Thread: Arlec Remote Controls

G'day Big Shed

If your looking to get a refund on your Arlec gear and go for something else, I have a Nelson reciever & transmitter that I got from bunnings that uses dial switches to program the frequencies...I have had them for about a year to switch my dusty and have never had a problem.

From memory they are a bit more exy than the arlec stuff...but so far have done a perfect job for me.

Here is a link to a PDF with all the wireless Nelson stuff on it.
The ones I have are the MLIP-170 reciever and the MLITF-65 remote control

http://www.nelsonlamps.com.au/produc...SwitchLink.pdf

cheers
BD

What I did for my DC was to use a single channel remote light switch and use it to trigger a relay capable of handling the startup current of my DC, which can be quite high.
Be sure the Arlec unit can handle the startup current of your DC, which can momentarily be as much as 4-5 times the running current.

Originally Posted by Termite

What I did for my DC was to use a single channel remote light switch and use it to trigger a relay capable of handling the startup current of my DC, which can be quite high.
Be sure the Arlec unit can handle the startup current of your DC, which can momentarily be as much as 4-5 times the running current.

The Arlec units handle the start up current OK, even handle the 3hp tablesaw motor. It is the frequency that is the problem!

Originally Posted by Brown Dog

G'day Big Shed

If your looking to get a refund on your Arlec gear and go for something else, I have a Nelson reciever & transmitter that I got from bunnings that uses dial switches to program the frequencies...I have had them for about a year to switch my dusty and have never had a problem.

From memory they are a bit more exy than the arlec stuff...but so far have done a perfect job for me.

Here is a link to a PDF with all the wireless Nelson stuff on it.
The ones I have are the MLIP-170 reciever and the MLITF-65 remote control

http://www.nelsonlamps.com.au/products%20page/PDF%20Files/SwitchLink.pdf

cheers
BD

Thanks for that BD, will have a look at those at Bunnies. Must say when I bought the Arlec units, Bunnies didn't have any remote stuff, not even the Arlec units. Had to go to Home Hardware to get those.

What hp/wattage is your dusty? Mine is 2hp/1500W.

What hp/wattage is your dusty? Mine is 2hp/1500W

.

Mine is the same, it seems to work fine

Must say when I bought the Arlec units, Bunnies didn't have any remote stuff, not even the Arlec units.

I think you have to keep looking or maybe ask if they will get them in. I looked a couple of times with no luck but then all of a sudden they had heaps of wireless stuff


cheers
BD

My 2 Hp motor driving my DC system draws 18 amps at startup.

I am using the Arlec unit, but it only switches a relay which it turns on, to supply power to the DC.

I started a thread about this a while back called "remote control switching of DC" (from a poor memory) If you want to do a search.

Hi Big Shed, as a result of Ironwoods earlier thread I also bought the Arlec 3 unit pack. I have the DC on 1 and the radio on 2 .... spooky eh!
A similar thing happened and it seemed to result from the battery being low. I replaced the battery, reprogrammed receivers 1 and 2 and no probs since. I have, however, bought a spare battery to keep on hand.
I reckon that I now use the DC twice as often as I used to ... and probably about 90% of the time I should.
Fletty

Originally Posted by fletty

Hi Big Shed, as a result of Ironwoods earlier thread I also bought the Arlec 3 unit pack. I have the DC on 1 and the radio on 2 .... spooky eh!
A similar thing happened and it seemed to result from the battery being low. I replaced the battery, reprogrammed receivers 1 and 2 and no probs since. I have, however, bought a spare battery to keep on hand.
I reckon that I now use the DC twice as often as I used to ... and probably about 90% of the time I should.
Fletty

Just goes to show, great minds think alike!

I have now returned the Arlec units and got my money back. Got the usual story "that has never happened before, you are the first one! (wish I had a dollar for every time I've heard that)". When I suggested they swap it over and I try again, got "no we don't stock them anymore" (wonder why).

