Re: Wireless thermostat

["Big Al" <sal1@xxxxxxxxx>]

"mm" <NOPSAMmm2005@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:2ia312d4mdk63bdo3qrjin9307p9873pn6@xxxxxxxxxx
> On 9 Mar 2006 21:08:20 -0800, aaronfude@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
>
> >Hi,
> >
> >I work 30 min away from home and have to stay at work unpredictably
> >long.
> >
> >Is there such a thing as a wireless thermostat - in the sense that I
> >can login to it and turn the heat on as I'm leaving work. (There are
> >wireless cameras, why not a wireless thermostat?)
>
> Yes, but the words you want to search on are remote controlled, or
> something like that, not wireless.  They have them that work with the
> internet and those that work with the telephone.
>
>
> If you have to leave the computer on all day long, it might cost as
> much as keepign the heat on low, with a setback thermostat to turn it
> up.
>
> How does one figure that.  200 Watt power supply (now theyt're bigger)
> times 10 hours equals 2 KwH = 25cents, going up to 44cents in June
> here.
>
> 400 watt power supply =88 cents a day.  not so much but for 250 work
> days that's about 220 dollars a year, plus wear on the harddrive. :)
> >
> >Many thanks in advance!
> >
> >Aaron Fude
>

I did this years ago with a X-10 system. Set the thermostat where you want
it. Plug a X-10 appliance module to a nearby electric outlet. Make a cord up
with a regular plug at one end and a resistor at the other. I think I
started with a 10K Ohm 5 Watt, but changed it to a 15K later. Fasten the
resistor under the thermostat. You can call the X-10 controller and turn the
resistor on or off. When on, it heats the thermostat and the heat will stay
off unless it gets a lot colder than the set point. The resistor makes
almost no heat, but it it's enough. BTW: My thermostat was an old manual job
with a plastic cover and had a slot at the bottom and top. So the warm air
would pass through it. My system also controlled some lights and the wash
machine. The wash machine was an after thought because the timer stuck one
day and let my clothes agitate for about 12 hours.

Rube Goldburg, I know...

 Al