The savings just keep coming! Home Controls has teamed up with Simply Automated, Inc. to offer a 15% discount on four very popular UPB products. These are staples to any UPB home lighting system, so be sure to get yours this month!

UPB Dimming Transceiver Switch: The SimplyBrilliant UPB Dimming Transceiver Switch, model US11-40, provides direct load control and or remote control of permanently-installed new or existing lighting fixtures, lamps and other electrical devices connected to UPB devices. Each unit has one rocker switch that directly controls a load up to 900W. Incandescent lamps can be turned ON or OFF, and can also be dimmed and brightened. More info …

UPB Plug-In Appliance Module: This 15 Amp plug-in module is designed to deliver ON/OFF control of 120VAC appliances, motors and fluorescent lamps based on digital UPB commands received over the powerline. Installation is simple: the module is plugged into a standard 120VAC outlet and the appliance to be controlled is plugged into the bottom of the module. A non-controlled convenience outlet is also provided on the face of the module. The connected appliance can be operated manually using a UPB wall switch or multi-button controller, or automatically via PC or home automation server. More info …

UPB Universal Dimming Transceiver Switch: Simply Automated’s SimplyBrilliant US240 UPB Universal Dimming Transceiver Switches provide the same ultra-reliable control as our Standard Dimming Transceiver Switches, while offering greater flexibility.  Each US240 has one switch that controls a single load of up to 900W, and can be field-configured to accept single, double, triple, and quad rockers, as well as 4 and 8-button face plates. And, all US240 faceplates are interchangeable in the field without ever having to untwist a wire nut! More info …

BIGGEST SAVINGS! UPB Controller Scheduler Timer: This UPB Controller, Scheduler/Timer was designed for ease of use and maximum functionality. Once the unit is set for time, date and location (zip code or latitude and longitude) only one intuitive display is used to setup events. Once the Scheduler-Timer has been set-up, the User can rely on timely lighting and not worry about making changes for seasons or adjusting the time. The Scheduler-Timer will automatically adjust time referenced to the nationally synchronized power grid; it knows when daylight savings and leap years occur and even when the sun rises and sets for your location. In the event of a power loss, the programs are stored in non-volatile memory and will not be lost; and time will be maintained with power off for approximately one week. The user menus were designed for easy navigation with minimum button pushes. More info …

• Sale expires Dec. 30, 2009!

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Mai intai a fost bezna in holul din EC, iar acum este intuneric in EG-uri. Ma intreb care este motivul? Se face economie, s-au furat cablurile/becurile sau se repara ceva? Tot legat de corpul asta, nu am inteles niciodata rolul usilor care uneori mai stau si inchise… EG-ul este un corp prin care (uimitor) se circula destul de mult, iar usile alea nu par sa aiba un rol bine definit. Vlad mi-a sugerat ca scopul lor principal este impiedicarea unui curent/vant puternic care sa suiere pe acolo .

O intrebare similara o am pentru usa din holul EC catre EG-uri care sta tot timpul inchisa, desi cred ca pe acolo trec mii de studenti zilnic (sute sigur). Nu este o problema majora aceasta, dar, in alte universitati pe unde am mers, am observat ca se practica spatiile deschise si rareori vezi usi inchise pe culoare foarte des circulate.
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An overview of the four major approaches to ethical reasoning, from Aristotle to Rand—and why they doth sucketh… (22:20):

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Home Controls is excited to offer a 10% discount on the new and very popular UPB Keypad Controller with Load Dimmer from PulseWorx.

The Keypad Controller with Load Dimmer is an all-in-one controller and dimmer switch in a single package. This new line of controllers incorporates the functionality of our famous six and eight button KPC Keypad Controllers as well as incorporating a 400W dimmer switch.

• UPB Keypad Controller with Load Dimmer, 6 button.
• UPB Keypad Controller with Load Dimmer, 8 button.

The KPLD’s are perfect for retro-fit applications, when you want to replace a switch with a keypad and want to control the light as well. It transmits and receives UPB digital commands over the existing electrical wiring to remotely turn ON, OFF, and dim its own lighting load as well as trigger dramatic scenes throughout the home.

The KPLD is available in white, light almond, almond, ivory, black, brown and grey.

• Sale expires Nov. 30, 2009.

Home theater, audio and video equipment, and lighting control go hand-in-hand these days.  Wouldn’t it be cool if you could use your favorite IR remote to also control your UPB lighting?  If you are not familiar with UPB, then pick up the phone and give Home Controls Tech Support a call for a crash course on the subject. If you are familiar with UPB, then read on.

