Back in the day...like 1980, my dad had these light switches with little code address dials on them.   You set a unique address and then there were these little base station deals that you could configure a button on it to turn on any particular code.   There was also an "all on" and "all off" button on the remote control. 

 

Press all on, and our farmhouse would light up like Shawshank prison looking for Andy Dufrene.

 

Pretty sure it's called X-10.   Most of which leak and don't play well with LEDs.

 

I would like to have something like that for the master bedroom.

 

There are all sort of "smart" wifi enabled switches out there but they all rely on a phone app.  I want a remote of some sort that I can press a button and turn on all my outside lights.

 

I don't care one way or another if it's wifi, although that would be nice when we're pulling up and it's dark, but it's not really the main issue.

 

I want a remote that plugs in the wall and has a 1 button, all on switch.  We have 3 different light switches to get 100% outside lights on and they aren't next to each other.

 

Thoughts?

Just looked up on amazon and there seem to be these "auxiliary" switches that will work with one master switch remotely. .

 

https://www.amazon.com/45610WB-Z-Wave-Add-Auxiliary-Switch/dp/B0080G4OJO

Just about every light I have, switches, etc that control anything important is running in my house. Yes, they were X-10 and I finally got rid of the last 2 month or so ago. They suck in old houses especially and in order to get them working most of the time, I had to put a phase coupler on the breaker panel.

 

Now I'm using a few different brands. It all started with me replacing all my lights with leds. Then I got the Amazon Echo. That led me to Philips Hue, Wink and Wemo.

Hue bulbs are not the cheapest but there are other brands that work with it. Same thing with Wink and Wemo. You also have Smartthings but I found them to be more expensive. Best bet is get a Hue starter package and see how far you want to go. It doesn't take much to go crazy with this stuff. Its addicting.

 

So far, my thermostat, fan, many lights, 2 Amazon Echo devices, switches and Lord knows what I forgot to mention. It can sense me if I want when I walk in, some devices have geo fencing if you are into that. But the most common piece you will need is a Hub that talks to everything. I even have a color hue Bloom they call it that simulates sunrise and sunset.

 

 

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I believe lutron is making smart switches now. Same as above, need a hub

Hmm...I don't mind having a hub.   I saw that GE Z-Wave thing, but I didn't see a base station for it.

 

Echo would be nice I suppose, but I can't really see using it much.  I do have prime, but not sure I want a listening device in my house.

 

I don't really want bulbs...I have awesome outdoor LED fixtures that are frickin amazing.  I'll be happy just swapping out some switches.

 

I'll have to check into Lutron.   I was hoping someone had direct positive experience with a particular brand or something.

I had X10, still have a few older plug--in modules and controllers in one room. As above, they weren't the most reliable, depending on your home wiring. They used the wiring for all signals and things like surge protectors could swallow the signals.

 

There are a few newer competing products that have replaced x10. Insteon, zWave, zigbee. These are all dual-band so they use the home wiring and RF to communicate. There isn't much integration between products tho. An Insteon hub can talk to Wimo/zWave devices.

 

I have the Insteon hub and a few plugin modules and remotes. It works well and programming can all be done from the app.

 

 

 

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If your looking to replace switches check how the current one is wired. Most home automation switches need a neutral wire in the box. At least the ones I looked at from Insteon and Wink did. Most of my switches were wired on switch legs and only have Line/Load wires, no neutral.

 

My wife bought me a Wink Relay which looks really awesome but I can't find anywhere to wire it in without rerunning a wire.

 

 

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I use Lutron switches wth a Caseta hub. Work great.

Wemo switches have wifi built in. Don't need a hub.

I would go with whats popular and work with other devices in case you get carried away like I did.

Forgot to mention, if you have the new Harmony TV remote, it can control certain devices

 

Just use app to set up and use.

 

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We have had good luck using the Lutron system, which has had regular upgrades over the years and specify them on most of our higher end residential projects.
Here are some links to their web site that may be of help:

 

http://www.lutron.com/en-US/Residential-Commercial-Solutions/Pages/Residential-Solutions/SingleRoomSolutions.aspx

 

http://www.lutron.com/en-US/Residential-Commercial-Solutions/Pages/Residential-Solutions/WholeHomeSolutions.aspx

Jeez, I gotta get out more, I'm still in awe of The Clapper.....

