Adding Christmas Light control to CQC with Lutron HW8

[avtexan]

I am wanting to add (5) locations of indoor Christmas lights to my CQC system. All I need to do is turn these on / off and have them turn on / off at a set time. The rest of my lights are on the Lutron system and are working well with CQC.

I was think of something like the Insteon On/Off Module with the ISY-994 controller. Is this overkill or is their a simpler solution?

Thanks!

Ron

[jkmonroe]

that seems like overkill, but i think it's probably your only automated solution re: CQC. but if you're set on something like the ISY, just grab the Z-Wave version and use the super inexpensive z-wave modules.

or maybe check out something that isn't integrated like Wemo, use their app for control, and IFTTT for timers. if you really want them in cqc, you can use the IFTTT Maker channel to trigger to/from CQC

[Shaky]

It is a bit overkill, I do that as well so you would not be alone. I'm not aware of a much cheaper way (other than manual timers), but I had an insteon setup before doing xmas lights already. I just can't justify the cost to pack appliancelincs away for most of the year so automate some of the lamps around the house with the excess equipment when we're in non-xmas mode.

Something to note. I use a couple lamp dimmer modules and on our LED lights they have a faint glow even when the module is off. So a little current is still flowing due to their design. Z-wave might be the same but not sure.

[IVB]

If you have an elk, you could do a relay-in-box concept. I bought one, but our lights aren't up yet. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LES...detailpage is the item.

IIRC, you run a low power power source via an Elk relay, through the LV wires in the RIB. It then turns the HV power on/off.

Its only $16, but requires you to have an Elk (or other relay mechanism to turn low voltage on/off from within CQC).

[Dean Roddey]

You could pick up a Carl's electronics box, or I guess one of the newer Global Cache devices that works with the GC-100 driver, the version that just provides relays.

[avtexan]

I don't have an ELK but I have a HAI Omni PRO II. I guess as another option I could run the Leviton VRCOP into the HAI panel which is already working nicely on CQC.

I guess to add some value I could use zwave or insteon to add outdoor motion sensors to trigger lights and add water detection sensors.

Is there any advantage of the VRCOP / HAI combo vs the ISY994iZ in the CQC world?

[ControlFreak]

I have lutron HWQS. I have a few outlets that are on the Lutron system that I use for xmas lights. We only have the lights up for December, but I have timers in Lutron to turn on from sunset until midnight.

I use the appliance module to control AV power strip in media room since I don't have a lutron controlled outlet there. It works very well. It receives wireless control from lutron (assuming you have wireless capability).
http://www.lutron.com/en-US/Products/Pag...rview.aspx
You could use it for xmas lights, but if you need multiple for far flung outlets it will get expensive fast.

If you want to add controllability to multiple outlets, I see lutron has this product.
http://www.lutron.com/TechnicalDocumentL...672485.pdf

And you can google: lutron control outlet
for these and other results.

[avtexan]

I have lutron HWQS. I have a few outlets that are on the Lutron system that I use for xmas lights. We only have the lights up for December, but I have timers in Lutron to turn on from sunset until midnight.

I use the appliance module to control AV power strip in media room since I don't have a lutron controlled outlet there. It works very well. It receives wireless control from lutron (assuming you have wireless capability).
http://www.lutron.com/en-US/Products/Pag...rview.aspx
You could use it for xmas lights, but if you need multiple for far flung outlets it will get expensive fast.

If you want to add controllability to multiple outlets, I see lutron has this product.
http://www.lutron.com/TechnicalDocumentL...672485.pdf

And you can google: lutron control outlet
for these and other results.

I did look at the Lutron appliance module. I am not on HWQS. I have the older HW8 system and would use the HR-REP-120 repeater. This is not compatible with the new RF gear...bummer.

[avtexan]

I had another thought for my Christmas lights. I already have a switched outlet that is hooked to my Lutron system where the tree is located. This outlet is on CQC already and works fine. Is there a device that I could plug into this outlet that would trigger (4) lamp modules when it was powerd up?

This was close but it is looking for a load on itself not a load to itself. Not sure how it would function when it was turned off and on.

http://cache-m2.smarthome.com/manuals/24...212015.pdf

Ideas?

[jkmonroe]

you mean remote modules?

like, when i power on this outlet, turn these other 4 on as well?

couldn't you just do that directly within CQC with a triggered event on that outlet status?

doesn't solve your problem of the 4 extra modules, though.