Re: Control central heating via PC, ideas please?

["Simon McCaughey" <simonmcc@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Gary,

I don't know how much help this will actually be to you, but I changed our
3-zone central heating control to computer controlled about 2 years ago,
an=
d
have never looked back. I wrote my own software client so the laptop, and
kitchen pc could both control the heat, and i also have a remote web
interface, and a sms interface (its great to text the heating 20 minutes
before you arrive home on a cold winters evening)

This is an article I wrote at the time
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=3Ddd8r2tb7_2gv37f6&hl=3Den_GB

I used a serial controlled VIOM connected to some bigger relays which
control the motorised valves. There are hard buttons in the utility room
too.

The basic premise of my system is that a little human intervention is
bette=
r
than a "smart" thermostat. I think it has saved us a fortune in
heating oil=
.

Simon

On 30/07/2008, Gary <questuk1@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> With the just announced price rise in gas prices, I think it's time to
> see if i can save money by controlling my boiler using a lower Power
> PC such as a mini ITX. Then I can have lots of different time zones
> and more accurate control of the temperature at giving points in the
day.
>
> For example, I have a RF wall mounted thermostat, but you can only
> adjust this in 1=B0 intervals, and sometimes that can make it too hot
in
> a room, wasting gas.
>
> I'm not sure how to interface and control the boiler yet may be
> Ethernet if there is such a way?  or perhaps using RF control?
>
> As I work electronics that side isn't too hard its more the software I
> will have trouble with?
>
> Has anyone attempted this on the group?
>
> I'm sure many of us now have a requirement for such control, so any
> comments welcome and also any ideas.
>
> Regards Gary
>
>
>
>
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--=20
Regards

Simon


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