IR Blaster Across A Room?

[BMXTRIX]

I have a question which hopefully someone will have a good answer for...

I have a situation where I need to use an IR repeater system to hit a device (light switches) which are across the room.

I can't get an IR emitter right on top of the light switches.

So, how do I trigger them when it must be done from about 12 feet away (straight line)?

Has anyone done this? If so, what parts did you use?

I'm using this emitter, which is supposed to hit from that distance...
http://www.smarthomepro.com/9725258.html

But, I'm thinking that I may need to get an amplified connecting block instead of simply tying it straight into the Crestron transmitter like I am currently doing.

http://www.smarthomepro.com/images/9725258side2big.gif

 

[jcPanny]

IR blaster

Could you use a stick on type blaster on the light switch and roure it back to the IR distribution device?

 

[bandphan]

which light module?

 

[BMXTRIX]

Could you use a stick on type blaster on the light switch and roure it back to the IR distribution device?

No - as I said, the light switch locations do not allow me to put an IR emitter right on top of them.

The switches are Lutron Spacer System, are installed, and have four scenes + off, available to them via IR.

 

[majorloser]

I know this ain't gonna be much help. But I'm controlling my Spacer switches with a Pronto Pro remote system. The IR repeater is located in my component rack that is across the hall from the wall plates. It's only about 8 feet away. But I know I can even switch the Pronto from RF to IR and bounce the signal around the room to the switches.

Can you change out the IR emitter on the sending unit to a mega IR-LED emitter or array bar? They make some huge IR-LED arrays for infrared camera systems. You just need something to beam across a small space. Something like the Wii sensor bar or LED strip light is what I'm thinking about.
You can buy all of the components and build one fairly easily. You only need to know what IR frequency the Spacer system uses and buy the right LED's. There's a couple different kinds.

http://www.superbrightleds.com/index.htm
http://www.theledlight.com/index.html
http://www.sld.co.uk/products/cctv/IR/infrared.htm

This company sells some panel and flat mount emitters:
http://www.ledtronics.com/ds/SML10IR941T/

One last thing, make sure you buy a narrow angle beam instead of the wide angle ones and you may be able to point it directly across the room. Most remote control LEDs are standard wide angle emitters.

 

[bandphan]

Are you doing a retro or new construction? Couldnt it be tied into the first lead then out via the travlers, with no blaster? Maybe im confused its been awhile since ive been on a lighting install

 

[BMXTRIX]

Are you doing a retro or new construction? Couldnt it be tied into the first lead then out via the travlers, with no blaster? Maybe im confused its been awhile since ive been on a lighting install

The switches are entirely IR controlled, and the installation, which was done by a qualified electrician, is entirely completed. There's no spare wires or way to add IR at the boxes themselves. Adding anything at the switches is entirely off the table at this time.

I used the Spacer System switches because they actually have four scenes in them available via IR remote. But, what makes them kind of 'nifty' is that they have clear back boxes, so with my own installations I've actually buried IR emitters (against code) inside the boxes and have controlled them directly with great success. But, this setup is new to me, and proving to be a PITA.

 

[BMXTRIX]

I know this ain't gonna be much help. But I'm controlling my Spacer switches with a Pronto Pro remote system. The IR repeater is located in my component rack that is across the hall from the wall plates. It's only about 8 feet away. But I know I can even switch the Pronto from RF to IR and bounce the signal around the room to the switches.

Can you change out the IR emitter on the sending unit to a mega IR-LED emitter or array bar? They make some huge IR-LED arrays for infrared camera systems. You just need something to beam across a small space. Something like the Wii sensor bar or LED strip light is what I'm thinking about.
You can buy all of the components and build one fairly easily. You only need to know what IR frequency the Spacer system uses and buy the right LED's. There's a couple different kinds.

http://www.superbrightleds.com/index.htm
http://www.theledlight.com/index.html
http://www.sld.co.uk/products/cctv/IR/infrared.htm

This company sells some panel and flat mount emitters:
http://www.ledtronics.com/ds/SML10IR941T/

One last thing, make sure you buy a narrow angle beam instead of the wide angle ones and you may be able to point it directly across the room. Most remote control LEDs are standard wide angle emitters.

Thanks for the info. I'm not sure exactly what the deal is with the IR that I purchased from Speakercraft that claims far greater range than I achieved, but I may very well end up getting some stuff from the site you listed.

I think my real problem is that I'm simply not getting enough power to the LED that is currently in use. The emitter works from about 5 feet away, but not across the room, which is what I want/demand of it. I'm not sure if I will have any issues with putting a powered repeater in line with a 'semi' powered emitter signal, which is definitely one of my concerns, but I am hoping this will not present itself as an issue.

I may also tie relays into the factory remote for the lights and actually hit the switches via relay control, but this seems so silly when the LED inside the remote can make it across the room with no problem, yet I can't get an IR which can do the same thing with a high end control system in place.

Grrrr!!!

Thanks for the response.

 

[bandphan]

this is the only other high output emitter i have used with dual leds. Their tech support would be able to tell you the maximums. Sorry i couldnt help more
scott

 

[majorloser]

You can always buy a T-1 3/4 LED with a narrow beam and then mount that inside a panel mount LED. Again, you need to know what bandwidth the LED is. But they're so cheap you can try one of each of frequencies. I think there's only three frequencies. You'll notice on the LED link I posted it has a very high radiant energy in a very narrow angle. So it would need to be aimed. Otherwise you can go to wider angles or multiple LED's in a cluster.

http://www.ledtronics.com/ds/SML10IR941T/dsdc0185.pdf
http://www.toby.co.uk/content/catalogue/series.asp?category=94

 

[BMXTRIX]

this is the only other high output emitter i have used with dual leds. Their tech support would be able to tell you the maximums. Sorry i couldnt help more
scott

It's appreciated - really.

I just called SpeakerCraft and they thought that if I used a single zone connecting block set to 'blast' mode, that I might get the power I need from the emitter. Typical IR emitters get about 10-20ma of power, but on 'blast' mode, it delivers 150ma, which should get it working across the room.

I figured I might need to do this... bummer, but worth it to get the installation completed and the client happy.