Question:
: Hello, : I’m hoping someone can point me in the right direction. : We have a cabin on a lake in Western Montana, and I would like to be : able to remotely (via phone or computer) turn on the electric baseboard : heat. (Call the cabin, turn on the heat/ceiling fans, drive to the : cabin, cabin is warm when we arrive!) Someday I may want to add security : system, … : Where can I go to get information on putting together a system (dial up : controller, relays,…) to do such a thing. Is there a FAQ : Has anyone done this before (I bet you have)? What are the pros and : cons of different methods? What are folk’s experience with the : different equipment? Try: www.smarthome.com : Thanks : Bob Garner
Response:
Rat Shack lists a bunch of X-10 stuff in their catalog including control boxes that you can access and control over the phone. They also have separate devices that will place a call if the temp drops beyond a certain point providing that feed-back loop. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Home Control Concepts (1-800-CON-TROL) has a catalog that is a hobbyists > dream. They sell many, many X-10 devices by different manufactures. I > suspect that they will have what you need. > — > Tom Gauldin, Raleigh NC > -NetMeeting ils.four11.com, Live Birdfeeder Action > ICQ 7022136 fax (919) 676-1404 > ftp://ftp.mindspring.com/pub/users/scoundrl/gauldin1.htm > Here’s to the land of the Longleaf Pine, > The Summerland, where the sun doth shine, > Where the weak grow strong, and the strong grow great, > Here’s to Downhome, the Old North State. >Electric baseboards might be a little expensive to control if there is >not already a separate low voltage thermostat. You will have to put a >power relay in the circuit (possibly one for each baseboard), then >control via the relay. >For our lake place, I built a box that lets me switch an X-10 contact >closure in series with the 24vac thermostat. Burgler alarm interface or >powerflash interface — I don’t remember what the thing is called. >Then a telephone responder lets me close the x-10 contacts (hence >enabling the thermostat to turn on the furnace) and a timer >automatically issues an "open" command once every 24 hours so that the >heat can’t accidentally come on and stay on when we’re not there. >The only problem with the system is that it is open loop — no way to >know whether the heat is actually on or not. I run my house with a few >thousand lines of VB code on a little Compaq Prosignia server — next >step will be to do the same at the lake and then I will use NT Remote >Access Service to really run things cleanly. It’s amazing how much time >and money you can waste if you do it in small bits over a long period of >time! >Geo. Anderson >> Hello, >> I’m hoping someone can point me in the right direction. >> We have a cabin on a lake in Western Montana, and I would like to be >> able to remotely (via phone or computer) turn on the electric baseboard >> heat. (Call the cabin, turn on the heat/ceiling fans, drive to the >> cabin, cabin is warm when we arrive!) Someday I may want to add security >> system, … >> Where can I go to get information on putting together a system (dial up >> controller, relays,…) to do such a thing. Is there a FAQ >> Has anyone done this before (I bet you have)? What are the pros and >> cons of different methods? What are folk’s experience with the >> different equipment? >> Thanks >> Bob Garner >– >(please remove the letters "NO_SPAM" from my reply-to address) >Remember, the people who paint lane stripes on the road >of life probably have different objectives than you do. >Like sports cars? Check out my book: >"WINNING! A Race Driver’s Handbook >at http://durequip.com/winning/
Response:
> Rat Shack lists a bunch of X-10 stuff in their catalog including control > boxes that you can access and control over the phone. They also have > separate devices that will place a call if the temp drops beyond a > certain point providing that feed-back loop.
I would be warry of the junk Radio Schlock sells. We had some of the RS auto-dialer alarms set up in a lab a while ago. The idea is if various systems failed, or the room temp got too high, they would dial a list of people to give them an alert. The way the box was supposed to work was that you would answer the phone, get the alert, hang up, and dial back within a certain amount of time to acknowledge the alert. The problem is, the box died and once it started dialing, would not release the line, tying up my phone forever, until I got into the car and drove over there and turned the damn thing off. The concept is good, but the implementation left something to be desired.
