Non-proprietary scene switches?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by curiouser, Apr 17, 2008.

  1. curiouser

    curiouser

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2008
    Messages:
    30
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, California
    Since my wife is unenthusiastic about the appearance of the saturn & neo switches, I'm looking for other scene switch options that could be used with a bus coupler. It seems like it shouldn't be that hard to find a 4-6 button keypad with simple momentary-contact switches, but I'm not having much luck. Competitors like Lutron have lots of options, but as far as I can tell they're only available with proprietary network interfaces. LiteTouch has a generic ("LTZ") keypad, but only offers it with up to 3 buttons.

    Has anyone found something that would fit this description?
     
    curiouser, Apr 17, 2008
    #1
  2. curiouser

    froop

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2007
    Messages:
    124
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Melbourne, Australia
    My wife is also unenthusiastic about the saturn switches, and I disklike the neo's enough not to even suggest them. So we ended up with slimline throughout, and are very happy with them.

    They're not scene controllers (but nor would a bus coupler solution be), but can still trigger scenes on another device via a lighting group trigger.
     
    froop, Apr 17, 2008
    #2
  3. curiouser

    Duncan

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2004
    Messages:
    925
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Salinas de Garci Mendoza, Bolivia
    I'm not sure if CIS are still selling it, but there was the 4 Key Scene Controller.. Cant recall the catalog number but the Unit Type was KEYSCEN4 or something like that..?
     
    Duncan, Apr 17, 2008
    #3
  4. curiouser

    froop

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2007
    Messages:
    124
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Melbourne, Australia
    Yep, you're correct. I elected not to get the scene controllers. Couldn't justify the additional cost, and at that point I wasn't sure how many I would need. I've ended up just adding a PAC, and haven't found a need to change any 4-key units to scene controllers.
     
    froop, Apr 17, 2008
    #4
  5. curiouser

    Conformist

    Joined:
    Aug 4, 2004
    Messages:
    756
    Likes Received:
    66
    Location:
    Adelaide, South Australia
    My wife too was not happy with the switches.

    But my girlfriend and mistress both love them
     
    Conformist, Apr 17, 2008
    #5
  6. curiouser

    Frank Mc Alinden

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2004
    Messages:
    191
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Seaford Melbourne
    Not happy with the Saturns ...you,ve got to be kidding ;-)

    Frank
     
    Frank Mc Alinden, Apr 17, 2008
    #6
  7. curiouser

    curiouser

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2008
    Messages:
    30
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, California
    Here's one option

    A couple of hours after posting my question, I finally stumbled across at least one plausible-looking answer: http://touchplate.com
     
    curiouser, Apr 17, 2008
    #7
  8. curiouser

    PSC

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2004
    Messages:
    626
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Brisbane, Australia
    Are you serious?

    You think they look better than the Saturn range??? :confused: :confused: :confused:

    I think it's now time to move on from the 80's and get with the program. :eek:
     
    PSC, Apr 17, 2008
    #8
  9. curiouser

    froop

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2007
    Messages:
    124
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Melbourne, Australia
    Ooh err. Agreed. Certainly don't like those very much at all. Main reason for us not going with saturns is that our house is a 1920's californian, which we have renovated and extended trying to keep the general character of the house, and the saturn's are just a bit too modern.
     
    froop, Apr 17, 2008
    #9
  10. curiouser

    PSC

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2004
    Messages:
    626
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Brisbane, Australia
    After searching around I found this viable alternative on some hillbillie, truck loving blog site...

    Now if only Clipsal had the foresight to introduce the new 'BeJesus' Range of C-Bus switches we'd all be happy!

    Did you notice that the switch is located in a rather unusual position... Or is Jesus just happy to see the kids???

    Remember - don't touch the children Jesus...

    Anyway, why has the boy got both hands in his pockets???
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 17, 2008
    PSC, Apr 17, 2008
    #10
  11. curiouser

    Mark

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2004
    Messages:
    196
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Grenoble, France
    Hi,

    The latest bus couplers (v2.1.00) support bi-stable switches in addition to momentary contact. This means pretty much any switch ever made can be used.

    Would the wife appreciate this? http://www.cbusforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3942

    Mark.
     
    Mark, Apr 17, 2008
    #11
  12. curiouser

    froop

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2007
    Messages:
    124
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Melbourne, Australia
    Or there is this latest advance in home automation that automatically turns the lights off when you hang your coat up.. except surely you want the lights to turn on when you walk in the door and hang your coat up. What if you don't have a coat?
     

    Attached Files:

    froop, Apr 17, 2008
    #12
  13. curiouser

    curiouser

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2008
    Messages:
    30
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, California
    Legacy home automation

    In case you thought those switches look a little retro, I noticed this on their support FAQ:
    "If your Touchplate system was built before 1954 then it is possible that ..."

    That's not a typo -- they've been in the business since 1946. Do you think your home automation vendor will still be supporting their current products 60+ years from now?
     
    curiouser, Apr 18, 2008
    #13
  14. curiouser

    PSC

    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2004
    Messages:
    626
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Brisbane, Australia
    Well Clipsal started in 1920, so that's 88 years...
     
    PSC, Apr 18, 2008
    #14
Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments (here). After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.