can it be to add a chip with a stack and drive a
relay? It seems so obvious its a no-brainer for manufacturers of
HomePlug devices. It would instantly give them a foothold at the center
of a home automation system for very little investment.

Outlets should be no problem. OTOH, switches may be. I don't think you could
do an Ethernet device on the leakage that X-10 uses.

 

[Dirk Bruere at NeoPax]

Outlets should be no problem. OTOH, switches may be. I don't think you could
do an Ethernet device on the leakage that X-10 uses.

You don't need to.
The device would be powered directly from the mains.
Whether it passes through that mains supply depends on the relay

 

[[email protected]]

You don't need to.
The device would be powered directly from the mains.
Whether it passes through that mains supply depends on the relay

The electronics still need power.

 

[Dirk Bruere at NeoPax]

The electronics still need power.

Yes, which it gets from the mains.
Live on one side, relay, live/disconnected on the other depending on
state of relay.

 

[[email protected]]

Yes, which it gets from the mains.
Live on one side, relay, live/disconnected on the other depending on
state of relay.

Once the relay is closed, where's the power? Is leakage through a load enough
to power the electronics? That's the question. What about CFLs and such?

 

[Dirk Bruere at NeoPax]

Once the relay is closed, where's the power? Is leakage through a load enough
to power the electronics? That's the question. What about CFLs and such?

I don't understand.
The electronics is powered from the mains, which is always on.
Whether the mains is allowed out of the socket via the relay depends on
the command.

 

[[email protected]]

I don't understand.
The electronics is powered from the mains, which is always on.

Neutral may not exist in the switch box. It gets more complicated from there,
when 3-way and 4-way are added into the mix.

Whether the mains is allowed out of the socket via the relay depends on
the command.

But the decode takes energy with the relay on or off. Where does it come
from?

 

[Dirk Bruere at NeoPax]

Neutral may not exist in the switch box. It gets more complicated from there,
when 3-way and 4-way are added into the mix.


But the decode takes energy with the relay on or off. Where does it come
from?

The mains!
The unit is permanently powered by the mains.
What is so difficult to understand?

You might as well ask how this is powered:
http://www.solwise.co.uk/images/PL-200AV-piggy-plugged-in.jpg

 

[[email protected]]

The mains!
The unit is permanently powered by the mains.
What is so difficult to understand?

I don't know. You're not getting it.

I thought you were replacing switches, too. X-10 does that. It would be
difficult for your scheme to replace it.

You might as well ask how this is powered:
http://www.solwise.co.uk/images/PL-200AV-piggy-plugged-in.jpg

*THAT* part is easy. Now replace wall switches.

 

[Jasen Betts]

I don't know. You're not getting it.

I thought you were replacing switches, too. X-10 does that. It would be
difficult for your scheme to replace it.

If there's no live and neutral at the switch do it at the lamp socket.
where there will be.

two way seems harder but needn't be, use the existing switches to
command the control module, (not to swith the lamp current).

 

[[email protected]]

If there's no live and neutral at the switch do it at the lamp socket.
where there will be.

Now what happens if there is no hot at the fixture? Again, now you have tens,
of not hundreds, more different fixtures.

two way seems harder but needn't be, use the existing switches to
command the control module, (not to swith the lamp current).

Again, *all* combinations have to be workable. Not a different module for
each. While X-10s signaling was junk, some aspects are rather impressive.

 

[[email protected]]

You do not need to replace the wall switch if the plugin box has a relay
to the final plug. The mains to the box is always switched on

That would be really handy for ceiling fixtures. You obviously haven't
thought this through. X-10 did. Even though it's junk in many ways, it is
one reason X-10 has lasted 30 years.

 

[josephkk]

Not really, because it has not got to look out of place here:
http://cyfi.uk.com/images/interior_3.jpg

So some big ugly box with power leads and an ethernet cable running
everywhere is right out.
Each of those speakers must connect to the mains through the net switch,
which must either be invisible or look like a wall wart

I see your point, two paperback sized boxes for every load wouldn't cut
it. You may have to make your own.

?-)

 

[Dirk Bruere at NeoPax]

I see your point, two paperback sized boxes for every load wouldn't cut
it. You may have to make your own.

?-)

That's an entire business on its own

 

[josephkk]

That's an entire business on its own

At _any_ volume, there is always the build or buy decision. If you just
cannot find what you want you may have to have it custom built (very high
priced buy). Your choice.

?-)