remote thermostat.

[jmh21586]

I wondering if there is a remote thermostat out there that would control the thermostat in my shed form my house?

The shed is about 150' away from the house.

Idealy what I would like is a unit in the house that displayed the temp in the shed and a way to adjust the temp in the shed without having to go out there to do it.

I don't leave the heat on all the time and would like to be able to turn it on 45 minutes before I go out there to putz around.

Is such a thing available??

I know there is a internet based ones available but I don't have that kind of internet at my place.

Looking for one that would be radio controlled or something??
I can't use a simple programmable one because I go out there at diferent times or not at all for several days.

Any ideas?

 

[JC23]

Man, that would be cool. Ditto for lights.

I'm no 'puter geek, but isn't there some kinda program that allows you to change settings with your phone and/or 'puter???

 

[jmh21586]

There's a phone system where you could call a cabin or something of yours and do it that way but I don't have a phone line in there either. If I had internet in there I could do it that way also. But I have neither.

What I was thinking is one of those remote weather stations. Put the outside unit in the shed and the other unit in the house and then get a remote light switch, which they do have on the heater. I already have the heater on a switch anyway.
But not sure if either would work that far away.

 

[Teken]

If the shed is sharing the same power leg as the house you could use a Insteon based system. Which in turns uses a Venstar thermostat . . .

This would allow you to control the thermostat remotely from the home . . .

 

[CraigFL]

Maybe something here of interest?

http://www.forwardthinking.honeywell.com/products/wireless/wireless_products.html

 

[jmh21586]

If the shed is sharing the same power leg as the house you could use a Insteon based system. Which in turns uses a Venstar thermostat . . .

This would allow you to control the thermostat remotely from the home . . .

Got more info or a link on these?

My power line comes into my house service panel and then from that same panel out to the shed.

 

[nate379]

I'm not sure on how to turn on/off, but I know that potatoe houses back where I grew up have lights on the outside. Red, green, and sometimes a 3rd color. What light is on depends on the temp inside the building. (If it got too cold, could loose whole crop in there)

 

[Steevo]

Check this one out:
http://www.smarthome.com/2491T7/Ven...-Control-Thermostat-7-Day-Programmable/p.aspx

 

[Teken]

Check this one out:
http://www.smarthome.com/2491T7/Ven...-Control-Thermostat-7-Day-Programmable/p.aspx

Yup that's it . . . Please keep in mind that you also require the basic Insteon starter kit to communicate to the device. I know you said you don't have Internet in the building but . . .

You can always add internet to that building also by using one of these units which I also use as a back up to the back up!

These are what they call power line ethernet: http://ncix.com/products/?sku=90866K&vpn=DHP-303&manufacture=DLINK - CONSUMER PRODUCTS

All you need to do is attach one part to your router and a outlet . The other to another outlet in the shed . . .

This will give you a wired ethernet / internet access in that building with out all the potential interference and spotty performance of wireless . . .

 

[jmh21586]

All I can have for internet at my place is dial-up, which I do not have.

I use a wireless usb modem from verizon on my laptop that goes through the cell phone towers.

 

[Teken]

All I can have for internet at my place is dial-up, which I do not have.

I use a wireless usb modem from verizon on my laptop that goes through the cell phone towers.

You can use that to connect to the shed too then . . .

 

[Falcon67]

Put in your own network and maybe use this one
http://www.smarthome.com/30532/IP-T...Sensor-Capability-2-Port-Power-Adapter/p.aspx

You would need a 4 port router - like a typical wireless router with a built in switch - and a patch cable to attach the t-stat to the router. Plug a patch cable from your laptop into the router and bada-bing, you have a network with a t-stat on it.

 

[jmh21586]

Sounds like an expensive and complex solution to what should be an easy problem.


Sure wish there was a radio controlled one.

Anyone know of a 15amp, radio controlled light switch??


I use a light switch to turn my heater on and off. If there was a remote switch that would reach that far my problem would be largely solved.
Then like I said before, I could get one of those remote weather staions and put the sending unit in my gargage and the reciever in my house to monitor temps.

 

[Teken]

Sounds like an expensive and complex solution to what should be an easy problem.


Sure wish there was a radio controlled one.

Anyone know of a 15amp, radio controlled light switch??


I use a light switch to turn my heater on and off. If there was a remote switch that would reach that far my problem would be largely solved.
Then like I said before, I could get one of those remote weather staions and put the sending unit in my gargage and the reciever in my house to monitor temps.

I think maybe your best bet would be to invest in a higher end model of thermostat . . .

The higher end one's will allow you to program more fine tuned events / schedules . . .

I am not sure what your daily routine is such as still working, retired, etc . . .

