Re: What can I replace this latching relay system with?

["Steve Wechsler" <swechsler@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Marc_F_Hult wrote:

> I set up a test jig with two INSTEON light switches (didn't have dimmers
> available handily available but this is a test of INSTEON communication,
> not output mode) interconnected using ) two UL-listed Class 2, 24volt,
> 20VA "doorbell"
> transformers  and four 0.22 ufd 250VAC capacitors removed as part of the
> modification of 15amp, X10 PRO filters.
>
> The connection worked without error using both ~200 feet CAT5 and ~200feet
> 22 awg round (untwisted) telephone wire.
>
> I'll post some pictures and a schematic later to
> www.ECOntrol.org/INSTEON0verCAT5.htm )

(not up yet)

Marc, this is a good idea, but unfortunately I don't think I can use
it:

1. The switches are not installed in electric boxes, just frames
generally used for low voltage wiring. While this is not
insurmountable, more serious is that:
2. Doorbell transformers are way too large to fit in a single wall (or
ceiling) box.

I also have one other concern; namely: is there any mechanism in place
preventing high current from being sent over the low voltage wires (if
a short should develop in the switch) and causing it to act like a
heating coil? I'm not an electronics wiz by any stretch of the
imagination, so forgive me if this is me just showing my ignorance.

Someone else also suggested going back to the rotary controllers and
making all the connections there. Unfortunately, this won't work
either: I did some testing yesterday, and it appears that most lights
are NOT connected to these controllers (in fact, the only device that I
know for a fact is connected to that controller is our house fan, which
I'm planning to remove anyway)

So let me state a new question: is there any wireless system that
provides a small inline switching module combined with a wireless
single or dual switch? So far, all I'm seeing is these:

X10 Pro:

http://www.activehomepro.com/accessories/pro/xpdf_wa1_s.html

Insteon:

http://www.smarthome.com/2475d.html

Neither system, however, appears to sell a single stick-anywhere
switch. The X10 4-way would work in a pinch, I suppose, especially
since one of the four is a dimmer and the other two could be programmed
as macros...

Steve