gnu@hoptoad.UUCP (03/25/87)
You may need an FCC type-approval to inject a signal into the AC
lines. I have a BSR "home control system" switch which has an FCC reg
number on it, though it also has a radio receiver in it. It's actually
kind of neat -- a remote control has 4 ON buttons and 4 OFF buttons,
and it sends a radio signal to this box which controls one outlet
directly, and transmits control signals via the power lines to up to 3
other switches anywhere in the house. I use it to turn off the lights
while I'm in bed.
Anybody know exactly how these BSR systems work? I know they send a signal
over the AC wires, but what frequency? How is it modulated? What
components are used to send and receive it? The controlled
switches and outlets run about $12 apiece from DAK so it can't be
that complicated. Any custom chips involved, or would it be possible
to build my own circuitry to interface with it (e.g. to allow the BSR
controllers to control a stereo remote control, for example)?
I talked with a Leviton sales rep (they sell the stuff to electrical
contractors, typically for 4x the DAK price, though they have a full
line, not just 4 or 5 things) and he suggested that I just use a
controlled 120V outlet and have it run a relay. At $12 per switch,
plus relays, that could run to quite a bill, not to mention the space
required. The typical remote control has about 20 switches...
--
Copyright 1987 John Gilmore; you can redistribute only if your recipients can.
(This is an effort to bend Stargate to work with Usenet, not against it.)
{sun,ptsfa,lll-crg,ihnp4,ucbvax}!hoptoad!gnu gnu@ingres.berkeley.edu