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How to Wire a Motion Activated Floodlight with an Insteon In-LineLinc Relay

This article illustrates how to re-wire a Heath® Zenith motion activated floodlight, model SL-5412, with an Insteon In-LineLinc Relay for automation of home lighting. You can also purchase a floodlight kit directly from SmartHome.com including the In-LineLinc. But if you want to retro-fit an existing floodlight or prefer a wider range (150° or 180°) PIR [...]

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Automate Exterior Lights with an Insteon Wireless Motion Sensor

My front porch has pendant lights suspended by chains and is controlled by a standard light switch. I automated the porch lights with Insteon home automation controls purchased from SmartHome.com. I covered the Insteon ToggleLinc light switch installation in this article. The related ISY-99i home automation controller is discussed here. The Insteon Motion Sensor is [...]

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How to Watch Netflix Instantly on your HDTV – Part 1

I subscribe to Netflix online movie rental service and mostly watch DVDs on the plasma HDTV. There are times when I’d like to take advantage of Netflix’s “watch instantly” streaming internet video service to view a movie now without waiting for a DVD to arrive in the mail. It’s simple to watch a Netflix movie [...]

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How to Finish a Basement Bathroom – The Complete Series

This is the final update and compendium of the “How to finish a Basement Bathroom” project series for the Do-It-Yourself handyman or homeowner. Links to each construction phase of the project are summarized below, starting from the bare walls to the finished bathroom. Bookmark It!

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How to Install a Solatube Skylight – Part 1

My daughter’s bedroom needed more light than the two small dormer windows could supply. To solve the problem, I installed a Solatube 290 DS skylight. The Solatube tubular skylight is relatively easy to install, has a slim profile and does a fantastic job at providing natural light to a room. I installed one of these [...]

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How to Build a 2×4 Deck Rail on a Concrete Patio – Part 1

This project explains how to build a deck rail from scratch using pressure treated lumber and mount the rail on a concrete patio using concrete wedge anchors. Overview The house sits on a hillside and the basement level concrete patio lacked a deck rail, giving the house a “unfinished” look. I built a 25 inch [...]

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