I use z-wave lamp modules inside my landscape transformers, then use HomeSeer to control them. I do have an Elk M1G, but leave that for more of the security duties and HomeSeer for lighting and other automation.

Kevin 

Cocoonut

Posted 27 December 2012 – 11:13 PM

Cocooner

Posted 27 December 2012 – 11:47 PM

Many lighting transformers look like this one:
  15pl100azt.jpg   8.68K   43 downloads

That pigtail power plug is provided specifically so you can put a timer inside the box plugged into that outlet and that little pigtail power plug goes into the timer… with a transformer like that, you can do what I (and probably Kevin L) did which is use that for a UPB or other lighting module instead. However, I looked up the transformer you mentioned, and it does *not* have that option. 

Edited by wuench, 28 December 2012 – 09:06 AM.

‘Work2Play’, on 27 Dec 2012 – 22:19, said:

That pigtail power plug is provided specifically so you can put a timer inside the box plugged into that outlet and that little pigtail power plug goes into the timer… with a transformer like that, you can do what I (and probably Kevin L) did which is use that for a UPB or other lighting module instead. However, I looked up the transformer you mentioned, and it does *not* have that option.

That’s exactly what I did. I use HomeManageables HM-LM001 lamp modules.

Kevin 

I’m getting the feeling that you’re still totally confused about this whole thing – so why do you feel that the insteon outdoor appliance module wouldn’t work? Do you plan to hardwire your transformer straight to mains power, or will it plug into an outlet somewhere? Honestly, the answer to that question is up to you… so if you wanted to make it automation friendly, you’d make it so it plugs into a receptacle… 

If you really feel like you won’t be able to include the very simple appliance module already recommended because you plan to hardwire the mains power completely, then you’ll need to wire this inline with the AC power: http://www.smarthome…ual-Band/p.aspx 

The lights wired through the M1 Relays work flawlessly but have a current limit. You can use the M1 relay to trip another larger relay but that gets cumbersome. Once again they work flawlessly….

I also have outdoor rated appliance modules that work pretty well but they are open to the possibility of powerline communications failures due to things being plugged in. For example: I plugged in a battery charger in my garage that was in a surge strip. This affected the operation of 1/2 of my holiday lighting and took some time to figure out what the cause was. Follow me?
Either way will work. 

Any transformer suggestions? I would be ok to use an outdoor receptacle to connect my outdoor insteon module. If I plan to run wires of about 80 to 100 feet can that be a problem or should I consider installing another outdoor receptacle? 

Voltage drop on LV for your lights is more of a concern than that of mains power – there are simple enough equations that are based on code for what wire you can run what lengths; for LV, if done right, your transformer will likely have a couple terminals with slightly different voltages to account for longer runs and their associated loss. 

That said I maybe would have considered some sort of indirect high amperage relay switch maybe to be utilized directly with my panel but never really really did this. I guess similiar to why I would probably never connect my landscaping sprinkler system directly to my panel. My preference went to using my automation switches.

Initially started also with one 1000 watt multivoltage multitape multiple circuit commercial transformer. It was rated for outdoor use; but my preference was to take it indoors. That said adding the 2nd and 3rd and 4th one was too much for the single circuit such that I needed to add new circuits to the lighting/transformer endeavor.

Turning on and off these transformers I used and tried X10, Insteon, UPB and Z-Wave appliance modules. The Insteon and Z-Wave appliance modules just would trip the breakers most of the time. The UPB did a bit better but it would still trip the breaker. The oldest X10 appliance module for whatever reason never tripped the breakers. I ended up with 4 commercial transformers using the old X10 appliance modules on four circuits and they worked fine for a couple of years. I was pushing these old X10 appliance switches though with the 1000 watt commercial landscaping lighting transformers.

Attached is a picture of where I was and where I am at today with the LV lighting. I finished my migration from old fashioned 12 VAC LV lighting to all LED lighting this past summer.

There is though two more DIN AC/DC transformers now and they are all connected to one UPB 15AMP relay and have been working fine. The footprint is greatly reduced using these DIN transformers. The older commercial style transformers are large and very heavy (with their toroidal transformers).

These DIN transformers though will be probably gone by next year after the solar panel configuration is done. 

The next project though relating to the landscaping automation is to go to utilizing batteries and solar panels. I have one neighbor that has done that and it is working well for him. Concurrently trying to figure out how to automate this endeavor (maybe wirelessly).