Jeez, I gotta get out more, I'm still in awe of The Clapper.....

 

Don't own a dog if you have a clapper.    It turns into disco night when someone comes to the door.

After looking at everyone's suggestions here and elsewhere...seems to me that Lutron is the most reliable.   Now I just have to figure out what the hell I need.   One of my outside lights is a single gang, one is on a 2 gang, one is on a 3 gang, so I need combo plates.  I'm pretty sure I have neutrals everywhere, so I can use the cheaper switches and I need 3 of those.   I'll need a hub and a remote, I think. heh.  There's probably something I'm missing.  Looks like all in, this will cost about 350 bucks.  ouch.   If Trump wins, maybe I can sell a gun.

Depends how configurable you want your system to me. If you want easy to do simple things go Wemo. If you want to be able to run sophisticated things, build an alram system etc. Go with a z-Wave system like Vera.

I will most likely go with lutron. But that is very far down the list on this shoemaker shoes.

I spoke my peace already because I've gone through the trials and tribulations as far as experience. I have a lot of smart devices in my home doing all sorts of things. I've done extensive reading and research on the most popular brands.

 

So I'll just say one thing. I cannot reiterate it enough.

 

Go with something you can expand on outside the brand. It is very easy to get carried away with this project. As you can tell, I went crazy with it. Its fun and using leds and smart devices saves you money over time. But going with one brand that will not expand outside of itself could end up being a waste. Quite a few devices use zwave tech or ecobee. Some are not compatible with others. Others are standalone that use just wifi or wifi hubs. The Belkin Wemo are self contained wifi. There are certain hubs that work with other brands. Take it all into consideration.

 

You've been forewarned.

 

 

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Go with something you can expand on outside the brand. It is very easy to get carried away with this project. As you can tell, I went crazy with it. Its fun and using leds and smart devices saves you money over time. But going with one brand that will not expand outside of itself could end up being a waste. Quite a few devices use zwave tech or ecobee. Some are not compatible with others. Others are standalone that use just wifi or wifi hubs. The Belkin Wemo are self contained wifi. There are certain hubs that work with other brands. Take it all into consideration.

 

You've been forewarned.

 

 

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This. While I've been happy with the Insteon/SmartHome stuff, they don't interoperate with other devices or protocols. If I had it to do over I'd probably pick something else.

 

That and the fact that my house wasn't wired wth neutral wires on the switch legs really aggregates me.

 

 

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This. While I've been happy with the Insteon/SmartHome stuff, they don't interoperate with other devices or protocols. If I had it to do over I'd probably pick something else.

 

That and the fact that my house wasn't wired wth neutral wires on the switch legs really aggregates me.

 

 

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Yep, forgot to mention the 3 wire issue. When I had all the knob and tube replaced, I made sure 3-wire was used. I still run into 2 wire bx here and there, but don't care about those lines anyway. So yes, make sure you have 3-wire for hard wiring, OR, go self contained bulbs or plug in switches. Not much of a choice otherwise. Newer houses should be ok I'd think.

 

Thanks Voy for bringing that up.

 

 

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Yep, forgot to mention the 3 wire issue. When I had all the knob and tube replaced, I made sure 3-wire was used. I still run into 2 wire bx here and there, but don't care about those lines anyway. So yes, make sure you have 3-wire for hard wiring, OR, go self contained bulbs or plug in switches. Not much of a choice otherwise. Newer houses should be ok I'd think.

 

Thanks Voy for bringing that up.

 

 

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My house is 300 years old. I tried to use X10 on the oil lamps but that didn't go well. House was wired, but before 2007 when the code was changed to require 3-wire.

 

All the HA folks have hardwired options for 2-wire but they require incandescent bulbs and don't always work with LED bulbs.

 

I would t hardware HA into a general outlet anyway since you never know what could get plugged in. One vacuum could fry the switch.

 

 

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