Chuck:
Haven't checked in a good while, but one could buy plug-in switches that worked
on a PE cell. No timer. Here's one, as an example:
http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4434776&cp=2568443.2568454.2632232.3439367.1259206
If you have a security alarm system, you might be able to have a sensor for the
furnace (temperature in house?).
Martin
-----Original Message-----
From: Chuck Norcutt [mailto:chucknorcutt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2012 10:58 AM
To: Olympus Camera Discussion
Subject: Re: [OM] [OT] Home automation/security questions
I hadn't thought about insurance requirements. Guess I should check my policy.
Getting someone to do a regular check is very unlikely. Switch controls such
as Insteon or Z-wave can be signaled by a controller which can be stand-alone
or programmed from a PC or smartphone. A simple programmable controller can be
had for under $100. More sophisticated ones at about $300.
I've never seen a photo-sensor/timer controller.
Chuck Norcutt
On 8/8/2012 10:13 AM, Walters, Martin wrote:
> Chuck: One other consideration will likely be insurance requirements.
> My insurance typically requires someone visit the house regularly
> during extended absences. Your company may require such visits, in
> which case you may be able to have friends/neighbours check the
> furnace etc, as a backup to your other "systems". In cold weather such
> human backups would be wise.
>
> Some thoughts re timers: are the more sophisticated ones (whether
> in-wall switches or plug in) already programmed for time changes?
> Some work with photo-sensitive cells. If they work properly, they
> would adjust for changing daylight hours.
>
> Martin
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Chuck Norcutt
> [mailto:chucknorcutt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Wednesday, August 08,
> 2012 9:53 AM To: Olympus mail list Subject: [OM] [OT] Home
> automation/security questions
>
> Sorry for breaking the flurry of on-topic OM-D traffic but I have some
> home automation/security questions for which I know someone here has
> the answers.
>
> I have two (I think modest) goals I'd like to achieve for when I leave
> the house in the winter for warmer climes.
>
> 1) Right now I have a simple set of timers that turn a few lights on
> and off that simulate the activity in the house when it's occupied.
> Some of these timers have a battery backup so they can survive power
> outages. However, by the time I return in the spring, sunset and
> sunrise are radically different than when I left. Also, daylight
> savings time has gone into effect further throwing the timers off.
> Also, one of the lights I'd like to control (but don't now) is
> operated by a wall switch where control is not amenable to a simple
> plug-in timer.
>
> I think I can solve these lighting problems with fairly simple
> Insteon, Z-Wave (or similar) devices. But I don't know all the
> ins/outs of these things and what's best or worse. Nor do I
> completely understand the need for or how to completely cover
> communicating over both phases of the AC power lines of the house.
> That leads to a question of should I use radio transmission devices
> only?
>
> Whatever the solution here it probably gets complicated (cost wise) by
> goal #2...
>
> 2) When I leave the house for the winter I have the plumbing
> winterized with anti-freeze by a plumber right after I leave and
> de-winterized just before I return. I also have the town turn my
> water off outside the house just in case my own inside shut-off valve
> should start leaking. The town turns the water off for free but the
> winterizing/de-winterizing costs me $200/year. What I'd like to do is
> get rid of the precautionary anti-freeze requirement for the plumbing.
> But that requires that I keep a close watch on the temperature of the
> house in the event the furnace should fail. Right now I have a simple
> temperature sensor that turns on a red light in the window to warn the
> neighbors if the temperature drops to 40F.
> But if they don't notice or don't respond the antifreeze in the pipes
> will protect the plumbing. With no anti-freeze in the pipes I don't
> dare count on the neighbors noticing that all is not well with the
> furnace.
>
> If I want to spend lots of money and use a smartphone (not!) I can get
> instant alerts via smartphone on some systems. But I don't want to go
> there. I normally have my internet/cable/phone shut off when I'm gone
> but can leave internet only communications running for about the same
> amount of money that it costs me for winterizing/de-winterizing. That
> allows for a freeze/temperature sensor communicate with me via the net
> but I don't know exactly how to do that at modest cost. A warning
> e-mail would be best but even having to log-on daily for a status
> check would be OK if it's the only way to do it cheaply.
>
> These are the functions I'm after. The questions are how to do it
> cheaply but also reliably. If there's no built-in freeze protection
> the system has to work. Probably best to take the answers to this
> off-list.
>
> Thanks much, Chuck Norcutt --
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