Friday, August 31, 2012

GE Low Voltage Lighting control system was ahead of its time

 In early 1960's General Electric released an advanced  low voltage lighting control system which used a series of   24 VAC  3 wire relays( middle picture )which was years ahead in its design . It allowed the controlling of all lights in the house from one master location or multiple locations which was a great security and energy saving  feature . The parts are still available as far as relays but some of the fancy low voltage switches are no longer available like the master control at top left .
Many electricians throw there hands up in the air when they run across these systems but they are actually very easy to trouble shoot
 if you understand them. While attending OVT Electrical training at South Vocational  we had several boards set up with these controls  which you could wire up several different scenarios.
The systems where expensive to install so you normally only ran across them in high end homes I have run across a dozen in 35 years in the field, but they where used in some commercial buildings as well. One of the largest installs ever done with this system was the now demolished Civic arena in Pittsburgh Pa.
This whole system had  no fancy switching electronics like today's systems  just simple relays. You will also find the name Bryant  on some switches as well which Licensed them thru GE.


At bottom left is a typical rocker low voltage switch you would find next to a standard wall switch you pushed one way light went on pushed other way light went off .

The only parts available are the simple rocker switches and relays very expensive to replace and repair. and only a hand full of us left that work on them.






15 comments:

  1. Hi – It’s good to read such interesting stuff on the Internet as I have been able to discover here. I agree with much of what is written here and I’ll be coming back to this website again.
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    ReplyDelete
  2. You've got some great info on this blog. I find it interesting when things that were made a long time ago seem to be better than things that are newer and "more sophisticated." Where can you find these systems now? http://electricexcel.com/commercial-and-industrial-services/

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  3. Regarding:
    Friday, August 31, 2012
    GE Low Voltage Lighting control system was ahead of its time
    http://www.gelighting.com/na/business_lighting/products/lighting_controls/pdfs/tlclvrc.pdf
    the above link doesn't work any suggestions? I have this system and I need information on it.

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    Replies
    1. google: gea-11082 manual or visit http://www.electricalpartmanuals.com/pdf/switch/General%20Electric/Other/GEA-11082.pdf

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  4. Thanks for sharing the information!! I have also purchased light controlling system from the digital showroom from last month and their prices for very products are very reasonable. Check on their website.

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  5. Thank you for bringing more information to this topic for me. I’m truly grateful and really impressed. Please visit http://goo.gl/J6Hi1U

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have this system in my house how can I set these dials so every light is on I have an outside spot light but can't turn it on anymore due to theses switches I want to set these dials to the on position so when I turn on my lights they all work thanks guys

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  7. Wow, my parents have that system in their house.

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  8. You certainly wouldn't get me to 'troubleshoot' that tangled mess. Thankfully, modern day home automation systems are far less complicated and not too many, easier on the eyes.

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  9. Are you sure the problem is the switch? I have a switch like this in my house. You can hold the ON knob down and rotate it to turn on 12 lights. I do not know if you can connect more than 1 relay to a number without creating problems with another switch controlling one of the same relays.

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  10. Are you sure the problem is the switch? I have a switch like this in my house. You can hold the ON knob down and rotate it to turn on 12 lights. I do not know if you can connect more than 1 relay to a number without creating problems with another switch controlling one of the same relays.

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  11. A setup like this would be a tangled mess no matter what system you were using.

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  12. I have some of the newer switches which have back lighting so they are easy to find in the dark.

    I also have some switches which have a light behind the switch which lights when the switch is on and out when the switch if off. Great for On/Off of things you cannot see at the switch.

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  13. Are you interested in additional pictures of GE Low Voltage items?

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  14. Hi. I currently have the panel (shown in the top picture) but the knobs have been lost. I'm looking for a full panel or just knobs to replace and get the functionality back. Please let me know if anyone has one they've replaced and no longer need.

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