>Also are you familiar with a system controlling lights and
>appliances with a computer?
I'm using "X-10" controller systems here, available at the local Radio
Shack. I've got the appliance modules on my fluorescent Vita-lites, and
a clock-radio style x-10 controller panel hung on the wall to set time
on/off.
The lights come on starting at 6:30 am, one set every 5 minutes
in the morning, and go off at 9:30 at night, one set every 5 minutes.
That way the birds aren't started into their day by all 6 lights coming
on at once, and they dim down to announce bedtime.
We have a computer controller w/program that works with the X-10 stuff,
but we've never set it up to control the basement room. (We plan to
dedicate an old 286 w/10 meg HD to this task, someplace fairly dust-free
downstairs.) Once we finally DO, it will be able to turn the lights off
or on at a different time every day, if we program it to.
I've had the X-10 stuff running down there for 5 years, and I'm really
happy with it. It's inexpensive ($10 for a light/appliance module, and
$30 for the timer/clock), and easily available at any Radio Shack or
through their catalogs.
--Kathy
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