Fletty, I thought I could do the same, just re-program the units, however I read the instructions several times and it definitely says that once they are programmed they cannot be re-programmed. Guy in the shop also suggested re-programming and when I suggested he RTFM, he agreed. We even tried to do it regardless.

Nope, 3 receivers all on channel 2!

Seems a weird design, program once, spontaneously changes channel, cannot be re-programmed?


Then went to Bunnies and went to look for the Nelson units that Brown Dog suggested, usual Bunnies story in Bendigo, had the remote senders but no 10A receivers.

Hi,

I have been using remote power control units from this place http://www.envioustechnology.com.au for the past 3 years. No problems with them at all. I use them on my 2HP dusty, 1400 W shopvac, & various lights. Just received some more units today and have installed them with no problems. You can have up to 16 separate units per remote control (palm size remote) or 4 separate units for the credit card size remote control. Originally were sold at Tandy and Dick Smith but they haven't sold them for about 2 years. Have a look them anyway - very easy to setup.

Hi Big Shed.

Originally Posted by Big Shed

Just goes to show, great minds think alike!
Then went to Bunnies and went to look for the Nelson units that Brown Dog suggested, usual Bunnies story in Bendigo, had the remote senders but no 10A receivers.

I'm in Sydney but will be going to Bendigo tomorrow, if you like I'll try and source the part from Bunnies here and take them down there for you.

Rgds Phil.

Originally Posted by philf

Hi Big Shed.



I'm in Sydney but will be going to Bendigo tomorrow, if you like I'll try and source the part from Bunnies here and take them down there for you.

Rgds Phil.

Thanks for your kind offer Phil, however another forum member has already kindly offered to organise a couple of remotes for me. Thanks again.

Originally Posted by Big Shed

Thanks for your kind offer Phil, however another forum member has already kindly offered to organise a couple of remotes for me. Thanks again.

Glad you got it sorted ok Thanks for your PM

Rgds Phil.

Hmmm...this is interesting... I picked mine up as I didn't want to go to the hassle of having something more expensive or something that I had to design myself...it just wouldn't have happened.


So I've had some of the symptoms mentioned here - first thing I did was toss out the supplied battery and put in a Duracell A23 replacement...Let's face it the shelf life of reasonable batteries is very low - so go for an alkaline---- you will be amazed at how much better things are....

Re-programming - now I know that Fred you have taken yours back - but I've reprogrammed mine...there is something in the instructions about about disconnecting from the power for a little over a minute....this is to allow the inbuilt capacitor to discharge... I say this with complete and utter confidence because...

1. I've reprogrammed mine..
2. You've taken yours back

Originally Posted by spartan

Hmmm...this is interesting... I picked mine up as I didn't want to go to the hassle of having something more expensive or something that I had to design myself...it just wouldn't have happened.


So I've had some of the symptoms mentioned here - first thing I did was toss out the supplied battery and put in a Duracell A23 replacement...Let's face it the shelf life of reasonable batteries is very low - so go for an alkaline---- you will be amazed at how much better things are....

Re-programming - now I know that Fred you have taken yours back - but I've reprogrammed mine...there is something in the instructions about about disconnecting from the power for a little over a minute....this is to allow the inbuilt capacitor to discharge... I say this with complete and utter confidence because...

1. I've reprogrammed mine..
2. You've taken yours back

That is interesting Spartan. That is also what the guy in the ome Hardware said, although the instructions that came with mine specifically stated that once programmed they could not be re-programmed.
So I invited him to try it, seeing that they had been in the car for at least 48 hours, sorry to say it was no go. All 3 were firmly on #2!

Must say I was very disappointed as I was quite impressed with them. However there are several people now, you included, that have confirmed that they do re-set themselves (always to #2 I wonder) and that would eventually give me the sh*ts!

Anyway, as above another forumite has kindly offered to modify some other remotes with a high current relay and they should be here in a day or so