If anyone can help I would appreciate it. I am trying to get a customers RF controlled fireplace to be able to be controlled by an IR remote. (MX3000) I know the MX3000 can be RF but it doesn't learn RF. I thought there might be a device that would store an RF frequency and send it out when activated by an IR or RS232 signal. If anyone can help solve problem or give idea please do.

I would suggest using the Xantech CC12 remote IR relay and use the xantech codes on this site to trigger the relay(s). You will find that the fireplace control board will have a set of low voltage contacts to turn it on and off. Skip the RF stuff.

I would just look into replacing the RF receiver with an IR one. I bought some nice IR fireplace remotes and receivers for 33.00 each at Lowe's last year. They were closeout, originally 109.00. They tied into my gas logs great, and I was able to teach the Pronto the codes. I still use the OEM remote mostly though, because it has the built in thermostat... oh well, it's still cool to be able to turn it on with my pronto sometimes.

Mark

Maybe I'm nuts, but I would seriously think about potential Legal issues if you do this. Your talking about integrating and changing the way a FIREPLACE works. WOrse yet, your integrating it into a remote with ZERO security and checks.

If the fireplace causes a fire outside of the fireplace, the first thing thats going to come into question is your modification. It doesnt matter if all you did was integrate into the existing remote somehow.... Its been modified and therefor compromised.

I've integrated several fireplaces into AMX and Crestron systems, but these have Security lock outs, heat sensors, and password protection......

I would never integrate a fireplace into a Pronto or MX based remote..... just seems like trouble waiting....

If the control is located in the firebox, I totally agree with Impaqt. Since any such control will likely burn up, none are likely to be thee, and Impaqt is probably being too conservative.

One of my customers had back to back fireplaces in a huge double living room, with remote-controlled gas logs. I had to work hard and long on the manufacturer to get him to sell the damn things with the electric valve in place at the gas log, but without selling ANY control. Instead, the same two low-voltage wires that would have gone to their RF controller went to two relays (part of a multizone curtain control relay system) that turned the fireplaces on and off. And those were controlled by a Marantz RC5200.

And I can get this stuff if you like. We went for a controller that would turn on and off independently, and would not shift from one state to the other even if power were lost or regained. Imagine what would happen if the fire went out because of a power loss, then people messed with the fireplace, created an unsafe fire condition, then the power came back on and turned on the gas! No, it has to have definite sticky ON and OFF states.

If there were a fire outside the fireplace, it could not be the fault of the wires unless they had been taught to jump out of their place and yank things out of the fireplace. Unlikely, I think.

Too consevative? Maybe.... But I assume you've never been party to a frivilous lawsuit that costed you tons of money.....

WHenever theres a fire... SOMEONE gets blamed... And taken to court.........

Modifying a fireplace is a sure fire(ha! Just notice my Nice pun!) way to get named in that lawsuit.

That is why I did not modify the fireplace. I took the low-voltage wires that ran some forty feet from the fireplace to where they were going to install an RF receiver controlling a relay, and I used an IR receiver controlling a relay instead. And to be sure that no voltage or lack of voltage situation could accidentally turn the flame on or off, I use latching relays so it would take application of a voltage to turn the fire on and application of a voltage to different terminals to turn the fire off. Just as the RF unit would do.

As for the cost of being sued frivolously, that is, sadly, indeed true. Anyone can sue you for anything, and if the suit does not get thrown out, you have to spend to defend. Even if the action is ridiculous.