Response:
If it makes anyone feel better, I just returned from a tour of 2 factories in mainland China that build telephone equipment and AC adaptors. Both of these factories produce products for Radio Shack as well AT&T/Lucent, Panasonic,Swatch and other big names. What I found at both factories was a very clean environment with mordern equipment and facilities. The factory workers were almost all women between the ages of 18-25 that had come from the northern provinces to work and send money home to their families. The factories provide dormitory facilites, meals, medical care and decent pay. According to the managers I spoke with, the girls are so anxious to work and earn money that they have to limit the hours that the girls work to a maximum of 12 per day. The girls working the assembly lines were dressed well, lighting and ventilation were very good, they were all seated and the pace of the line was actually fairly slow. If anything they were overstaffed. I was there because I’m having a product produced in those factories and I wanted to be sure that I didn’t fall victim to the Kathie Lee problem. I was quite favorably impressed with the facilities, training, and ISO 9002 quality standards that I saw there. I think China has come a long way in recent years as they realize that their world customers have expectations that must be met.
news.mindspring.com>…
>I would be warry of the junk Radio Schlock sells. We had some of the RS >auto-dialer alarms set up in a lab a while ago. The idea is if various >systems failed, or the room temp got too high, they
would dial a list of >people to give them an alert. >The way the box was supposed to work was that you
would answer the phone, >get the alert, hang up, and dial back within a
certain amount of time to >acknowledge the alert. The problem is, the box died and once it started >dialing, would not release the line, tying up my
phone forever, until I >got into the car and drove over there and turned the damn thing off. >The concept is good, but the implementation left
something to be desired. >The X-10 type stuff that is marketed under various
labels including rat >schlock’s is all made in the same prison camp in
China – only the labels >are changed to confuse the buyer and the Leviton items are dressed up a >little more to get the elite crowd’s business (they also have some with >additional bells and whistles though) – Over the years they have been made >in several different Pacific rim countries all
probably employing child and >impressed labor in sweat shops at much less than a minimum wage – the >p[roduction seems to have settled down in China I
suppose because the labor >cost there are minimal (prisoners and their keepers). >Rat’s prices however are higher than most mail order home automation >sources except when they have their periodic sales
when they may come down – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->close to the mail order prices for individual units.
Response:
Neil, I checked w/ Ouellett Canada Inc. a few years ago to see if there was a US version of the OTE-X10. At that time there wasn’t one. After reading your note I checked their web site again and it appeared that Ouellett still only offers a Canadian version. Did you find a US version or are you using this in Canada? Jeff – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Electric baseboards might be a little expensive to control if there is >not already a separate low voltage thermostat. You will have to put a >power relay in the circuit (possibly one for each baseboard), then >control via the relay. >> I’m hoping someone can point me in the right direction. >> We have a cabin on a lake in Western Montana, and I would like to be >> able to remotely (via phone or computer) turn on the electric baseboard >> heat. (Call the cabin, turn on the heat/ceiling fans, drive to the >> cabin, cabin is warm when we arrive!) Someday I may want to add security >> system, … >Geo make a good point X10 really has no feedback so you have to build >a set up that controls and aquires info. Building it yourself can be >fun but then you also have to debug it. You may be able to buy >something ready made. >For my home baseboard I’m using an OTE-X10 and it works pretty >well. It costs ~$60US from HAS for each thermostat. Other setback >therms cost about ~$120US at Home Depot. Either way that can be >expensive. >–
Response:
http://www.smarthome.com Go there, order their catalog (you may be able to call also). The have a ton of home automation systems, some have feedback capability, and can be used over the phone. Best I’ve seen so far. Just beginning home automation, though. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Hello, >I’m hoping someone can point me in the right direction. >We have a cabin on a lake in Western Montana, and I would like to be >able to remotely (via phone or computer) turn on the electric baseboard >heat. (Call the cabin, turn on the heat/ceiling fans, drive to the >cabin, cabin is warm when we arrive!) Someday I may want to add security >system, … >Where can I go to get information on putting together a system (dial up >controller, relays,…) to do such a thing. Is there a FAQ >Has anyone done this before (I bet you have)? What are the pros and >cons of different methods? What are folk’s experience with the >different equipment? >Thanks >Bob Garner
Jimmy R. Thompson General Dynamics-IS
Response:
Home Control Concepts (1-800-CON-TROL) has a catalog that is a hobbyists dream. They sell many, many X-10 devices by different manufactures. I suspect that they will have what you need. — Tom Gauldin, Raleigh NC -NetMeeting ils.four11.com, Live Birdfeeder Action ICQ 7022136 fax (919) 676-1404 ftp://ftp.mindspring.com/pub/users/scoundrl/gauldin1.htm Here’s to the land of the Longleaf Pine, The Summerland, where the sun doth shine, Where the weak grow strong, and the strong grow great, Here’s to Downhome, the Old North State. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Electric baseboards might be a little expensive to control if there is >not already a separate low voltage thermostat. You will have to put a >power relay in the circuit (possibly one for each baseboard), then >control via the relay. >For our lake place, I built a box that lets me switch an X-10 contact >closure in series with the 24vac thermostat. Burgler alarm interface or >powerflash interface — I don’t remember what the thing is called. >Then a telephone responder lets me close the x-10 contacts (hence >enabling the thermostat to turn on the furnace) and a timer >automatically issues an "open" command once every 24 hours so that the >heat can’t accidentally come on and stay on when we’re not there. >The only problem with the system is that it is open loop — no way to >know whether the heat is actually on or not. I run my house with a few >thousand lines of VB code on a little Compaq Prosignia server — next >step will be to do the same at the lake and then I will use NT Remote >Access Service to really run things cleanly. It’s amazing how much time >and money you can waste if you do it in small bits over a long period of >time! >Geo. Anderson > Hello, > I’m hoping someone can point me in the right direction. > We have a cabin on a lake in Western Montana, and I would like to be > able to remotely (via phone or computer) turn on the electric baseboard > heat. (Call the cabin, turn on the heat/ceiling fans, drive to the > cabin, cabin is warm when we arrive!) Someday I may want to add security > system, … > Where can I go to get information on putting together a system (dial up > controller, relays,…) to do such a thing. Is there a FAQ > Has anyone done this before (I bet you have)? What are the pros and > cons of different methods? What are folk’s experience with the > different equipment? > Thanks > Bob Garner >– >(please remove the letters "NO_SPAM" from my reply-to address) >Remember, the people who paint lane stripes on the road >of life probably have different objectives than you do. >Like sports cars? Check out my book: >"WINNING! A Race Driver’s Handbook >at http://durequip.com/winning/
Response:
>Electric baseboards might be a little expensive to control if there is >not already a separate low voltage thermostat. You will have to put a >power relay in the circuit (possibly one for each baseboard), then >control via the relay. > I’m hoping someone can point me in the right direction. > We have a cabin on a lake in Western Montana, and I would like to be > able to remotely (via phone or computer) turn on the electric baseboard > heat. (Call the cabin, turn on the heat/ceiling fans, drive to the > cabin, cabin is warm when we arrive!) Someday I may want to add security > system, …
Geo make a good point X10 really has no feedback so you have to build a set up that controls and aquires info. Building it yourself can be fun but then you also have to debug it. You may be able to buy something ready made. For my home baseboard I’m using an OTE-X10 and it works pretty well. It costs ~$60US from HAS for each thermostat. Other setback therms cost about ~$120US at Home Depot. Either way that can be expensive. —
Response:
Electric baseboards might be a little expensive to control if there is not already a separate low voltage thermostat. You will have to put a power relay in the circuit (possibly one for each baseboard), then control via the relay. For our lake place, I built a box that lets me switch an X-10 contact closure in series with the 24vac thermostat. Burgler alarm interface or powerflash interface — I don’t remember what the thing is called. Then a telephone responder lets me close the x-10 contacts (hence enabling the thermostat to turn on the furnace) and a timer automatically issues an "open" command once every 24 hours so that the heat can’t accidentally come on and stay on when we’re not there. The only problem with the system is that it is open loop — no way to know whether the heat is actually on or not. I run my house with a few thousand lines of VB code on a little Compaq Prosignia server — next step will be to do the same at the lake and then I will use NT Remote Access Service to really run things cleanly. It’s amazing how much time and money you can waste if you do it in small bits over a long period of time! Geo. Anderson – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hello, > I’m hoping someone can point me in the right direction. > We have a cabin on a lake in Western Montana, and I would like to be > able to remotely (via phone or computer) turn on the electric baseboard > heat. (Call the cabin, turn on the heat/ceiling fans, drive to the > cabin, cabin is warm when we arrive!) Someday I may want to add security > system, … > Where can I go to get information on putting together a system (dial up > controller, relays,…) to do such a thing. Is there a FAQ > Has anyone done this before (I bet you have)? What are the pros and > cons of different methods? What are folk’s experience with the > different equipment? > Thanks > Bob Garner
– (please remove the letters "NO_SPAM" from my reply-to address) Remember, the people who paint lane stripes on the road of life probably have different objectives than you do. Like sports cars? Check out my book: "WINNING! A Race Driver’s Handbook at http://durequip.com/winning/
Response:
Hello, I’m hoping someone can point me in the right direction. We have a cabin on a lake in Western Montana, and I would like to be able to remotely (via phone or computer) turn on the electric baseboard heat. (Call the cabin, turn on the heat/ceiling fans, drive to the cabin, cabin is warm when we arrive!) Someday I may want to add security system, … Where can I go to get information on putting together a system (dial up controller, relays,…) to do such a thing. Is there a FAQ Has anyone done this before (I bet you have)? What are the pros and cons of different methods? What are folk’s experience with the different equipment? Thanks Bob Garner
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