3-way socket replacement?

[wkearney99]

Does anyone make a powerline controllable replacement socket for 3-way
lamps?

As in, yank the current three-way socket off the lamp and replace it with a
controllable socket?

This would seem like a much more intelligent way to deal with local control
of lighting while also allowing remote control. While the wall swtiches
being smart enough to use a trickle to recognize local control there's not a
decent way to overcome a socket itself being turned off.

Also consider that 3-way compact flourescents are available and using them
is desired. These don't 'dim'.

Sure, it's not something the 'average' homeowner might be willing or able to
install. But seeing how the f'ing wall switches (decent ones anyway) are
upwards of $60 it's not like there isn't a demonstrated willingness in the
market to pay 'something' extra for better functionality.

-Bill Kearney

[Mark Thomas]

Why not use a "Socket Rocket"? If you want to get rid of the lamp's
switched socket, you can replace it with an unswitched one. Sounds like
what you really would like is a socket rocket with a local control
pushbutton switch on the side. I'd love to see that!

Those lucky enough to live in a 220V area can use a Marmitek
micromodule. It's small enough to fit in the base of a lamp, plus it
has terminals to wire a momentary pushbutton for local control. You
could run the pushbutton leads with the power wires up the neck of the
lamp and put the pushbutton where the lamp switch normally is. You'd
still need to replace the socket with an unswitched one, but that would
make a lamp that seems like it was designed for X10.

Which brings up a question: why hasn't anyone created a lamp base with
built-in lamp module functionality? I don't think it would be any more
complicated or costly than the dimmable touch-lamps you can buy.
- Mark.

[BruceR]

No need for the 3 way if you use a dimmable Socket Rocket. Just use a
150 watt bulb and dim accordingly. Another option is to use a fixture
module installed in the base of the lamp or, of course, a plug in
module.

From:wkearney99
wkearney99@hotmail.com

> Does anyone make a powerline controllable replacement socket for 3-way
> lamps?
>
> As in, yank the current three-way socket off the lamp and replace it
> with a controllable socket?
>
> This would seem like a much more intelligent way to deal with local
> control of lighting while also allowing remote control. While the
> wall swtiches being smart enough to use a trickle to recognize local
> control there's not a decent way to overcome a socket itself being
> turned off.
>
> Also consider that 3-way compact flourescents are available and using
> them is desired. These don't 'dim'.
>
> Sure, it's not something the 'average' homeowner might be willing or
> able to install. But seeing how the f'ing wall switches (decent ones
> anyway) are upwards of $60 it's not like there isn't a demonstrated
> willingness in the market to pay 'something' extra for better
> functionality.
>
> -Bill Kearney

[wkearney99]

> Why not use a "Socket Rocket"?

Note the "3 way" part of my post.

> If you want to get rid of the lamp's
> switched socket, you can replace it with an unswitched one. Sounds like
> what you really would like is a socket rocket with a local control
> pushbutton switch on the side. I'd love to see that!

Yeah, me too. And three way bulb control so my 3-way compact flourescents
will work.

> Which brings up a question: why hasn't anyone created a lamp base with
> built-in lamp module functionality? I don't think it would be any more
> complicated or costly than the dimmable touch-lamps you can buy.

Economies of scale and liability concerns no doubt. Not enough potential
customers to bank money to fend off the lawsuits and stupidty of customer
that screw up installing it.

[wkearney99]

> No need for the 3 way if you use a dimmable Socket Rocket. Just use a
> 150 watt bulb and dim accordingly.

Which won't work with compact flourescent bulbs.

> Another option is to use a fixture module installed in the base of the
lamp

Which don't offer a switch that's similar to the twist knob on a regular
socket. I could see having a button replacing the knob and pressing it in
sequence (low, med, high, off or 'hold' to go full on or immediate off).

> or, of course, a plug in module.

Which offer no way to control the 3-way part of the bulb.

[BruceR]

Would a dimmable compact flourescent do the trick? Here's one site:
http://www.positive-energy.com/pages/LightingFlourescent2.html

From:wkearney99
wkearney99@hotmail.com

>> No need for the 3 way if you use a dimmable Socket Rocket. Just use
>> a 150 watt bulb and dim accordingly.
>
> Which won't work with compact flourescent bulbs.
>
>> Another option is to use a fixture module installed in the base of
>> the lamp
>
> Which don't offer a switch that's similar to the twist knob on a
> regular socket. I could see having a button replacing the knob and
> pressing it in sequence (low, med, high, off or 'hold' to go full on
> or immediate off).
>
>> or, of course, a plug in module.
>
> Which offer no way to control the 3-way part of the bulb.

[Sylvan Butler]

On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 08:39:41 -0500, wkearney99 <wkearney99@hotmail.com> wrote:
> install. But seeing how the f'ing wall switches (decent ones anyway) are
> upwards of $60 it's not like there isn't a demonstrated willingness in the
> market to pay 'something' extra for better functionality.

But a 3-way is NOT "better functionality". A 3-way is a compromise for
when you are too cheap to have a dimmer.

I think the market for a 3-way X10 socket is so extremely small that
there would be ZERO opportunity to recoup any investment (plastic case,
UL approval, circuit board design and production, etc) to produce a
product, so each unit sold would have to be custom.

If you really want a 3-way X10 socket that is non-dimmable, I'd highly
recommend you make your own. A bit of rewiring, a couple of
fixture-style appliance switches in the lamp base, and you're done.

sdb

--
Wanted: Omnibook 800 & accessories, cheap, working or not
sdbuse1 on mailhost bigfoot.com

[wkearney99]

> But a 3-way is NOT "better functionality". A 3-way is a compromise for
> when you are too cheap to have a dimmer.

Err, hardly a matter of "too cheap". Some folks like dimmers, some don't.
Choice is always good.

> I think the market for...

And you're certainly entitled to your opinion. Answering the question,
however, would have been a bit more helpful.

[Sylvan Butler]

On Thu, 27 Jan 2005 20:20:47 -0500, wkearney99 <wkearney99@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> But a 3-way is NOT "better functionality". A 3-way is a compromise for
>> when you are too cheap to have a dimmer.
>
> Err, hardly a matter of "too cheap". Some folks like dimmers, some don't.
> Choice is always good.

Yup. And a dimmer gives you the choice of three levels just like a
3-way switch, plus many more.

What non-price rational exists for 3 discrete levels of light that is
not functionally identical to a dimmer? Don't forget, some dimmers
allow preset levels, so that isn't a factor.


>> I think the market for...
>
> And you're certainly entitled to your opinion. Answering the question,
> however, would have been a bit more helpful.

And I guess you stopped reading when you saw an opinion you didn't like.
Else you might have seen this:

>>If you really want a 3-way X10 socket that is non-dimmable, I'd highly
>>recommend you make your own. A bit of rewiring, a couple of
>>fixture-style appliance switches in the lamp base, and you're done.

sdb


--
Wanted: Omnibook 800 & accessories, cheap, working or not
sdbuse1 on mailhost bigfoot.com

[wkearney99]

"Sylvan Butler" <ZsdbUse1+noZs_0501@Zbigfoot.Zcom.invalid> wrote in message
> Yup. And a dimmer gives you the choice of three levels just like a
> 3-way switch

Not if the bulb is a three-way. A dimmer won't work. Please, you're
obviously enamored with using dimmers and that's all well and good. Not
everyone shares your perspective. That and the number of available devices
in *dimmable* compact flourescent are limited.