Interface between PC and a lamp switch

Guys, im just new here, I am just wondering how to create a computer interface that can control a switch of a device or at least a switch for your lamp shade.

I was thinking about connecting it to the parallel port.

the device will have a transistor switch that will turn on and off everytime i send a signal.

My problem is how will i manage the sending of signal to the parallel port. I dont know a lot about hardware interupts.

can you help me guys?

i just want to automate some of my appliance at home.

thanks...

i guess i found the answer for this topic "Interesting Hardware Question!"

im sorry for asking without reading all the post first... but if we can still have a discussion only for this it would really be appreciated...

thats fine.

the reason why not many of us are replying is because not many of us are experts in this kind of stuff. you will most probably find more help on the sites linked in that thread.

Good luck!

There are lights that you can connect to a 3.5" audio jack, couple simply write a program to play (a constant) sound whenever you need the light on and no sound when it's off.

That limits you to 1 light per system.

Just having a bit of a guess, but i suppose you could schedule a print document to print a certain document at a certain time by creating a false printer on the parallel port (LTP1).
This would limit 1 light to a system unless you created a parallel which had numerous connectors to the lamps (pc-8 lamps for instance) but this would turn them all on at the same time. It isnt the end of the world if they all turn on and off at the same time, youll have to use another pc for it as well. Also, if your using a printer, thats going to have to be connected to usb.

Another idea is to have an Iomega Zip Drive or a similar LTP storage device. Youll need 2 cables (parallel) and some time to solder the cables. If you solder the lamp interface switch on the connector of the cable in the pc, when the program is accessed, power will go through the parallel cable, which powers the light via flowing data power. You'll need to have a splitter for mulltiple lights. The Zip Drive should still work, and having your OS (Windows, Linux, Mac etc) schedule that app to run then exit at a certain time, maybe a a counter that closes after 2 hours for instance.

Id give the Zip Drive a go first because I dont think that the 'fake printer' idea will work because the printing service would say a failed print job.

Hope this helps you and I give you the best of luck on your project.