2

I am looking to buy a remotely controlled light switch. What options are there? I do not want companies or brands or models or whatever. I am looking to buy light switches from which I can build my own personal controlling system. What types exist? Which are wired and which are wireless?

EDIT, with more info on what I mean When I said I don't want brands or models I mean I do not people to my shopping. If you have an answer that also includes a brand or model it's ok. I put that part in my question so as to prevent brand-only answers. Now for the usage. For now I am trying to create a wall panel that will control the lights of my house, either wirelessly or wired, I do not know. In the future it might lead to home automation. But for now I just need to control them remotely. I just do not know from where to start.

Kate Gregory
  • 1,439
  • 2
  • 16
  • 21
John Demetriou
  • 360
  • 4
  • 16

2 Answers2

2

I've seen every type of "home automation light switch" system, but they all require some sort of "hub" by a company. Some communicate wirelessly and others do not. They also have varying levels of security.

Random home switch by company that requires a hub

If you are still against a hub, there is one more option you have:

Solid State Relay

Solid state relays. You can wire them inline before all your lights, then put an arduino with it. Example: http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Controlled-Relay-Box/?ALLSTEPS

However you will not have physical switches any more- you will need to replace them all with some sort of momentary switch which ties into the arduino and relays.

DarthCaniac
  • 1,398
  • 8
  • 17
0

Your kind of looking at brands as there is no universal protocol.

The cheapest is probably x-10 which uses a very unreliable signal thru the house wiring.

Beyond that google around insteon vs. zigbee vs. z-wave vs. upb for a flavor of option$

fred
  • 1
  • 1