Hello,

I’m new to the forum and have a pretty basic question.

I just installed a Sony DVD player, receiver and 5:1 surround system. I also just purchased an MX-500 Home Theater Master universal remote.

My question: Is their an inexpensive, IR controlled, 110V power switch I can install for my sub woofer? The sub is the only part of my system that has a manual only switch (which I am constantly forgetting to turn on or off since the rest of the system is now controlled by a macro on my universal remote)

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

You'll need two items. One to switch the power and another to receive the IR from your remote and send the signal to the switch.

First, either a PAM01 2 Pin Appliance Module ($12.25), if your sub has a two-prong plug, or a PAM02 3 Pin Appliance Module ($13.00), if it has a grounded plug.

Then an IR543 IR transceiver ($19.84)

[Link: homeautomationnet.com]

[Link: homeautomationnet.com]

Larry,

Thanks for the reply. I have been doing some research and have a couple of (probably dumb) questions:

Do the PAM 02 or 03 have limits to the current draw they can handle? I need to check the rating on my sub to see what it takes, although I’m sure it’s more than a light bulb.

If I get an X-10 receiver for the sub power and one for the plug in lights in the room can they be independently controlled by the IR543 using the MX-500 remote?

Does only one house code on the IR543 mean it only controls one thing or does it allow control of other devices (second dial)?

Thanks,
Mark

See [Link: homeautomationnet.com] for the current rating of those devices (15 amps).

Each of the 16 housecodes (A through P) has 16 unit codes (1 through 16) for a total of 256 X-10 codes.

I have never used a IR 543 but I think Larry has a URL for a page that compares devices of this type in case you need to control more than 16 devices.

Cheers, Jim.

Yes, the URL of which Jim spoke is [Link: x10.how.to]

Perhaps this is a silly question or one that you've already looked into but... isn't there a switched outlet on your receiver into which you could plug your subwoofer? My Yamaha has two, though I'm sure not all do.

I'd like to thank everyone who responded to my questions, the information was very helpful and complete.

I have checked and my receiver does not have any switched outlets or power control capability.

MM, I don't know why I didn't think of it before, but I've recommended this to someone else here. Sears carries a device that senses current draw and switches on plugged-in equipment. It is called the Craftsman Autoswitch, Sears part # 00924031000. It's normally used to switch on a shop vac when a saw or other tool is turned on.

The only concern is that the receiver alone doesn't draw enough current to activate the device, so you may need to plug a power strip into it, so more than just the receiver draws from the sensing outlet.

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com

Larry,

Sounds interesting. I went to the Sears website and found the unit. I'm wondering if A. As you say, the receiver and DVD player may not draw enough power to turn on the other outlets or B. Will the constant (although small) draw of DVD player and receiver to maintain internal programming fool the switch into staying on all the time. It may be worth the $20 to try. If it didn't work I could always use it in the shop.

Thanks,
Mark

MM, the unit definitely will NOT be triggered by the trickle current. You may have to add more components to the strip. I had to add my sub amps to the sensed load. (I use the device to switch my two amps: 2-ch for mains, 5-ch for center, sides, & rears) I may take mine apart and see if I can increase the sensitivity.

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com

This message was edited by Larry Fine on 01/16/02 00:57.02.

Larry,

The Sears unit did work with my DVD player and receiver in the sensed load outlet, they draw enough together to trip the relay to the accessory outlets. Thanks for the tip, it turned out to be a great solution, although now that I have learned a lot about X-10 technology I'm itching to install something somewhere.

Thanks again,

Mark