🚀 go-pugleaf

> I am recently deaf and am looking into getting my house wired in such a
way
> that the lights will flash when the doorbell, phone, fire alarm, baby

This is a very frequent question here and there are innumerable ways to help
you to do what you want but the first question is - can you tell us more
about what's already there?  You said "Lighting Control Panel"  Can you tell
us the controller name, equipment nameplate, model number, instruction
manual description?  Anything you can provide would be helpful. That way we
can tailor a response that's most appropriate to what you already have (and
therefore most likely the least expensive route).

Claus V.

"Bowden Wise" <bwise@NYCAP.rr.com> wrote in message
news:FyK26.66955$7I.7838471@typhoon.nyroc.rr.com...
> Hi
>
> I am recently deaf and am looking into getting my house wired in such a
way
> that the lights will flash when the doorbell, phone, fire alarm, baby
> monitor,
>  etc goes off.
>
> I know about the transmitter/receivers you can buy that detect sounds but
> I want something more permenently wired into the house.  Turns out our
house
> has lighting control panels which can turn on/off any light in the house.
So
> I
> was thinking maybe it would be possible to tap into that wiring to make
> lights go on and off by integrating some sensors?
>
> Anyone have any thoughts? Know if its possible?  Where should I look for
> more?
> Call an electrician that does custom wiriing?
>
>
>

Bowden Wise wrote:
>
> I am recently deaf and am looking into getting my
> house wired in such a way that the lights will flash
> when the doorbell, phone, fire alarm, baby monitor,
> etc goes off.
>
> I know about the transmitter/receivers you can buy
> that detect sounds but I want something more permanently
> wired into the house. Turns out our house has lighting
> control panels which can turn on/off any light in the
> house. So I was thinking maybe it would be possible to
> tap into that wiring to make lights go on and off by
> integrating some sensors?
>
> Anyone have any thoughts? Know if its possible? Where
> should I look for more?
>
> Call an electrician that does custom wiring?

Hi Bowden,

There was a recent thread here concerning this same subject.  There are
several companies that make doorbell and telephone line interfaces to flash
either an existing light (usually via X10 or an RF transmitter / receiver
pair) or a dedicated strobe.

Fire alarm systems should incorporate an ADA approved strobe or combined
horn-strobe warning device. I sell these in my online store at
http://www.bass-home.com.

Baby monitors can be simple audio intercoms or video camera types.  Both are
usually tripped by an audio threshold sensor which picks up any noise, such
as crying sounds.  You could use an audio sensor to trip a zone on an alarm
or automation system whenever the baby cries.

Following is a list of links to assistive technology and related service
sites. Some of these are commercial enterprises and others are school or
government pages. Hope it helps.

http://www.globalassistive.com/
http://www.zak.co.il//deaf-l_faq/assistive.html
http://showcase.netins.net/web/atforum/webres2.html
http://www.americanschdeaf.org/v_i/resourc.htm
http://www.clearyschool.org/resources.htm
http://www.deafactioncentertexas.org/
http://users.ids.net/~rideaf/front/front.htm
http://www.matp.org/r_and_r/knwrghts.html
http://showcase.netins.net/web/atforum/
http://www.hitec.com/

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
The Online DIY Alarm Store
http://www.Bass-Home.com
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota, FL 34233
877-722-8900 Sales & Tech Support
941-925-9747 voice (Florida)
941-923-6238 fax
RobertLBass@home.com
=============================>

Hi

It's a General Electric model, there is no model number.  The house
was built in 1965 it looks as if it was part of the original house.
There are two switch plates -- one in master bed room, the
other near teh garage -- which have 2 dials (one for off, the
other for on) with 12 ticks for 12 different rooms.

In the garage there are two electrical boxes also General Electric
called Remote Control Relay Center... again I can't see a model
number or anything... not even sure if these boxes are related
to the dial panels.  The boxes say they have 24 volt/60 cycle
relays, with branch circuits,

hope this helps


Claus V. <claus_vader@usa.net> wrote in message
news:92fvmv$omj$1@autumn.news.rcn.net...

> This is a very frequent question here and there are innumerable ways to
help
> you to do what you want but the first question is - can you tell us more
> about what's already there?  You said "Lighting Control Panel"  Can you
tell
> us the controller name, equipment nameplate, model number, instruction
> manual description?  Anything you can provide would be helpful. That way
we
> can tailor a response that's most appropriate to what you already have
(and
> therefore most likely the least expensive route).

