Re: Porch light by remote question.

[nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Dave Houston)]

bonomi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Robert Bonomi) wrote:

>In article <4279cc4e.10188925@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
>Dave Houston <nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>bonomi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Robert Bonomi) wrote:
>>
>>>In article <3dlhufF6qi04kU1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
>>>Scout Lady <scoutlady@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>>I don't know anything about this x10 stuff. What I want is to be able to
>>>>turn on the porch light with a keychain remote. Do I have to buy a whole
>>>>system or is there something I can buy to just hook up to the porch light?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>Using X-10, you would need to buy three pieces.
>>>  1) an X-10 switch for the porch light.
>>>  2) the key-chain remote
>>>  3) the 'receiver' that goes with the remote.
>>>
>>>Anything else is going to be equally "complex", and almost undoubtedly more
>>>expensive.
>>
>>It's possible to do this using X-10 but without the need for an X-10 wall
>>switch. The X-10 "socket rocket" fits between the existing socket and light
>>bulb and gets it's signals over the powerline from the "receiver".
>>
>>However, you need to make sure there is room for the "socket rocket" and I
>>do not recommend using it with an overhead light as the heat can melt the
>>adhesive used in the socket - bulb & socket can fall out.
>>
>
>With the *limited* space available in most porch-lights...
>*AND* the fact that you cannot turn the 'socket rocket' *on*, unless
>the wall-switch is already on...
>
>It didn't seem worth mentioning.

I got the impression that the need to leave the switch on may be less of a
problem than replacing it for the OP. You can find plates that screw on over
the existing switch that will lock it on or off.