But, if you're like most of us *still working slobs* from 8-4PM, 9-5PM, you could simply program the T-sat for what ever moderate temp during none use periods . . . After those hours the remaining events could be defined more closely, or wider depending upon your wants and needs . . .

Keep in mind it comes down to how your work flow is going to be etc . . .

 

[jmh21586]

yeah.... it's a hobby shop/man cave so there is no schedule.

I suppose I can do the easiest thing which is be cold out there for a half an hour till it warms up.

 

[jmh21586]

I really do appreciate the ideas though fellas.

Thanks.

 

[Falcon67]

You could easily rig up a switch to enable a relay that powered up your heater. You could use something like a bell transformer to enable the t-stat in the shed and just leave the t-stat set on your preferred setting. You could also switch the whole heater (assuming electric here) with some kind of A/C relay that handled 240V/*** Amps and was triggered by a 24v coil.

Here - maybe this:
$35 http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...21x00003a&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=00315184000P

 

[jmh21586]

NOW we're getting somewhere!!

Like I said I already have the heater wired to a light switch.


Why wouldn't that work??

I'm going to look for one just like it but with more range even though this one would probably work.

 

[ripsnortMN]

I can turn my modine hotdawg on from my house. I am using those wireless deals where you plug it into the outlet and then plug an appliance into that. And then i can turn it on from the house. Works great. I just leave the thermostat on around 70 so when the heater kicks on it will be nice and warm in there.

 

[jmh21586]

Bought one of the GE ones.

Found it for $18 delivered.


Now..............

I need a way to be able to tell from the house that the heater in the shed is on.

Maybe some kind of light or something in the shed that was on the same line as the heater. Then I could look out the window in the house and see that the light is on...... so the heater must be on.
Otherwise how would you know if the signal from the remote made it to the shed and turned the heater on or not? Or maybe you accidentaly pressed the button twice, turning it on, then right back off.



Ok we're getting there........keep it going. What kind of setup that I can see from the house??

 

[nate379]

Those are weird hours... 11-7, 7-3, 3-11 are pretty much the hours I have worked most of my life.

But, if you're like most of us *still working slobs* from 8-4PM, 9-5PM, you .

 

[nate379]

Those are weird hours... 11-7, 7-3, 3-11 are pretty much the hours I have worked most of my life.

But, if you're like most of us *still working slobs* from 8-4PM, 9-5PM, you .

Anyhow as far as the shed, if you really need the remote thing, they do make remote switches. Search on here, I asked a while back about doing one for an air compressor so I wouldn't have to walk out to my shed to turn it on while I was working in the garage.

 

[aveguy]

You could easily rig up a switch to enable a relay that powered up your heater. You could use something like a bell transformer to enable the t-stat in the shed and just leave the t-stat set on your preferred setting. You could also switch the whole heater (assuming electric here) with some kind of A/C relay that handled 240V/*** Amps and was triggered by a 24v coil.

Here - maybe this:
$35 http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...21x00003a&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=00315184000P

I would NOT use the one listed above because it is not designed to operate "appliance" type equipment. It says for incandescent lights because it is for resistive loads only(ie incandescent lights) since it has an SCR built in so that it can "dim" the lights. You can use a similar idea based on the same X10 power line communications, but you just need to get an appliance version instead. The appliance versions use a relay instead of scr and thus no dimming. The appliance versions are just as simple as what your are looking at so no worry there. I would study the the product selection at smarthouse and better yet call them, they can help you spec out the right stuff. Last I knew they had a simple x10 based thermostat that would do exactly what you want. But I suspect at the very least you should be looking at this to run the heater ac http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00315180000P?prdNo=10&blockNo=10&blockType=G10

 

[jmh21586]

But I don't see a remote for the z-wave on the link. I don't even know what x10 power line communications are.

 

[D.J.]

True Value has a cord with three outlets on it that has a remote control, but I'm not sure on the range for it. It is on sale right now at my local store for 8.99. Might be worth a try?
Oops I posted before I checked for any updates this morning, I think you guys are way past my suggestion, sorry!
________
VOLCANO REVIEWS

 

[aveguy]

you can read about the X10 concepts here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X10_(industry_standard)

X10 was the orig/older format. Many of the newer devices use a better stnd but the concept is the same. ie low volatge signaling over the existing 120Vac power line. People have been using this sort of stuff for years to control all sorts of things. Including lights, should be lots of stuff around and cheap for lights right now.

Also you should go look here... I suspect that if you call them they could help spec out a device.
www.smarthome.com

or www.thehomeautomationstore.com

You should be able to use any Z-wave remote (desktop or handheld) to control that recp that I highlighted. In fact you should be able to get a cheap bundle (remote + appliance module) to do what you want. There are lots of similar setup to the ge z-wave. Check out the links and google.