What you have was a popular automated lighting system in its day.  The relay
boxes are wired to the switch plates. Each load (circuit) has a separate
relay which can respond to an on and an off signal from the touch plate. The
rotating knob selects which relay is to receive a command and the on/off
button makes the connection. The 24V power supply is located in or next to
the relay boxes.

Some of these systems had a motorized "all lights on" for panic or alarm
hook-ups. When the panic button is pressed, the ON command is activated
while a small motor moves a rotor around, sequentially activating each
connected load. The visual effect is quite dramatic as lights all around the
home come on in rapid sequence.

To activate any specific circuit, you can wire an external relay to
momentarily connect the 24V trigger to that circuit's relay. If you're
uncomfortable working with this sort of thing, consider hiring an
electrician. Try to find some old geaser whose been around long enough to
know about these systems.

If you want to make lights flash on and off, you might not want to do it
through the automated load centers. Doing so makes the relays work a lot
more than they were intended to and replacement parts may prove hard to get.
Instead, consider using dedicated, low voltage devices for the purpose.

For fire alarms, it is very important to use only ADA approved / UL listed
life safety devices. These are readily available online (my store, for
example) and through local alarm companies. Fire alarm components and
systems must be wired and installed in accordance with fire / electrical
code. This is not trivial so do give careful consideration if you are
inclined to do it yourself.

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
The Online DIY Alarm Store
http://www.Bass-Home.com
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota, FL 34233
877-722-8900 Sales & Tech Support
941-925-9747 voice (Florida)
941-923-6238 fax
RobertLBass@home.com
=============================>

"Bowden Wise" <bwise@NYCAP.rr.com> wrote in message
news:8yM26.66994$7I.7894817@typhoon.nyroc.rr.com...
> Hi
>
> It's a General Electric model, there is no model number.  The house
> was built in 1965 it looks as if it was part of the original house.
> There are two switch plates -- one in master bed room, the
> other near teh garage -- which have 2 dials (one for off, the
> other for on) with 12 ticks for 12 different rooms.
>
> In the garage there are two electrical boxes also General Electric
> called Remote Control Relay Center... again I can't see a model
> number or anything... not even sure if these boxes are related
> to the dial panels.  The boxes say they have 24 volt/60 cycle
> relays, with branch circuits,
>
> hope this helps
>
>
> Claus V. <claus_vader@usa.net> wrote in message
> news:92fvmv$omj$1@autumn.news.rcn.net...
>
> > This is a very frequent question here and there are innumerable ways to
> help
> > you to do what you want but the first question is - can you tell us more
> > about what's already there?  You said "Lighting Control Panel"  Can you
> tell
> > us the controller name, equipment nameplate, model number, instruction
> > manual description?  Anything you can provide would be helpful. That way
> we
> > can tailor a response that's most appropriate to what you already have
> (and
> > therefore most likely the least expensive route).
>
>
>
>

Robert L Bass wrote in message
>What you have was a popular automated lighting system in its day.  The
relay
>boxes are wired to the switch plates. Each load (circuit) has a separate
>relay which can respond to an on and an off signal from the touch plate.
The
>rotating knob selects which relay is to receive a command and the on/off
>button makes the connection. The 24V power supply is located in or next to
>the relay boxes.

I've got a 12 relay panel, relays, and switches from days when I installed
them. Real pain.

The systems are still installed today and GE still manufacturers them. The
relays are RR7 (no pilot light) or RR9 (was RR8 in the 70's & 80's) and
there
are a lot of interfaces available for them that go from 232/485 to the relay
interfaces and return on/off indications.

ACT Solutions sells an RCA replacement for the RR7 and entire interface
solutions.

See RCA G.E. RR7 for the relays...
LCP for a full lighting control panel...
Photon4 or Photon4.1 which is a 4-relay controller, RS485, that can be
daisy-chained to control up to 255 Photon 4's (1020 relays) from a computer.
http://216.233.241.66/icc%5Faccessories.htm

I've looked at it for my house for areas I want *guarenteed* control like
outdoor lighting but haven't done anything yet.

