Patent ID: 8384249

Claim:
A method for introducing into an electrical box a joined device occupying a single gang area of a wall plate covering said box, said joined device consisting of a wiring device selected from a group comprising an SPDT mechanical switch, a DPDT mechanical switch, at least one power outlet and combinations thereof and an AC device selected from a group comprising an SPDT relay, a DPDT relay, at least one current sensor and combinations thereof: said AC device further comprising at least one of a first transceiver selected from a group comprising RF, IR in line of sight, optical and combinations thereof for exchanging bidirectional signals with at least one of a distributor and a controller, a holder for attaching a terminated end of an optical cable to a first optical access of said optical transceiver, and at least one of a setting switch and a memory for setting at least one of a location and particulars of an appliance powered via said joined device; said optical cable is selected from a group comprising lightguide, fiber optic and a combination thereof, said wiring device further including terminals selected from a group comprising at least one load terminal, at least one pair of traveler terminals, power terminals and combinations thereof, said terminals having a structure selected from a group comprising screw terminals, snap-in terminals and a combination thereof; said AC device is attachable to said wiring device by a complementary joints selected from a group comprising screw joints, snap-in pins, pigtails and combinations thereof, and said joined device is covered by said wall plate having an opening for at least one of a key lever of said mechanical switch and for said power outlet, said method comprising the steps of: a. attaching said at least one of a pair of said complementary joints to said at least one of a pair of terminals; b. connecting AC power to said AC device and said at least one load to said wiring device; c. setting said location and particulars through one of said setting switch and said memory; d. terminating the two ends of at least one optical cable by a process selected from a group comprising cutting, trimming, shaping and combinations thereof for linking said first optical access with a second optical access of a second optical transceiver included in said one of distributor and controller via said two ends; e. attaching said joined device to said electrical box; f. covering said joined device and said electrical box by said wall plate with at least one of said key lever and said power outlet are accessible through said opening; g. Powering said appliance manually via one of plugging a power plug of the appliance into said socket and actuating the key lever of said mechanical switch; and h. Reporting one of the current and power consumed including said automation control of said appliance via said exchanging bidirectional signals with at least one of said distributor and controller direct or via signal converter.