Dimmable Outdoor Receptacle

[GreyFox]

I have some dimmable LED string lighting which I have put up on my patio. I would like to be able to control it with my ISY994i. Does anybody make an outdoor receptacle adapter that will do this? If such a device exists, is there any chance it can be controlled by motion detection as well?

[lilyoyo1]

55 minutes ago, GreyFox said:

I have some dimmable LED string lighting which I have put up on my patio. I would like to be able to control it with my ISY994i. Does anybody make an outdoor receptacle adapter that will do this? If such a device exists, is there any chance it can be controlled by motion detection as well?

If you have zwave, you can add a zwave outdoor plug-in adapter. Ditto for a motion sensor as well if you want motion control. Google zwave outdoor motion sensor and outdoor plug in module and they'll show up. 

If you want insteon, you'll have to go to eBay. They do not have a dimmable outdoor unit though have a dimmable receptacle (not outdoor rated)

Unfortunately I'm not aware of any that are dimmable 

Edited August 31, 2022 by lilyoyo1

[GreyFox]

lilyoyo1, thanks for the reply.

It looks like these devices require a z wave hub as well. I presently have a significant control system based upon Insteon and controlled by an ISY994i. As we all know, Insteon as we knew it is no more. I really don't want to replace all of my Insteon gear.

If I am using the ISY, will it manage the z wave without the need for a hub?

[lilyoyo1]

56 minutes ago, GreyFox said:

lilyoyo1, thanks for the reply.

It looks like these devices require a z wave hub as well. I presently have a significant control system based upon Insteon and controlled by an ISY994i. As we all know, Insteon as we knew it is no more. I really don't want to replace all of my Insteon gear.

If I am using the ISY, will it manage the z wave without the need for a hub?

It will. That's why I mentioned it. You would need to add the zwave board to the Isy

Your only other option based on what you stated would be eBay 

Edited August 31, 2022 by lilyoyo1

[MrBill]

If you can intercept the line feeding the outdoor outlet you could use an insteon dimming switch and locate it indoors.  Technically you're not supposed to dim outlets.  At my son's house an outlet was installed at the gutter line just for string lights and it's controlled by an insteon dimming switch mounted high on the wall in the 2nd floor laundry room, the switch was mounted at 6 feet so that people that didn't know its purpose wouldn't try to use it.

[jec6613]

On 8/31/2022 at 11:49 AM, lilyoyo1 said:

If you want insteon, you'll have to go to eBay. They do not have a dimmable outdoor unit though have a dimmable receptacle (not outdoor rated)

You can enclose it to make it outdoor rated.

Another option would be one of the Z-Wave or Insteon micro dimmer modules - though this runs into the, "You're dimming a receptacle and that's not at all to code," problem, so remember to rip it out if you ever sell the house.

[lilyoyo1]

3 hours ago, jec6613 said:

You can enclose it to make it outdoor rated.

Another option would be one of the Z-Wave or Insteon micro dimmer modules - though this runs into the, "You're dimming a receptacle and that's not at all to code," problem, so remember to rip it out if you ever sell the house.

Yes, you can enclose it. However, the dimmer module isn't as hardy as the outdoor module. Depending on where the op lives, humidity and temp will make it a short lived install. 

Op also didn't have zwave and stated he has no desire to use it.

For the op- I'd recommend against using any embedded dimming device in an outdoor outlet. I say this because an embedded device will make both outlets dimmable. Even still, with it being outdoors, it's too easy for someone to plug something in thats incompatible. There have been enough confirmed reports of people having fires with insteon dimmer devices and while controlling incompatible devices that the risk isn't worth it. At the end of the day, it is your house so you have to weigh the pros and cons of this approach as liability would fall on you and insurance probably wouldn't cover.

Edited September 4, 2022 by lilyoyo1

[Brian H]

I agree. A dimmer controlling an outlet is a bad idea and against the electrical code. One wrong load connected and you may have sparks or failure of the device or connected device.

[jec6613]

On 9/4/2022 at 2:28 PM, lilyoyo1 said:

I say this because an embedded device will make both outlets dimmable.

A pair of diagonal cutters fixes that post haste - you can run each socket on a different input no problem.

[lilyoyo1]

57 minutes ago, jec6613 said:

A pair of diagonal cutters fixes that post haste - you can run each socket on a different input no problem.

Regardless, it's still a huge fire risk. Outdoor outlets are not as controlled the way indoor outlets can be. Even indoors, it's still a huge risk with an embedded dimmable device where no one would know its there in addition to no safety controls in place for accidently use. 

There are a multitude of posts on here where people have used dimmers with incompatible loads and had close calls with fires. 

It's the ops house so he has to make that determination whether it's worth it or not but due to location and situation, it does set him up to lose his home to a fire

Edited September 6, 2022 by lilyoyo1

[larryllix]

A pair of diagonal cutters fixes that post haste - you can run each socket on a different input no problem.

You would require a three wire cable a d the bare ground doesn't count.

Dimmable receptacles are a bad idea and I doubt you will ever find one in upper North America.

Sent from my SM-G781W using Tapatalk

[jec6613]

7 hours ago, lilyoyo1 said:

Regardless, it's still a huge fire risk. Outdoor outlets are not as controlled the way indoor outlets can be. Even indoors, it's still a huge risk with an embedded dimmable device where no one would know its there in addition to no safety controls in place for accidently use. 

There are a multitude of posts on here where people have used dimmers with incompatible loads and had close calls with fires. 

It's the ops house so he has to make that determination whether it's worth it or not but due to location and situation, it does set him up to lose his home to a fire

I agree, it's not a good idea, just one that is technically possible.  People also use male-to-male extension cords for Christmas lights ... just don't do it in the house next door to me.

6 hours ago, larryllix said:

You would require a three wire cable a d the bare ground doesn't count.

As long as you have constant power to the receptacle you can put it in the same box as the outlet, then there's no need for the 3 wire cable, just a few inches of pigtail.  If your home uses some of the non-standard outlet shapes, it's a great trick to Insteon or Z-Wave enable them, and is also what many of our friends overseas do in order to get smart outlets.