This is a device for adjusting lights in your home with any type of remote controller (tv, dvd, video,…). Today we are using many devices in our homes to improve quality of our life and this is another example on how you can enhance a simple procedure like switching the lights ON/OFF. It may be difficult to many of us to stand up from our chair only to switch lights, so try imagining yourself doing this with your remote controller.

 

Here is a solution for you

The Ir LightDimmer is simple to use, you only need two keys of your remote controller, which are not often used (like teletext keys or similar) or which are not used at all and one push-button that you will put in place of  the existing light switch. Ir LightDimmer can memorize two remote controller keys (see “memorizing the remote controller keys” section), so that the first one will be used to turn on lights or increase light intensity, and the other will be used to turn off lights or decrease light intensity.

Schematic

 

 

IR detectors

TSOP1738 - 38Khz TSOP1138 - 38Khz TSOP1736 - 36Khz

SFH5110 - 38 ( 38Khz)

 

How it works

We have two ways to control light: either with push-button or with remote controller. Using the push-button, when we apply a short press we can turn ON or OFF lights, but if we press and hold the button more than 300ms the light intensity is increasing to maximum or decreasing to minimum continuously until you press the button. If we press and hold the button so that lights go to maximum 3 times, then device enters “memorizing the remote controller keys” mode.

In a new software version, I will add a “double click” mode (like PC mousses), so when you double click the push-button, the lights go ON to 70%, and slowly decreasing light intensity to minimum in a period of 1 minute. This mode is good for your bedroom, so when you go to sleep just double click the button and go to bed. If you don't like to wait lights to go OFF in 1 minute, you can break this mode by pressing button or by pressing remote controller keys.

Using remote controller key to control the dimmer you can turn on lights or increase light intensity. With a short press, lights turn ON to maximum and if you press and hold key then light intensity increases until you press that key.

The same thing happens with second remote controller key which is used to turn lights off or decrease light intensity. When you short press that key, the lights will turn OFF and if you press and hold key then light intensity decrease until you press that key.

When turning lights ON or OFF they are not reacting immediately but they change state slowly so your bulbs will have longer life duration. Also with adjusting light intensity you save on electrical energy.

 

light intensity to 5%	light intensity to 50%	light intensity to 100%

 

Memorizing the remote controller keys

If you have chosen which remote controller keys will be used as controlling keys, we can start with memorizing process. Press and hold button until lights go 3 times to maximum. After that, light will turn OFF, and that is indication of successful entering “memorizing the remote controller keys” mode, then you can release button. In the next 5 seconds, you must press the first key on remote controller, if you do, lights will blink several times. After that, you must press the second remote controller key, if you do, lights will also blink several times. That's all, memorizing process is finished. 

You can change the assigned remote controller keys when you wish. After powering down the Ir LightDimmer, it will keep in memory these remote controller keys, so you don't have to memorizing remote controller keys again when the device powers up. 

 

Instructions

Ir LightDimmer is a small device (36*32mm) and can be easily mounted in electrical case where electrical wires terminate. Device works only with 220V/50Hz and only for resistive loads of 40W-400W. With Ir LightDimmer you can't use inductive or capacity loads (only bulbs). Device is based on PIC12F629 which is a small microchip microcontroller and therefore overall device is small and uses a few components. On circuit board you can find the IR-receiver, which in our case is TSOP1738, but you can use any other type of IR-receiver which has frequency of 38KHz. For output power stage you can use triac TIC206 or TIC216. For loads more than 150W you must add a heat sink on triac. The rest of parts are defined in schematic.

You must be careful when you connect IrLightDimmer to electrical wire, so you must break fuse switches of your lights. All connections must be like in my schematic, otherwise device will definitive burn out.

If you have IrLightDimmer mounted and connected and you want to change your lights, you must break fuse switches because there is risk of electric shock.

Circuit board can be downloaded here: IrLightDimmerSfh.pcb or IrLightDimmerTsop.pcb

or Ir LightDimmerTsop.pdf

Hex file for PIC12F629 is not available and is not for sale. For any question please feel free to mail me.

Download full article in .doc

Disclaimer

Please take the greatest of care in handling AC mains supply while constructing this project. If you have no knowledge of mains wiring or unfamiliar with household mains supply, PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT CONSTRUCTION. I take no responsibility in any personal injury or loss of life or properties suffered by any person while undertaking the construction of this project or using the end product by following my instructions.