Jay Hogg

panic or alarm
>hook-ups. When the panic button is pressed, the ON command is activated
>while a small motor moves a rotor around, sequentially activating each
>connected load. The visual effect is quite dramatic as lights all around
the
>home come on in rapid sequence.
>
>To activate any specific circuit, you can wire an external relay to
>momentarily connect the 24V trigger to that circuit's relay. If you're
>uncomfortable working with this sort of thing, consider hiring an
>electrician. Try to find some old geaser whose been around long enough to
>know about these systems.
>
>If you want to make lights flash on and off, you might not want to do it
>through the automated load centers. Doing so makes the relays work a lot
>more than they were intended to and replacement parts may prove hard to
get.
>Instead, consider using dedicated, low voltage devices for the purpose.
>
>For fire alarms, it is very important to use only ADA approved / UL listed
>life safety devices. These are readily available online (my store, for
>example) and through local alarm companies. Fire alarm components and
>systems must be wired and installed in accordance with fire / electrical
>code. This is not trivial so do give careful consideration if you are
>inclined to do it yourself.
>
>Regards,
>Robert L Bass
>
>=============================>
>Bass Home Electronics
>The Online DIY Alarm Store
>http://www.Bass-Home.com
>4883 Fallcrest Circle
>Sarasota, FL 34233
>877-722-8900 Sales & Tech Support
>941-925-9747 voice (Florida)
>941-923-6238 fax
>RobertLBass@home.com
>=============================>
>
>"Bowden Wise" <bwise@NYCAP.rr.com> wrote in message
>news:8yM26.66994$7I.7894817@typhoon.nyroc.rr.com...
>> Hi
>>
>> It's a General Electric model, there is no model number.  The house
>> was built in 1965 it looks as if it was part of the original house.
>> There are two switch plates -- one in master bed room, the
>> other near teh garage -- which have 2 dials (one for off, the
>> other for on) with 12 ticks for 12 different rooms.
>>
>> In the garage there are two electrical boxes also General Electric
>> called Remote Control Relay Center... again I can't see a model
>> number or anything... not even sure if these boxes are related
>> to the dial panels.  The boxes say they have 24 volt/60 cycle
>> relays, with branch circuits,
>>
>> hope this helps
>>
>>
>> Claus V. <claus_vader@usa.net> wrote in message
>> news:92fvmv$omj$1@autumn.news.rcn.net...
>>
>> > This is a very frequent question here and there are innumerable ways to
>> help
>> > you to do what you want but the first question is - can you tell us
more
>> > about what's already there?  You said "Lighting Control Panel"  Can you
>> tell
>> > us the controller name, equipment nameplate, model number, instruction
>> > manual description?  Anything you can provide would be helpful. That
way
>> we
>> > can tailor a response that's most appropriate to what you already have
>> (and
>> > therefore most likely the least expensive route).
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>

When we had our home built six years ago we had our electrician and an
electronics engineer develop a system for our lights and phones that works
great.  Whenever the phone rings lights all over the house (one in each
room) flash on and off to alert us.  My brother in law's company in Coos
Bay, OR did the electronic work.  We had smoke detectors hard wired in
(interconnected) and they are strobe light detectors.  If one smoke detector
goes off they all go off and they also alert our alarm monitoring station
which has a tty hookup.  We have deaf children who are adults and have never
lived in this house but as we age most of us lose at least some of our
hearing so that is why we had the house built this way.  The house is
accessible to all types of disabilities.  It is also great when our deaf
kids come home to visit and they know this house is accessible to them also.

--
DeLores Wilson
Hillsboro, OR
dhag@iname.com

"Bowden Wise" <bwise@NYCAP.rr.com> wrote in message
news:FyK26.66955$7I.7838471@typhoon.nyroc.rr.com...
> Hi
>
> I am recently deaf and am looking into getting my house wired in such a
way
> that the lights will flash when the doorbell, phone, fire alarm, baby
> monitor,
>  etc goes off.
>
> I know about the transmitter/receivers you can buy that detect sounds but
> I want something more permenently wired into the house.  Turns out our
house
> has lighting control panels which can turn on/off any light in the house.
So
> I
> was thinking maybe it would be possible to tap into that wiring to make
> lights go on and off by integrating some sensors?
>
> Anyone have any thoughts? Know if its possible?  Where should I look for
> more?
> Call an electrician that does custom wiriing?
>
>
>