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[tjesser]

I just found out about X-10 yesterday and think it may solve a problem I'm having.  The lights on the outside of my garage are controlled by a switch inside the garage.  I would like to be able to turn them on from inside the house.  Of course I could run a wire to a new switch inside the house but that would be a tremendous effort.  That is where I think X-10 can help.  

My plan is to use the PLW02 product (http://www.x10pro.com/pro/pdf/plw02.pdf).  I would replace the 2-gang box currently in the front hall with a three gang box.  Then I would install the X-10 master switch in the third gang.  I would power it by daisy chaining it (probably not the proper electrical term) from one of the existing switches.  Then I would replace the existing switch in the garage with the skinny X-10 switch.

Did I get the point right of how to use this?  Anything that I'm missing?

I appreciate any and all comments!  Thanks!

Other, perhaps relevant info:
- The outside garage lights are 2 lights with 2 40W bulbs each
- I don't care at all about dimming
- A 3-way switch would be nice, but if I end up with a solution where I can only turn the lights on/off from inside the house, that would be fine.  This is the scenario 99% of the time.

[Brian H]

The master switch in the three way kit has to be directly connected to the load garage light in your case and a traveler wire has to run from the companion switch back to the master. If you don't have any wires between the garage and the house. It will not work.

You maybe able to wire a X10 controller switch inside the house and then use a X10 wall switch in the garage for the lights. That would depend on sending X10 power line commands between the house and the garage.
I will see if I can find part numbers for you.

[nybuck]

The PLW02 switch is for incandescent lights only.  These days, with LED and compact flourescents being the norm, I would suggest the WS13A non-dimming wall switch mounted in the garage.

In order to control it without running wires, you can use either the PHW04D stick-on wireless wall switch or X10 palmpad remote.  Either are battery-powered wireless (radio) transmitters.  They would need to be coupled with a transceiver like a TM751 to put that radio signal onto the power wires (on the same phase) that can communicate with the switch in the garage and turn it on or off. 
Alternatively, there is an X10 desktop "mini controller" MC10A.  It uses household current, sits on a desktop, and would not need a transceiver to control the switch in the garage, as long as it is on the same power phase.

If you have a higher budget, Insteon has switches that install into a wall gang box and run on house current that can transmit to other switches.

Hope that helps!

[Brian H]

Just to point out one thing with Insteon.
Smartlabs is slowly dropping X10 support in their modules. If you are adding it to an X10 system. Read the sales page.
If you are starting new Insteon could be an option.

[tjesser]

Great information!  Thanks so much. 

OK.  I'm going to start over with Insteon devices and see what I come up with.  I may be back with questions... 

[nybuck]

Insteon has some nice stuff 
but not on a budget 

[bkenobi]

You can also install a switch inside the house (in a 3-gang box) that sends it's output on the power line without needing to use a traveler wire.  One example that is still available is the Insteon ToggleLinc.  This switch can control a local load and/or a remote load by sending the command over the power line.  I have a similar switch that is used to control the lights in front of my house by sending a command rather than controlling the load directly (exactly what you are trying to do).  These are a bit pricey, but that's because they are Insteon and not just X10 (they can control either).

http://www.smarthome.com/2466SW/ToggleLinc-Relay-INSTEON-Remote-Control-On-Off-Switch-Non-Dimming-White/p.aspx

The other choice is to install an in-wall transmitter like this:

http://www.x10pro.com/pro/pdf/xpt.pdf

I have one of these installed in another location and use it with a 4-address cover to operate 4 outdoor lights from a single position in a 2-gang box.

Be aware that both of these options require a neutral wire in the box.  If you only have the hot and signal in your box, you are out of luck and will have to go with a transmitter like the stick-a-switch, palm remote, or plug-in controller.