Ahoy hoy,

   I am looking for a light which I can control using my computer. I
have seen USB lights that connect to the USB port, and are on as long
as they are plugged in. But I want something that I can control from
the PC. Would it be possible to control those USB lights somehow? I've
also researched home automation equipment, such as X-10 modules, that
allow you to control appliances and lamps using a computer, but I
would like something simpler and less expensive. Thank you.

---

Clarification of Question by garbonzo-ga on 24 Feb 2004 11:48 PST

Wow,

  Thanks for all of the helpful comments. I will seriously consider
using the x-10 system. But I would like to clarify my question a bit.
If I were to use one of the USB LED lights, that either have physical
on/off switches, or are always on when plugged into the USB port,
would there be a way to control power to the USB port, controlling the
state of the light?

  Thanks again for all of the helpful comments. I'm amazed that I
already had a response within 6 minutes! Go pinkfreud!

---

Request for Question Clarification by aht-ga on 24 Feb 2004 11:54 PST

The lights that draw their power directly from the USB port cannot be
independently controlled without affecting all of the other USB
devices that you may have. The power for the USB port is shared
between all ports on the same hub, and the ports that your PC may have
built-in are essentially all on the same hub as far as the PC is
concerned. Turning power off to the USB ports will disable all USB
devices connected to your PC.

That said, if the light is the ONLY USB device that is connected to
your PC, there *may* be a way to turn on and off the power to your USB
ports. I say *may*, because for some PCs this may involve a reboot,
defeating the whole purpose.

The only other way would be to find a manufacturer of such a light
that has gone to the extent of embedding a controller in the light
that interacts with a driver installed on the PC to control the light.
I do not believe that such a light currently exists on the market, but
it is technically feasible.

Regards,

aht-ga
Google Answers Researcher

---

Clarification of Question by garbonzo-ga on 24 Feb 2004 13:27 PST

Well, it seems as though the request for clarification, along with the
comments, answers my question. However, since there was no official
answer posted, how do i close out this question? I consider it
properly answered and feel it was worth the $4.50 I listed for this
question. Now that I am reasonably sure that the solution I was
looking for doesn't exist, I will be happy to resort to the X-10
solution, which, though more expensive, offers flexibility and other
functions I may want.

---

Request for Question Clarification by aht-ga on 24 Feb 2004 13:39 PST

Occasions such as this one, where multiple Researchers provide input
that help a customer come to a conclusion, happen every now and then.

What usually works out best, is for the customer to decide which
Researcher's contributions helped the most in reaching the conclusion.
In this particular case, the ever-speedy Pinkfreud provided the
recommendation regarding the X-10 devices. You may also have based
some of your decisions on the information referenced by Omnivorous.
Simply let us know, via a clarification, which Researcher you would
like to receive the list price amount (unfortunately, there can only
be one recipient per question), and that Researcher will post the
Answer to complete the transaction.

Thanks,

aht-ga
Google Answers Researcher

---

Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 24 Feb 2004 13:47 PST

I'd like to suggest that you choose either aht or omnivorous to post
the official answer to your question. Although I was first to post a
comment, my colleagues provided a good deal more material than I did.

---

Clarification of Question by garbonzo-ga on 24 Feb 2004 16:00 PST

I feel that the credit should be due to aht, who provided me with the
information I needed. So, aht, looks like you're (.75 * $4.50) richer!
I would also like to thank pinkfreud and omnivorous for their helpful
comments. You all rock.

garbonzo-ga:

Thanks for accepting my information as your Answer. Allow me to
summarize it all here:

Pinkfreud-ga suggested that you consider an alternative solution, from X-10:

http://www.x10.com/automation/firecracker.htm

(incidentally, I have one of those kits myself)

Omnivorous suggested that you obtain more information about x-10
technology from his previous Answer for a client, at:

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=192224

He also mentioned that:

"They're out of patent protection and widely manufactured, making them
the lowest-cost automation & control technology in the market."

My original comment was to echo my colleagues recommendation, based on
my own experience with X-10 modules.

In response to your query about the feasibility of your original
request, which is to control a USB-powered LED light from the PC
itself, I responded:

---

The lights that draw their power directly from the USB port cannot be
independently controlled without affecting all of the other USB
devices that you may have. The power for the USB port is shared
between all ports on the same hub, and the ports that your PC may have
built-in are essentially all on the same hub as far as the PC is
concerned. Turning power off to the USB ports will disable all USB
devices connected to your PC.

That said, if the light is the ONLY USB device that is connected to
your PC, there *may* be a way to turn on and off the power to your USB
ports. I say *may*, because for some PCs this may involve a reboot,
defeating the whole purpose.

The only other way would be to find a manufacturer of such a light
that has gone to the extent of embedding a controller in the light
that interacts with a driver installed on the PC to control the light.
I do not believe that such a light currently exists on the market, but
it is technically feasible.

---

So, there's your complete Answer!

Regards,

aht-ga
Google Answers Researcher

------------------------------

Search Strategy: personal past experience and knowledge

Thanks aht, pinkfreud and omnivorous for your helpful insight! Google
Answers is great!

This X-10 system is quite inexpensive:

http://www.x10.com/automation/firecracker.htm

Garbonzo --

I did some research into wireless controls for this question and can
assure you that X10 controllers are the lowest-cost way to implement
computer controls:
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=192224

They're out of patent protection and widely manufactured, making them
the lowest-cost automation & control technology in the market.

Best regards,

Omnivorous-GA

Garbonzo:

To add to what my colleagues have mentioned above, I myself have been
using X-10 controllers for home automation for the past ten years. I
find them extremely handy and cheap to acquire. Radio Shack carries
them under their Plug'n'Power re-branded name, and often you can find
them either on sale or in the clearance section there.

Regards,

aht-ga
Google Answers Researcher

Thank you for the kind words and the tip!

aht-ga
Google Answers Researcher

You might also take a look at the Clipsal C-Bus home automation
system, and associated home automation software. The installation
software which also allows you to control group addresses is free.
Useful links:
http://www.homeautomationaustralia.com
http://www.cleverhome.com.au