simple wifi switch ?

[The Cobbler]

I'm not up on all this home automation stuff , I though when I got into X-10 I had the world in my hands LOL
I am looking for an inexpensive way to control heat at the volunteer warehouse over the net .
Currently there are 2 stats wired in parallel , one is set to about 55° and is set up high where no one can reach it . it's also locked at that temperature with a screw inside.
The second stat is easily accessed, and we use it to control the heat as needed. we use the on /off switch on that to enable or disable it . in off mode the one set to 55 maintains the low temperature
What I would like is to be able to turn the heat on or off ( to the low point) before leaving my house so when we get there it's warming up .
I don't know if I want a tstat ( compatibility issues with the low set one) or even just a simple relay to enable/disable the higher set one.
I am leaning to just a relay I can turn on or off. I don't want the stat to be programable or anything like that. We have volunteers & it needs to be simple .
Hoping for some suggestions.
Cheers

 

[PCustoms]

Why not just get a basic wifi thermostat?

You can set min temps, programs etc. and have it "locked out" so that someone can only turn it up (in person) so much for so long.

Plus anyone with the access can adjust temperature remotely.

 

[whateg01]

I wanted something like this a couple years ago. I bought some cheap fobs that would control a 12v accessory and hooked up a relay. Since then I decided that I like being able set the temperature as well so I instead a Google thing.

 

[dalbc]

I recommend Shelly. The software works without frustration. Shelly 1 Gen4?

If it's a line voltage thermostat the Shelly would drive a contactor. If it's 24v, power the Shelly with low voltage too so you aren't mixing line voltage and class 2 together.

 

[walta]

Just to be clear you want to control this “WIFI switch” via the internet so you can control it when you are near or far away or only control it when you are close enough to connect to your router.

https://www.amazon.com/Ethernet-Con...lectronic/dp/B0C59G4HHG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I don’t think any internet relays will qualify as simple to set up and maintain

Something like this would do what you want but it requires wed hosting the manufacture provides. How long they chouse to provide that service for free is unknown.

I think one of the many internet connected thermostats would be a safer more reliable choice that would give you information like the current temp and the options like picking any temp you want or turning the system off or setting it to cool.



Walt

 

[dave*99]

I installed a Honeywell T9 thermostat in a house used as a VRBO. Well actually I installed 3 of them. It's a cold climate and we need the minimum temp to be maintained. The renters want some control too.....

We can lock in the min and max set points and a schedule behind a pin code. Everything can be controlled on an phone App.

The schedule can be as simple as drop the temp to 55 deg at night and stay there until someone punches the temp higher. Kick down again at night. We can turn the schedule on when the place is rented and off when empty.

The local utility Co. offered the thermostats at a reduced price as an energy savings measure. So check with your company.

PS - the T9 has remote temp sensors that can be used to measure temp in additional rooms and use or average the reading for control. Upstairs we put a wireless sensor in the primary bedroom. But the stat is elsewhere where wiring was convenient.

 

[The Cobbler]

So what do I need for an internet based stat , Alexis requires a subscription I assume?
I am dumb when it comes to this.

 

[dave*99]

So what do I need for an internet based stat , Alexis requires a subscription I assume?
I am dumb when it comes to this.

Nothing, really. Honeywell now has an app called Residio. Free, simple to use.
Do you mean Alexa? It would add home automation to control lots of things in one app - lights, music, security, HVAC etc.
But you don't need it. I don't have it. Never gave it a thought.

 

[ArcReactorKC]

So what do I need for an internet based stat , Alexis requires a subscription I assume?
I am dumb when it comes to this.

Almost all of the "smart" thermostats can be used with no subscription for simple on/off, or manual temp adjust.
The alexa smart thermostat is low feature but would do exactly what you want assuming you already have an amazon account, you would just need the alexa app on your phone to make the adjustments.

We used one for years before I fell off the deep end on home automation
amazon.com/Amazon-Smart-Thermostat/dp/B08J4C8871/ref=sr_1_4_ffob_sspa?crid=BMKPXMH3QL6K&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7VghgQBT_PRBMsL6vSbMqNKOpHHB8FTuiEYGK-AHWwFuZq88aRMtSO3KWZxhOnUVkgy5G_EnwDugZG6eCGxChn2O34CQjdVd7YGl0T9bPt5EJLF5OqmJ3AFXHc8dotB4-TCWQAdpJlOIIMtaOe813KQTPULzzbM_78ZjYP3vTW8eupQRC4NNN2mJ3vyJD1x30XpvbzkIE00N7Mj29D-6jdzY5Z0YhoJ_FTyUJ8RRWas.0nZG4XZT5FwdLqfeWJpyU5liegYP7CkdeBqcEGyLGAk&dib_tag=se&keywords=alexa+thermostat&qid=1765474936&sprefix=alexa+ther%2Caps%2C191&sr=8-4-spons&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.74097168-0c10-4b8a-b96b-8388a1a12daf&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&psc=1

 

[PCustoms]

I have a sensi, which does have a few aggravating features (why the hell can't I set my recirculation to on/off schedules?) but is substantially less then other options and requires no "subscription".

 

[dave*99]

My son had a Nest. He hated it. It was supposed to work without a C wire as is had an internal battery etc. I didn't work well. The internal battery struggled to maintain charge. The stat was in a spot where it woke up constantly as people walked by.

And that brings up the C wire. Early simple stats didn't need one. Houses often did not have the extra conductor in the wall for Common.
The Honeywell T9 and T10 came with a 4 wire to 5 wire adapter to provide the functionality of the C wire. Other stats require one.

Check your wiring. The C wire is often blue. If your stat needs a C wire and you want to control heat only, you need at least 3 wires. AC adds a wire and Fan adds a wire.



And some are too smart for my use. The Nest was a learning stat. It tried to program itself by learning your home and away patterns.
We had to dig deep in the menus to turn this off. Most of the activity in my sons house was on the second floor. The first floor location of the stat made its motion sensing function a detriment.

 

[whateg01]

Something like this would do what you want but it requires wed hosting the manufacture provides. How long they chouse to provide that service for free is unknown.

That was what I had been trying to avoid. Everything commercially available I was finding required their service though. I did start to look at setting up an Arduino but never got that far

 

[ArcReactorKC]

To avoid a third party web server controlled device will infinitely complicate this project.
It can be done but the juice will not be worth the squeeze in this instance I don't think.

 

[Yankeefarmer]

The Sensi WiFi thermostat is a simple solution that doesn’t attempt to learn anything.
A very simple solution would be a Leviton WiFi switched oulet plugin

Decora Smart Wi-Fi Mini Plug-In Switch | D215P-1BW

<p>Leviton Decora Smart Wi-Fi Mini Plug-In Switch</p>

leviton.com

if you want to wire it to a relay.

 

[Denwood]

Ecobee is pretty much bulletproof. I've installed quite a few with zero issues. It ticks all the boxes: remote management, no battery issues, no subscription, the ability to lock out the thermostat, the ability to set limits, automated warnings on thresholds. It can also go into away mode if occupancy is not detected, all by itself. It does require a C wire (which is a good thing), but they include a harness to address this if you're missing a wire. I would 100% recommend the Ecobee stats...

Remote cloud management etc. is free.

This way you can define temp limits, bump temp remotely if you want via the app, and have the stat go into away mode (55F if you want) when no one is there.