I see that many of the home automation discussions center around temperatire control. I have used programmable thermostats for quite a while, and find that they pretty much meet all my needs...unless I am overlooking something. If you have incorporated your themostats into your home automation system, how do you use it? And what is it that you do with your system that you wouldn't normally be able to do with a typical programmable thermostat?
Skip
This may not exactly answer your question, but:
Before I had central A/C installed I plugged my window and wall air conditioners into X-10 appliance modules. I have a phone controller. So rather than have the air conditioners on a timer, I could simply call and turn them on before leaving work, ensuring my house was at the right temperature when I got home. If I'd simply put them on timers they'd often be on when I didn't need them to be, since I didn't always come home at the same time. And sometimes I didn't need to turn them on at all.
Comedian Shaun Eli
I have mine all connected to the security and home automation computer. Whenever I head out the door and trip the security system, the combination sets the thermostats to different settings. If I am just away, it turns things a couple of degrees in some areas of the home. It may go up during the summer or down in winter. For longer terms, I just put in vacation mode and the amount of change is much greater. It also turns the water heater off. There are also different lighting sequences that are enabled based on the security system level settings. For vacations, it even turns off the water supply to the house so it can't leak.
Security settings also adjust the frequency of the system taking video captures as well as the number saved.
Lots of things can be controlled using a combiniation of security system, HVAC, Lighting, Cameras.
Forgot to mention, that I have a 6 zone heating system so to change every one would be a chore. This way they are are set just where I want them. Also it gives me the ability to make changes over the internet from anywhere in the world.
That way I can turn the Hot Tub off when going out for an extended time and be able to just connect and turn it back on again so it is ready for me when I walk back in the door.
Same with the temps.
I have an Aprilaire thermostat and 3 remote sensors [kids room, HT room, breakfast nook].
Out of the box, my thermostat and 3 remote sensors only allow me to either pick one remote sensor to be the master, or average them all.
I can use CQC
That type of logic is not even remotely possible with thermostats.
"Mr. Gibbage" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...
How do you control the water heater remotely? It would be nice to be able to turn up the water heater before we use the jacuzzi tub. (Last time we tried to use it, we ran out of hot water before it was half full.)
Randy R
a) Start central heating before I return from vacation
b) Make it easier to set teperature house will be kept at whilst on vacation
c) Make a log of the events that have happened.
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