Remote control dock lighting

Webbsatwinni · 05-28-2008, 07:53 PM

Thanks for the great information, I will check out the X-10 options as they seem to be the cost effective solution with some range.

Being new to the lake from an owner point of view, we want to make the best use of the house (that means arriving at strange hours) while not being intrusive to anyone else and their lake experience. Being able to control the lights remote will allow after dark landings while not leaving them on for everyone else while we are gone.

Thanks again for the info.

mcdude · 05-29-2008, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Webbsatwinni

.... while not being intrusive to anyone else and their lake experience.....

a refreshing but rare attitude. We need more lake neighbors like you. Many (most) people could give a damn how their actions may affect others and their enjoyment of the lake.

Webbsatwinni · 05-29-2008, 09:33 AM

McDude, thanks for that, we bought at the lake to relax and we assume everyone else wants the same. It does appear that not everyone thinks that way, but the more people that do, the better it will be.

Thanks everyone for the input, I hope to have this completed soon and based on this thread and my research, I will be going down the X-10 road.

gillis10 · 05-29-2008, 02:23 PM

x-10 is a good choice. this site here has alot of it.

http://www.smarthome.com/_/index.aspx

Orion · 05-29-2008, 06:17 PM

...Insteon is better. I've been using X-10 at home and at the lake for at least 15, maybe 20 years now and over that time have encountered all the quirks that can sometimes come with it. Insteon is supposed to provide a much more robust interface because it's two-way and uses a different protocol. It costs more, but may be worth it though I haven't tried it yes since I'm so invested in X-10. If you go with X-10, it's good to stick with the Leviton-branded components since they seem to be more reliable.

Merrymeeting · 05-29-2008, 08:21 PM

I have x-10 throughout my house, and have migrated to Insteon for some devices over the past year (most from Smarthome). I would agree it is more robust. The good news is also that the controlers are compatable with x-10 so I can keep my x10 investments while upgrading as needed to Insteon.

Boston Fireguy · 05-29-2008, 10:48 PM

You could try a Sears single button garage door remote transmitter with a Sears remote light control module. Plug in and hard wired units are available. I've used one on my 300 watt floodlight at my home for years. Relatively inexpensive compared to commercial units. Here's a tip: holding the transmitter under your chin while pushing the transmitter button will increase the range of the transmitter. Works for car alarm/starter remotes also. Try it.

Orion · 05-30-2008, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

I have x-10 throughout my house, and have migrated to Insteon for some devices over the past year (most from Smarthome). I would agree it is more robust. The good news is also that the controlers are compatable with x-10 so I can keep my x10 investments while upgrading as needed to Insteon.

That's true. I'll probably slowly migrate. Have you used any remote controls and tested for any increase in range?

Boston Fireguy · 05-30-2008, 07:00 AM

At one time I installed car alarms and remote starters. When the transmitter batteries would get tired I'd suggest to my customers the trick under the chin. It does work! The body acts as an antenna, increasing the transmitter's range.

Rattler · 05-31-2008, 04:20 PM

I have my dock lights on an X-10 switch and also have installed a X-10 wireless outdoor receiver (it's basically an X-10 receiver in a metal box with an antenna) under my cottage. I keep an X-10 transmitter in my boat and can activate the dock lights from about 200' out. It works great.

I set this up a couple of years ago, buying the components from Smarthome.

I, too, would like to move to Insteon but, unfortunately, have a lot of time and money already invested in X-10.

05-29-2008, 06:17 PM	#5
Orion Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cow Island Posts: 914 Thanks: 602 Thanked 193 Times in 91 Posts	X-10 is good, but... ...Insteon is better. I've been using X-10 at home and at the lake for at least 15, maybe 20 years now and over that time have encountered all the quirks that can sometimes come with it. Insteon is supposed to provide a much more robust interface because it's two-way and uses a different protocol. It costs more, but may be worth it though I haven't tried it yes since I'm so invested in X-10. If you go with X-10, it's good to stick with the Leviton-branded components since they seem to be more reliable.

05-29-2008, 10:48 PM	#7
Boston Fireguy Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sanders Bay/Naples FL/South Shore MA Posts: 43 Thanks: 8 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Remote Dock Light Control You could try a Sears single button garage door remote transmitter with a Sears remote light control module. Plug in and hard wired units are available. I've used one on my 300 watt floodlight at my home for years. Relatively inexpensive compared to commercial units. Here's a tip: holding the transmitter under your chin while pushing the transmitter button will increase the range of the transmitter. Works for car alarm/starter remotes also. Try it.

05-30-2008, 07:00 AM	#9
Boston Fireguy Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sanders Bay/Naples FL/South Shore MA Posts: 43 Thanks: 8 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Better Range At one time I installed car alarms and remote starters. When the transmitter batteries would get tired I'd suggest to my customers the trick under the chin. It does work! The body acts as an antenna, increasing the transmitter's range.

05-28-2008, 07:53 PM	#1
Webbsatwinni Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lebanon Ct and Rattlesnake Island Since 2007 Posts: 610 Thanks: 180 Thanked 137 Times in 72 Posts	Thanks for the great information, I will check out the X-10 options as they seem to be the cost effective solution with some range. Being new to the lake from an owner point of view, we want to make the best use of the house (that means arriving at strange hours) while not being intrusive to anyone else and their lake experience. Being able to control the lights remote will allow after dark landings while not leaving them on for everyone else while we are gone. Thanks again for the info.

05-29-2008, 09:33 AM	#3
Webbsatwinni Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lebanon Ct and Rattlesnake Island Since 2007 Posts: 610 Thanks: 180 Thanked 137 Times in 72 Posts	McDude, thanks for that, we bought at the lake to relax and we assume everyone else wants the same. It does appear that not everyone thinks that way, but the more people that do, the better it will be. Thanks everyone for the input, I hope to have this completed soon and based on this thread and my research, I will be going down the X-10 road.

05-29-2008, 02:23 PM	#4
gillis10 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Middleboro, Ma & Laconia, NH Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	x-10 is a good choice. this site here has alot of it. http://www.smarthome.com/_/index.aspx

05-29-2008, 08:21 PM	#6
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,226 Thanks: 302 Thanked 800 Times in 368 Posts	I have x-10 throughout my house, and have migrated to Insteon for some devices over the past year (most from Smarthome). I would agree it is more robust. The good news is also that the controlers are compatable with x-10 so I can keep my x10 investments while upgrading as needed to Insteon.

05-31-2008, 04:20 PM	#10
Rattler Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 35 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts	I have my dock lights on an X-10 switch and also have installed a X-10 wireless outdoor receiver (it's basically an X-10 receiver in a metal box with an antenna) under my cottage. I keep an X-10 transmitter in my boat and can activate the dock lights from about 200' out. It works great. I set this up a couple of years ago, buying the components from Smarthome. I, too, would like to move to Insteon but, unfortunately, have a lot of time and money already invested in X-10.