Home Automation Devices Can Help Control Our Kids

We would like to install a timer to the power in the living area so all power shuts off at a certain time and then comes back on in the morning… By: Dave Rongey

Electrical Question from Nicole about Home Automation Controls for Kids
Background: Nicole, a Homeowner from Chicago, IL
[ad#block]Question: Our basement has one switch to control all the power to the main area. We have 3 teenage boys living down there currently with all sorts of electronics. We’ve tried everything to get them to keeps lights off, shut off computer, TVs, etc. Without comment on the parenting issue, we would like to install a timer to the power in the living area so all power shuts off at a certain time and then comes back on in the morning. Is there a unit that does this and if so, are there controls in the digital ones (so a smart teenager cannot reprogram it?)

Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical question Nicole.
A Programmable x-10 Control Module can be installed at the electrical panel,  at the switch location, in an outlet junction box in the circuit path, or programmable x-10 outlets can be installed at the room location. The module or outlets can be addressed to be activated by any number of manual or programmable remote control devices . If you wish, you can even set these up to be controlled from your telephone from any location, just don’t let the kids know what your doing.

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