I have an Insteon bulb in a lamp and use it in various programs. My wife however complains about not being able to turn the lamp on when she is sitting beside it. I told her she could turn it on via mobilinc/cell phone or her computer but that didn't go over well, lol. What is the best way to turn it off and on locally?

 

Thanks!

Chain a remotelinc to the lamp.

Though more costly than a RemoteLinc2 and optional Tabletop Stand.

You could put a SwitchLinc or KeypadLinc in the optional Insteon Tabletop Case.

Not sure if the bigger Dual Band Models Fit.

http://www.smarthome.com/2402WH/Tableto ... ite/p.aspx

 

RemoteLinc2 can also be used with its optional tabletop stand.

http://www.smarthome.com/2444BWH/Remote ... and/p.aspx

I have an Insteon bulb in a lamp and use it in various programs. My wife however complains about not being able to turn the lamp on when she is sitting beside it. I told her she could turn it on via mobilinc/cell phone or her computer but that didn't go over well, lol. What is the best way to turn it off and on locally?

 

Thanks!

Your wife and my wife must be related...

 

Seriously, in our household (an older home with few ceiling fixtures and many table lamps) what you're describing is a pretty big hole in our automated lighting strategy. The issue is not specific to the Insteon bulb, but arises from the lack of a common point of (Insteon and human) control at the lamp itself. So Insteon turns the lamps on programatically via an Insteon bulb or an OutletLinc, and my wife runs around turning them off via the the bulb socket switch. Very frustrating...

 

As Brian suggested I have resorted to KPL's in the Smarthome tabletop cases to control our bedside lamps, and have successfully retrained my wife in their usage. This solution works well, but would be a bit costly to implement at every lamp, or even those that we use most often...

 

As I have posted in the "Wish List" thread on the Smarthome forum (HERE), I think this issue could be addressed pretty neatly by integrating Insteon technology in to some sort of touch lamp modules such as these:

 

http://www.touchandglow.com/product-p/t-302s.htm

http://www.touchandglow.com/product-p/m-102.htm

 

--Bill

In addition to the remotelinc, I also use the table-top enclosures. I also have keypads mounted in wall boxes that control lighting. I use a couple of android tablets for lighting control.

 

Ultimately, my strategy is to minimize the need for local control by programs, motion sensors, and sunrise/sunset. We just don't often need to turn on a single lamp at this point.

My wish would be that they would produce a screw in module with a chain control. Everyone knows what to do when they see a chain hanging down under a lamp shade.

The lamps are on two end tables that are in the formal living room so my wife won’t like the kaypadlincs sitting out on those tables. I may have to hide a remotelinc up close to the lamp switch. That may be the most hidden way to do it.

 

Thoughts?

The lamps are on two end tables that are in the formal living room so my wife won’t like the kaypadlincs sitting out on those tables. I may have to hide a remotelinc up close to the lamp switch. That may be the most hidden way to do it.

 

Thoughts?

Not a bad idea... Perhaps you could fashion some sort of bracket to mount it on the center post below the socket...

When I suggested to "chain" a remotelinc to the lamp, this was only half joking. At one point, I had one of those X-10 keyfob remotes, hanging from the lamp via a short loop of that light chain material often used as keychains and fixture pull-chain.

Depending on the size of the lamp you may be able to shove a microdimmer and a touch sensor tied to its sense wire...