Comments on: New Wiring Idea May Make the All-Electric House Come True

By: Sid Morrison

Sid Morrison — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:54:10 +0000

My house actually still has some of these in place and working… They were installed by the 1940s-50s owner of my house who was Chief Engineer of General Railway Signal Company, a major producer of railroad crossing signals, gates, and related stuff.

It’s actually a pretty slick way to remotely control circuits from multiple places via low voltage wiring (easily hidden or can be surface-mounted safely) that merely switches high-voltage solenoids in junction boxes. It makes it easy to retrofit 3-way, 4-way (or more) circuits into exisitng wiring. And in my experience, they are pretty bulletproof. Despite being over 50 years old, I’ve lived here for over 15 years and have never needed to replace one. I have some X10 (more modern electronic home automation) switches which are not nearly as reliable or long-lived.

Bad sides? It’s a little disconcerting to hear the very audible buzz of a solenoid evertime you turn a light on or off. It really scares visitors who assume that there is a short somewhere. And the switches are pretty darned ugly.

By: jayessell

jayessell — Tue, 05 May 2009 20:32:20 +0000

An early SmartHouse?
The precursor to X10?

Torgo… Title please?

By: RagManX

RagManX — Sat, 02 May 2009 17:30:16 +0000

It’s a hoax. No one will ever run wiring through their entire house!

By: Torgo

Torgo — Fri, 01 May 2009 01:22:59 +0000

Ma and Pa kettle tried this house. They didn’t like it.

By: shan

shan — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:15:26 +0000

“Don’t taze me, mom!”

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:24:34 +0000

I am sorry but if “The young housewife” can find time to lay in bed obviously she isn’t doing enough laundry and cooking.

By: fred

fred — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:40:29 +0000

with a light touch of a button Shirley tazers her annoying screaming brat