Patent ID: 8269376

Claim:
A method for switching a plurality of loads in steps, each load is operated by an electric circuit including one of SPDT and DPDT relay of an AC device and at least one SPDT and DPDT switch, each said AC device further comprising at least one of a current sensor and a status sensor, a CPU, at least one of a memory and a setting selector and at least one transceiver for propagating two way signals; said two way signals selected from a group comprising optical via an optical cable, IR, RF and combinations thereof for exchanging commands between each AC device associated with said plurality of loads via at least one of a controller network and directly, at least one load selected from said plurality is assigned to be a first load operated by a first switch, said method comprising the steps of: a. connecting a pair of traveler wires between said relay and said switch, an AC power to said AC device and to a pole of said relay and said load to a pole of said switch; b. installing said AC device and said at least one switch into one of a single electric box together and individually into separated electric boxes; c. setting particulars of said each load via at least one of said setting selector and download into said memory of each said AC device including particulars of a selected cluster of said plurality of loads; d. keying said first switch for switching said first load on or off; e. detecting by one of said current sensor and said status sensor said first load post keying status; f. triggering a timer by said detecting with a time limit for rekeying; g. rekeying said first switch within said time limit for recalling said cluster switching; h. propagating a cluster switching command commensurate with said post keying status to each AC device associated with said cluster of loads via said at least one of controller network and directly; and i. applying said cluster switching command to said each AC device associated with said cluster.