[BB_Mike]

Hello all,


I'm trying to plan ahead as much possible on my home theater, and would very much like to intergrate my Home Automation asperations into the overall scheme of thing. I have yet to purchase an all-in-one remote.


1.)Companies have remote controlled lights and fans (and even A/C).


2.)Companies have user-programmable remote controls (Harmony, etc).



So, can these all-in-one remotes be set up to "learn" from the remote emitters of the home automation. I doubt very much that you can find the discretes for the home automation part? Does any company offer a moderately priced kit for the do-it-yourself installer?


If you don't have any direct answers or web links, perhaps you can give some other words besides "Home Automation". I'm not having much luck with searching (both here and Yahoo), unless it's some $10,000 setup for my beach front retirement home (which is make believe).


EDIT-

I did just see one post on light dimmers, but it didn't describe much about the IR dimmer. Can it still be manually controlled? Is there a wattage limittation?

go here...
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...ghlight=lights

 

[krooooog]

X10 X10 X10. Inexpensive, easy to use, and no wiring required.

www.x10.com


X10 items are controlled by RF signals that are then transmitted over electric wiring. There is a product called the IR543 (or IR543AH) that can convert IR to X10 codes. There are discrete IR codes for X10 equipment. I use a Pronto Neo to transmit IR signals to my IR543 which in turn transmits the signals over the power lines to tun lights on and off. There are IR switches and dimmers available at places like Home Depot, but these require line-of-sight from your remote. This could be a problem if your equipment or switches are at the back of your room. X10 also sells...

-Lamp modules that you can plug a standard light into and are dimmable

-Appliance modules for higher power items and flourescents

-Bulb modules that screw into a standard light bulb socket

-switches and Dimmers

-and lots more.


Check out the x10 forum at www.remotecentral.com

 

[The Robman]

I totally 2nd the recommendation for X10, I use it myself with the IR543 that was mentioned. Most good universal remotes have a code for X10 built in, so that shouldn't be an issue either.


Check the sticky threads at the top of the following forum for some tips and more useful links:
http://www.hifi-remote.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=15

 

[BB_Mike]

WOW! Thanks guys.


The X10 website is a bit hard on the eyes. Looks more like they are selling circus accesories.

 

[The Robman]

The official X10 web site truely sucks, and another reason you want to avoid their site is that they have a habit of installing pop-up ads on your local PC. Stick with all the fan based X10 sites and the various home automation sites (such as smarthome.com and homeautomationnet.com) and you'll be fine.

 

[JHallman]

Most of the learning remotes can learn the codes from other remotes that control all the devices you mentioned. I have a TSU3000 pronto which replaces about 5 remote for receiver, projector, lights, screen, and soon curtains. The additional thing that these universal remotes can do is allow you to program macros. This lets you have a single ON and OFF command or the DVD Play and Pause will also dim or brighten your lights as well.

RemoteCentral.com has a lot of info on remote and codes.


Check out the Lutron Spacer dimmers for IR controlable dimmers. They also work without the remote at the switch plate. They are very easy to install into existing wiring. They have a basic model (SP) and a 4 scene model (SPS). Wattages are 600 or 1000. They have several types depending on type of lighting that you are controlling.