Question:
I have a brand new Sears Garage Door Opener that has two extra buttons on
car remotes ( clicker) that Sears say can be used to turn on home lights.
Unfortunately all I can find is an attachment at Sears to turn on indoor
lamps.
I have some outdoor landscape/driveway lights that I'd like to be able to
turn on with the garage door "clicker". Anyone know a way that this can be
done?
Answer:
-It would depend on what the Sears unit can provide. If it can provide a
'contact closure' then you could use an X10 module. That'd take the wires
from the opener, attach to the X10 switch module and then send a powerline
signal to another X10 module for the lights.
But it really all depends on what that opener actually provides. What
make/model is it? Is there a webpage for it online? Or, better yet, call
Sears and ask your specific question.
-My wife's Acura has a three button Homelink RF transmitter that can be trained
to send X10 RF signals. In training mode it receives RF and "learns" the signal
it "hears". One of the buttons operates the garage door operator and one sends
RF to the X10 transceiver in the house. The Homelink unit learns X10 commands
by training on a signal from X10 RF sending device.
This product from Sears should be suitable for use with a Homelink transmitter...
"Craftsman Plug In Light Control for Garage Door Opener
Sears item #00953786000 Mfr. model #53786"
I don't believe it uses X10 house/unit codes. It is likely a self contained
RF learning receiver with a switched receptacle to control a table or
floor lamp.