Presently, there are two ways that I am aware of using IR with UPB. The first method is as follows.  Get your hands on the PCS Pulseworx 6-button keypad with dimming load control, PCKPLD6, and the matching PCS infrared remote, PCIRR.  I’ve blogged about this keypad controller before, and you can read up on it here.   The 6-button keypad has an IR receiver that will pick up the codes sent by the remote.  The 6-button and remote mimic each other; pressing any button on the remote would be like pressing the same button on the keypad controller.  The keypad controller and the existing UPB load devices, of course, would be configured to perform whatever lighting scene is desired. You then take your favorite IR remote and have it learn the IR codes sent by the PCS remote. Now you can use your remote to control the lighting scenes. You typically would have four scenes including On, Off and Bright and Dim with this controller.

The only drawback that this first method may have is that you will have to point your remote at the keypad controller.  You may not be able to mount the keypad controller at the “front” of your room, front meaning where you intuitively point the remote , such as towards the TV.  If, for example, the keypad controller is mounted on the wall opposite of where the TV and A/V gear is located, then you’ll have to do a 180 degree turn when switching control between A/V and lighting.  Just be aware that IR is line-of-sight.

The second method does not require a specific remote such as the PCIRR. The Monterey Instruments IR to UPB Module, MIIRUPBM, is a small, black box module that translates any IR signal to a UPB link command.  The black box is capable of “capturing” up to48 IR codes, which could be used for up to 48 scenes or individual lighting control. Any code, be it volume up, down, VCR play, DVD play, rewind, whatever could be used,  and in response to that code, the module produces a UPB ouput.  It’s recommend to pick an IR code that is not being used by the A/V gear, in this way, the lights can be controlled independently of the A/V gear.  The module is small enough (.75″ H x 1.625″ W x 3.0″ D) so that it can be mounted up front along with the A/V gear, or if hidden away in a cabinet, you can use one of several IR repeating systems to get the signal inside the cabinet.

As with the first method, there, too, is a drawback, with using the MIIRUPBM. The module does require a UPB powerline interface and a power adapter, included with the kit, so where ever you decide to locate the module, you need to have two available electrical outlets to plug in both powerline interface and power adapter.

Este plin de plangaciosi (cry-babies?) in facultate: de exemplu, Vlad se plange ca este prea frig in salile de laborator (si de curs !?).

Chiar nu stiti ca facultatea este cea care va pregateste de viata reala… asa ca Politehnica va invata de pe acum sa rezistati la frig. Ca sa nu va plangeti mai tarziu, sa fiti puternici si rezistenti. Nu ati vazut ca rusii fac baie iarna in Volga ? Si noi stam sa discutam ca este un pic racoare pe holuri si in sali. Incredibil, cat tupeu! Ceea ce nu inteleg eu este faptul ca, desi recunoaste ca era frig inca de acum 10 ani cand era student, acum Vlad nu mai suporta frigul. Sa inteleg ca pregatirea oferita de facultate din acest punct de vedere nu a fost suficient de buna? Bun, cred ca ar trebuie avut grija sa fie si mai frig ca sa nu mai existe astfel de cazuri pe viitor.

Glumim si noi ca nu avem ce sa facem altceva. Insa partea mai putin haioasa este ca unii dintre cei care trebuie sa stea in Politehnica in perioada asta mai si racesc. Tin pe aceasta cale sa multumesc administratorilor si conducerii facultatii / universitatii pentru temperaturile foarte scazute din ultimele saptamani din Poli, care mi-au adus un frumos cadou care se trateaza cam tot de pe atunci cu paracetamol si alte medicamente. Imi cer scuze daca am omis pe cineva in exprimarea multumirile anterioare si sper sa nu se supere, dar am aceleasi urari de bine si pentru ei.

Cred ca unul dintre motivele pentru care Politehnica nu mai este cautata este chiar acesta: lipsa caldurii la inceput de sezon rece, ca e plin de praf si de mizerie peste tot sau macar ca totul pare prafuit sau/si vechi, ca nu se respecta nici o regula desi exista zeci, ca nu putem pune termopane si pentru ca corpul eg nu este reabilitat seismic, si asa mai departe. Inainte de a gasi motive pentru concurenta din ce in ce mai mica la studenti sau candidati, ar trebui ca politehnica sa incerce sa le remedieze pe cele ce tin de ea si se vad de la o posta.

Am ales sa ne numim Catalistii nu pentru ca ar avea vreo legatura cu  proiectul la care participam, ci pentru ca a  rezultat in urma unui eveniment amuzant