Home Automation, 1950`s U.S. style

[Adam Aglionby]

My house was built in the late 50's with everything electric made by GE. It had a GE heat pump, an electrostatic air cleaner that looked like it was from a nuke plant, even GE wire nuts! It still has the 24volt latching relay system for the lighting. There are 18 circuits for the output, directly from the relay to the lights / outlets. All over the place I have 3 wire low voltage runs to rocker switches that control the relays. While this may seem a nightmare, the whole thing works very well. The relays are still used in big commercial buildings , still available, and everything is pretty robust. Because the control can be easily ganged I have the ability to turn on the upstairs hall light from within each bedroom and downstairs so it is the equivalent of a 7 way switch. From the master bedroom there is a rotary selector and rocker to control every circuit on the system.<<

Heat pumps, electrostatic air cleaners, remote control lighting are we returning to the future;-)

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Post by Adam Aglionby

My house was built in the late 50's with everything electric made by
GE. It had a GE heat pump, an electrostatic air cleaner that looked
like it was from a nuke plant, even GE wire nuts! It still has the
24volt latching relay system for the lighting. There are 18 circuits
for the output, directly from the relay to the lights / outlets. All
over the place I have 3 wire low voltage runs to rocker switches that
control the relays. While this may seem a nightmare, the whole thing
works very well. The relays are still used in big commercial buildings
, still available, and everything is pretty robust. Because the
control can be easily ganged I have the ability to turn on the
upstairs hall light from within each bedroom and downstairs so it is
the equivalent of a 7 way switch. From the master bedroom there is a
rotary selector and rocker to control every circuit on the system.<<

Heat pumps, electrostatic air cleaners, remote control lighting are we
returning to the future;-)

I remember our school hall being fitted with new lighting in the late
'50s. Fluorescent, and dimmable. The dimmer taking up half the space in
the stage lighting control room. With a handle more like a beer pump.

[Brian Gaff]

Sterling Moss probably used to own your house then...
Brian
--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active

My house was built in the late 50's with everything electric made by GE.
It had a GE heat pump, an electrostatic air cleaner that looked like it
was from a nuke plant, even GE wire nuts! It still has the 24volt latching
relay system for the lighting. There are 18 circuits for the output,
directly from the relay to the lights / outlets. All over the place I have
3 wire low voltage runs to rocker switches that control the relays. While
this may seem a nightmare, the whole thing works very well. The relays are
still used in big commercial buildings , still available, and everything
is pretty robust. Because the control can be easily ganged I have the
ability to turn on the upstairs hall light from within each bedroom and
downstairs so it is the equivalent of a 7 way switch. From the master
bedroom there is a rotary selector and rocker to control every circuit on
the system.<<

Heat pumps, electrostatic air cleaners, remote control lighting are we
returning to the future;-)

[Graham.]

On Fri, 31 Oct 2014 07:40:23 -0700 (PDT), Adam Aglionby

Post by Adam Aglionby

My house was built in the late 50's with everything electric made by GE. It had a GE heat pump, an electrostatic air cleaner that looked like it was from a nuke plant, even GE wire nuts! It still has the 24volt latching relay system for the lighting. There are 18 circuits for the output, directly from the relay to the lights / outlets. All over the place I have 3 wire low voltage runs to rocker switches that control the relays. While this may seem a nightmare, the whole thing works very well. The relays are still used in big commercial buildings , still available, and everything is pretty robust. Because the control can be easily ganged I have the ability to turn on the upstairs hall light from within each bedroom and downstairs so it is the equivalent of a 7 way switch. From the master bedroom there is a rotary selector and rocker to control every circuit on the system.<<

Heat pumps, electrostatic air cleaners, remote control lighting are we returning to the future;-)

Please tell me we are not going to have the wire nuts too.

[Andy Burns]

Post by Graham.
Please tell me we are not going to have the wire nuts too.

surPRISE!

http://screwfix.com/p/wire-nut/85465

[Graham.]

On Fri, 31 Oct 2014 23:57:11 +0000, Andy Burns

Post by Andy Burns

Post by Graham.
Please tell me we are not going to have the wire nuts too.

surPRISE!
http://screwfix.com/p/wire-nut/85465

The reviewer seems to like using them without any form of enclosure.

[newshound]

Post by Andy Burns

Post by Graham.
Please tell me we are not going to have the wire nuts too.

surPRISE!
http://screwfix.com/p/wire-nut/85465

Including weatherproof ones!

These sound like they have internal metal threads. Who remembers those
bastard all-ceramic ones?

[s***@gowanhill.com]

And like they have internal metal threads. Who remembers those
bastard all-ceramic ones?

I do. Scruit(tm)

I rather like them - not for mains, but they work surprisingly well for tinsel cable. And the ones I have removed from mains, in my 40 year old lighting circuits, still seem to be making good connections. I remove them and save them carefully.

Owain

[Graham.]

On Mon, 03 Nov 2014 10:23:09 +0000, newshound

Post by newshound

Post by Andy Burns

Post by Graham.
Please tell me we are not going to have the wire nuts too.

surPRISE!
http://screwfix.com/p/wire-nut/85465

Including weatherproof ones!
These sound like they have internal metal threads. Who remembers those
bastard all-ceramic ones?

The Honeywell zone valves in my central heating are the original type
without the removable head.

The motor was connected to the two wires in the 4 core flex by twisted
conductors and those ceramic wire nuts. Replaced with choc bloc
singles now.

[fred]

My house was built in the late 50's with everything electric made by GE. It had a

GE heat pump, an electrostatic air cleaner that looked like it was from a nuke
plant, even GE wire nuts! It still has the 24volt latching relay system for the lighting.
There are 18 circuits for the output, directly from the relay to the lights / outlets. All
over the place I have 3 wire low voltage runs to rocker switches that control the
relays. While this may seem a nightmare, the whole thing works very well. The
relays are still used in big commercial buildings , still available, and everything is
pretty robust. Because the control can be easily ganged I have the ability to turn on
the upstairs hall light from within each bedroom and downstairs so it is the
equivalent of a 7 way switch. From the master bedroom there is a rotary selector
and rocker to control every circuit on the system.<<

They certainly get the prize for the longest line in usenet history, 800
plus chars :-)

Heat pumps, electrostatic air cleaners, remote control lighting are we returning to
the future;-)