DIY Lighting Control Help/Ideas/Theory

Drew · 13th December 2003, 10:50 PM

Hey everyone,
I want to build a lightning control module for my home theater system.
I have a theory but not sure if this will work or not, but here it goes:

Take 10 - 12v Relays and mount them on a panel.
Take the 12volt trigger and attach that to the 85 side of the relays.
Take -12v (ground) and attach that to the 86 side of the relays.
Take the neutral AC wire and attach that to the 30 side of the relay then connect the other side of the neutral AC wire to the 87A side that goes out to the lights.

Theory is that when the +12volt trigger is received, then the relays will cut the neutral wire going to the lights.

Is this possbile?
Or am I outta my mind?

Thanks
Drew

PassFan · 14th December 2003, 03:54 AM

The National Electrical Code prohibits the switching of a neutral wire unless the corresponding hot wire is also switched by a device that switches them both at the same time. Switching a neutral is a safety hazard as well as a fire hazard. There are low voltage relay systems available that can work, I would suspect, for what you want to do. They are fairly common for residentioal use.

li_gangyi · 14th December 2003, 05:01 AM

why dun you cut the live wire??

pinkmouse · 20th December 2003, 12:42 AM

Best practice is to switch both live and neutral, but leave ground connected. However, I believe that X10 type control stuff is easily available and relatively cheap, so if you are not sure of the safety aspects, then that would seem to be the way to go.

RIC · 20th December 2003, 02:20 AM

Just swap for the live wire, thats the only safe way, plus figure
your load to main feeder, and put a beaker inline. and you should be good to go.

13th December 2003, 10:50 PM	#1
Drew diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Saskatoon, Sk. Canada	DIY Lighting Control Help/Ideas/Theory Hey everyone, I want to build a lightning control module for my home theater system. I have a theory but not sure if this will work or not, but here it goes: Take 10 - 12v Relays and mount them on a panel. Take the 12volt trigger and attach that to the 85 side of the relays. Take -12v (ground) and attach that to the 86 side of the relays. Take the neutral AC wire and attach that to the 30 side of the relay then connect the other side of the neutral AC wire to the 87A side that goes out to the lights. Theory is that when the +12volt trigger is received, then the relays will cut the neutral wire going to the lights. Is this possbile? Or am I outta my mind? Thanks Drew

14th December 2003, 05:01 AM	#3
li_gangyi diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Woodlands Circle	why dun you cut the live wire?? __________________ Kids in the back seat cause accidents...Accidents in the back seat cause kids...

20th December 2003, 12:42 AM	#4
pinkmouse diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Chatham, England	Best practice is to switch both live and neutral, but leave ground connected. However, I believe that X10 type control stuff is easily available and relatively cheap, so if you are not sure of the safety aspects, then that would seem to be the way to go. __________________ Al I conceive of nothing, in religion, science or philosophy, that is more than the proper thing to wear, for a while. Charles Fort

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14th December 2003, 03:54 AM	#2
PassFan diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Central FL	The National Electrical Code prohibits the switching of a neutral wire unless the corresponding hot wire is also switched by a device that switches them both at the same time. Switching a neutral is a safety hazard as well as a fire hazard. There are low voltage relay systems available that can work, I would suspect, for what you want to do. They are fairly common for residentioal use.

20th December 2003, 02:20 AM	#5
RIC diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Woodward, Oklahoma	Just swap for the live wire, thats the only safe way, plus figure your load to main feeder, and put a beaker inline. and you should be good to go.

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