Hopefully this is an easily solveable question.

I have a desk lamp that I would like to be able to switch on and off using my Pronto.

I have seen remote controlled devices that plug into the mains socket, then the lamp plugs into the device. However, I think all the ones I have seen use RF signals.

I've also seen remote controlled bulb holders that go into an existing lamp, then the bulb goes into the new holder

I've searched the forums and found stuff about X10 which is beyond my understanding, so my question is, is there any device that I can just plug my existing desk lamp into so I can control it with my pronto???

If not are there any ifra red controlled desk lamps available anywhere (pref UK) that could be controlled by a pronto???

Any help would be much appreciated!!!

How about the clapper?

Just claps your hands, and it will turn on and off the lamp. No pronto needed......




Just kidding, but the best one to get is the x-10.

It does use rf, however, there is a x-10 device which can read the ir from the pronto. And retransmits it rf. So you would need to buy two things. The swtich for the lamp. And the ir to rf.

Rob

Rob, X10 does not use RF. X10 is it's own signal that runs over electrical wires.

There are X10 controllers that do RF to X10, and there are X10 controllers that do IR to X10.

What lowres needs is an X10 Lamp Module and an IR to X10 controller (the IR543 ??)

It's the Remotes that X-10 supplies that are RF, they send an RF signal to a plug-in module that converts the RF to X-10 Line Code.

For Ir, you need either the IR543 (one House Code) or the IR543AH (all 16 House COdes).

X-10 can control just about anything in your home, but it can easily become confusing trying to figure out which of the MANY Modules (and variants of each) that you need to do what you want.

For this situation, the easiest solution would be a plug-in lamp module and an IR543, plus one of the X-10 CCFs in the files section.


Or wait for the RF Genie to come along and offer his advice on converting your Pronto to send RF directly.

Well, that X-10 powerline signal happens to be 120KHz which means it's RF. (The FCC defines anything above 9KHz as RF). It gets confusing.


The IR543 is limited to a single housecode. The IR543AH is probably a better choice for anybody contemplating more than a single lamp as it handles all 16 housecodes and can handle Preset Dims (PCS, SwitchLinc) and Extended Dims (X-10, Leviton).

Forget the technobabble

One of these:
[Link: letsautomate.com]
or
[Link: letsautomate.com]

Plus one of these
[Link: letsautomate.com]

Will solve your problem.
You will even be able to dim the lamp with the Pronto

It is X10 again I'm afraid but the site is designed for mortals so is in plain english, in the UK and even sells Prontos and has a link back to Remote central to get the right CCF!

Thanks for all the help, looks like it shouldn't be too difficult to do.

One console and one lamp module will be fine for now and allow me to enlarge my system nice in the future, sounds good to me!!! :o)

Thanks again for the help.

Lowres

After looking at the links JasonB gave me, I have tried to go back to the site but it appears to be down at the moment, are there any other places to get the console and a lamp module (preferably in the UK)???

Annoyingly I didn't make any record of the model numbers so I can't even search for them!!! :o(

Any help much appreciated

Lowres

International ...
From outside the US and Canada and want more information about X10 and how to purchase X10 products in your country? Please e-mail the following with your questions;


Europe: [email protected].

[email protected]

Strange that. it's still down now.

You could try
[Link: simplyautomate.com].

They do the same kind of stuff but I haven't compared prices

If lets automate do come back, I noticed after posting before that they do a combined starter kit of a lamp module and the controller thingy at a lower price. Would seem ideal for what you want.