Re: how to fit x10 switches in a gangbox

["Armond Perretta" <newsgroupreader@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Robert Green wrote:
> Armond Perretta wrote
>
>> ...Since my next move is to the crematorium
>> I am not immediately concerned.
>
> Having spent some summers nearby in Harvey Cedars you might find
> Mother Nature has other plans.  If the scientists are right, there
> are going to be lots more Cat 5 hurricanes like Katrina and offshore
> islands like Long Beach Island seem to be among their favorite foods!
> It's certainly changed my long-term retirement plans.
>
> I'm expecting that insurers may make living in the hurricane belt a
> very expensive proposition.  Only people who can afford the premiums
> or can self-insure are going to be able to rebuild.  I think
> Katrina's going to change the very nature of beautiful but risky
> living, at least for some people.  For others, it's going to mean
> they have more beachfront to themselves, even if the beachfront moves
> inland every decade or two.
>
> After thinking it over, I'm heading for the mountains when I retire.
> Of course, that limits the amount of sailing I can do on a daily
> basis.  I must admit that Long Beach Island is remarkably beautiful.
> <nostalgia attack>  I can remember deep blue skies, giant puffy
> clouds, the sound of the surf, the smell of the salt air . . .
> Where's my Jan and Dean "Surf City" 45RPM?
>
> As for fitting X-10 switches into a shallow gangbox, you've hit on the
> eternal "how do you fit 10 pounds of *stuff* into a 5 pound sack?"
> I've been able to get around that problem by using X-10's ultra-thin
> "Sticka" switches to operate one in-line module and a number of lamp
> and appliance modules.  The switches are of horrible quality
> (sometimes taking two or three presses to activate) but they allow me
> to turn off 4 sets of lights standing in one spot.
>
> Installing X-10 switches to do the same would cost me at least $400 in
> electrician time and dry wall repair.  Since we're not staying here
> much longer, it seems better to make do with a switch that's used
> twice a day than to rip out walls and wires.  Worse, still, this is
> very old wiring and highly unforgiving of being buffeted around.  A
> simple switch replacement can easily turn into big trouble if an old
> wire breaks.
>
> Your situation is different.  I think there's a series of Leviton
> faceplate switches that might work if you used in-line modules or
> lamp modules (that can be made into in-line modules by cutting an
> extension cord in half).  I don't know if it would help to have to
> install only one X-10 type controller per wall gang, or even if the
> Leviton series take up more room that stock X-10 devices, but it's
> something to consider:
>
> http://www.asihome.com/ASIshop/product_info.php?products_id=1305

Thanks for the heads up.  BTW, the name of my boat is "Kerry Deare of
Barnegat."  That's not _my_ name, nor is it where I live, but I found your
comments interesting and helpful anyway.

--
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://home.comcast.net/~kerrydeare