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Author Topic: Need help building a sunrise/sunset replicator  (Read 4706 times)

bob

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Need help building a sunrise/sunset replicator
« on: January 12, 2006, 01:29:43 PM »

I have a room that I want the overhead lights
(75 watt lightbulbs) to replicate the sunrise
and sunset.  Meaning, at 6 am the lights will
very slowly start turning on and over the
course of an hour or so go to full
brightness.  Then at 6 pm they will start,
very slowly, turning off.  I want to use the
light socket adapter as the overhead lights
are hardwired into our home.  So, if I could
get the firecracker kit and the screw in
light socket controller, could I accomplish
this?  Thanks!

Bob
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ron

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Re: Need help building a sunrise/sunset replicator
« Reply #1 on: January 12, 2006, 04:15:06 PM »

Of course!  Just make sure the switches that
originally controlled the lights remain on
else you will loose the coding in the Socket
Rocket.

I'm an X10 user from when they were brown and
labled BSR.

I'm looking for a wireless wall switch that
looks, feels, and works like an ordinary wall
light switch, only can be fastened flat
against the wall almost anywhere - one that
anyone will use without hesitation.  Have you
seen one?
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ivan

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Re: Need help building a sunrise/sunset replicator
« Reply #2 on: January 12, 2006, 08:21:07 PM »

The Socket Rocket is Not Dimmable
you ned to better use the wall Switch WS67
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Charles Sullivan

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    • HEYU - X10 Automation for Linux, Unix, and Mac OSX
Re: Need help building a sunrise/sunset replicator
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2006, 11:09:50 AM »

Bob,
The Firecracker kit will not do what you
want.  For one thing, the Xfire software
supplied for it as a free download just
emulates a PalmPad remote on the PC screen -
there's no feature for programming specific
ON/OFF times.

As Ivan points out, the LM15A SocketRocket is
not dimmable, but understand that a standard
X10 lamp module or wall switch (WS467) cannot
be gradually brightened from the OFF state -
the first brighten or dim signal it receives
will bring it to the fully ON state.  You can
dim it to darkness and brighten from there so
long as nobody inadvertantly turns it OFF in
the meanwhile.

Your best bet is one of the SwitchLinc or
LampLinc wall switches from Smarthome (www.
smarthome.com) which can be programmed for a
gradual rise/fall when turned ON/OFF via X10
signals.  And then you'll need something to
send the ON/OFF signals at 6PM/6AM.  The X10
MT10A Mini-Timer is probably the least
expensive transmitter for this job, but there
are other solutions if you want computer
control.
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Yesterday it worked.
Today it doesn't work.
X10 on Windows is like that.

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