All I want is a 3-way (two light switches) infrared controlled dimmer that can operate my fan & light. (I don't care if both dim the same.)

I don't need all the x-10 virtues and extended capabilities, and I don't want to have to buy a switch and some sort of IR/RF transceiver -- I just want to be able to point my MX500 at the wall and have my lights come on/dim/turn off.

Another possibility would be some sort of infrared socket adapter or controller that I could mount near the light bulb itself... I really just want to be able to dim the thing.. if I need to leave the switches in the wall on all the time, that's ok too.

Any such animals *in use*? (I found something by Leviton, but no-one seems to have any experience with it.)


This message was edited by Allen42 on 03/28/02 12:29.44.

Lutron Spacer System. You cannot control the fan but you can control the light. A three way switch will allow you to turn it on and off and dim from both switch locations and the remote.

Hello, Vantage Control at www.vantagecontrol.com has dimmers & systems that allow you to control the lights however you want.

macktunes,

I can't find a discrete switch on their site that would allow for what I'm after... everything seems to be a "system". I just want a simple IR-controlled dimmer switch.

Can you provide a link to a specific product on their site?

How do you control your fan/light now? Separate switches? How many 3/4 way switches?
What wire/s (# of conductors) is between your switch and fan/light?
Can you get another wire to your fan/light if you have to?
The more info you post the better your answers will be.

John

Two separate 3-way switches are controlling both the fan & light (simultaneously) now. There is the standard 3-wire circuit running between the switches & fan/light assembly.

As for the Vantage, it is in the same league as the Lutron Homeworks or the LiteTouch...Expensive, and NOT a retrofit job. Those are in the 10s of thousands of $$. What you can do is use, as somebody mentioned, a Lutron Spacer dimmer, which you will have to drop a CAT-5 or some other control wire to, in order to get ir to the side of the switch, where the ir sensor it. A more professional way to go, which would be overkill for one light, though, would be to go with a Lutron Grafik Eye panel, which will retro into a 4-gang box, and depending upon choice of model, can control up to 6 circuits, with up to 6 'scenes'. You would also have to drop a wire for control, as with the Spacer. This, however, would give you much more control over a media room system. I am using one in a system to control 1)canlights, 2)pin-spot for coffee table, 3)wall sconces, 4)fiber optic light engine & 6)cove lighting for ceiling cove. That particular controller will retail out at around $1000. Hope this helps.

It sounds like some company or enterprising soul should read this thread. It appears there is an untapped low-priced infrared-controlled 3-way dimming switch market.

Ok, ok.... it might be a very small market.

one of the problems that you are asking for is 3-way and IR controlled at the same time. In order for you to accomplish this, you will have to make the switch a single location dimmer. Both locations cannot perform dimming. This is just because of the properties of electricity, nothing to do with marketing. It is very easy to do this. Companies like Lutron that provide controllable dimmers then prove "accessory switches or dimmers" that fit into the 2nd location. They really do not dim at all, they just allow the user to press the switch and it relays these button presses back to the master dimmer location. To do this cheap, you can use the Lutron Spacer system. However, they have a master control unit that you would have to install. In other words, the location that you choose to make the master dimmer would have to be made into a 2-gang opening. 1-gang for the controller, and the other for the dimmer itself. Then you would have to run a low-voltage wire of some sort from the IR output of the controller to the accessory dimmer. I'm not sure exactly the procedure for making the accesory dimming location work correctly, as I rarely use the Spacer system... but I'm sure that some ingenious installer out there has figured it out.

Another problem you face is the fan. If it is on the same circuit... forget about it. It is not a dimmeable load on the same branch as the light you have... at least not recommended.

You might be forced to get a Lutron Radio RA system where you actually turn the Light into a dimmed lamp outlet.

Your problem is actually quite complex, even though the description of what you want to accomplish is simple.

Sounds like the best bet is to place one (or two) inline module(s) at the fan/light, one lamp module for the light (and if desired, an appliance/flourescent module for the fan).

This is necessary because the fan and light are wired to be switched together, i.e., the fan was installed later on, and the wiring was done without consideration of a fan.

Therefore, the only place the fan and light wiring can be 'split', or separated, is in the box above the fan, or within the fan canopy itself.

When I wire for the possibility of a fan, especially with the light to be 3-way-switched, I wire either for the fan to be always hot or for a fan switch at one of the 3-way locations.

So, you need an inline lamp module ( like a plug-in lamp module, except with wires instead of a plug & socket), a similar non-dimming module for the fan (optional), and an IR-to-X-10 controller.

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com

I think my next attempt might be to use a "remote controlled light bulb" that I found on a web site. It is basically an IR controlled socket. It screws into a socket, and provides it's own socket. It is $20. For the price, I may try to tear it apart and use it inline in the actual lamp assembly of the ceiling fan/light. Then, only the light would be dimmed, and only when turned on at the wall. That's really what I am after.... being able to dim the lights for a movie, and bring them back up when the movie is over without having to stumble around in the dark.

-Allen

I just installed a dimmer switch for a fan/light combo five minutes ago. Rather ironic that i noticed your post. In my situation, I had a single light switch that turned on my fan and lights. They all work as on though. I purchased a remote/dimmer light switch from Radio shack for $20 bucks, a Plug 'n Power wall unit ($15) and a x10 remote I already owned (around $30). Now my lights can be dimmed and powered remotely. also checkout smarthome.com. There's enough gadgets there to set you up for a lifetime of projects.

Along these lines -- I was looking for a similar product to allow me to dim my lights using my Neo.

Have any of you ever had any experience with this IR dimmer I found at SmartHome?

[Link: smarthome.com]

Seems like an inexpensive way to create remote-controlled lighting through my neo, but I'm wondering if it's to cheap to be worthwhile. Any advice on this or any other IR wall switch that can be controlled with a specific code from my remote?

Thanks!

X-10 provides a cheap answer to your problem but 2 problems persist.
1. It does not remember a dim ( where you left the light intensity) and 2. you will have to go back and replace the modules at least every 2-3 years.
Code usually means you have to use the more expensive module ( not the plug in kind) because a plug cannot be hidden in-wall or ceiling. As for smarthome stuff or related product good luck.
Unfortunatly there is no real cheap way other than re-wiring to tackle this problem.
Unless you get the fan onto another line some how and remote switch it using x-10.

What you're asking for really points to an X-10 solution. Just pay careful attention to the installations instructions and you should be fine. I think you can even intall separate modules in the fan canopy to control light and fan. As a bonus with this set up you can add more lighting control later as you become more comfortable with the operation.