RON HAZELTON:
Every night before I turn in, I have a little bedtime ritual. Now I call this, the late night, lights out walkabout. The other day I went on line to see if maybe there wasn't an easier way to control these lighting devices. I came across this website.
They had a product called Radio RA from Lutron[?] Electronics. The system is built around a master controller, special light switches and plug in lamp modules. The controller sends wireless radio signals that automatically turn on lights and lamps anywhere in the house, or turn them off with a push of a single button.
Well, it seemed like just what I was looking for. So I agreed to have Chris Reeve, a licensed electrician and Radio RA installer, come by and take a look at our situation.
Well you know, we sit in here and talk sometimes, play games and then of course we do a lot of TV watching in here.
After asking more questions about how we use lighting, Chris laid out a plan and I agreed to go ahead. Several days later, he returned with the materials for the system and went to work. He starts by removing the existing lighting switches and disconnecting the wires.
Each of the standard switches is replaced with an electronic dimmer, capable of receiving and sending the wireless radio signals. Each wall receptacle into which a lamp is plugged, receives a lamp dimmer. These install easily, requiring no wiring and can be used to control virtually any lighting device that plugs into a wall receptacle.
Each one can be set to turn the lamp up to any desired level of brightness. The master bedroom will get a controller that simply plugs into an outlet and sits on the bedside table. In the basement, a timer is installed that will, among other things, turn the outside lights on at dusk and off at midnight, using wireless radio waves.
Its built in microprocessor adjusts the turn on time each day and automatically compensates for daylight savings time.
[MUSIC]
Well, the next time I arrive home at night, the controller that's installed at the door, will let me turn on all the lights in the house in an instant. And now if I want to go from reading in the family room to watching TV, I can change the lighting scene without ever leaving my seat. But there's something even better.
Well, this is what I've been wishing for --many lights, but just one switch.
[SOUND CUT]
[CHILD CRYING FOR MOMMY]
Well, some things just can't be put on automatic.
