Remote Automated heating on/off

'Hi - I'm interested in an remote automated system that can control (simple) lights and just switch the gas central heating on/off. I don't need the additional thermostatic/zone control the more advanced systems offer. If it work through a Mac/iPhone so much the better.'

I've just sent this query to one of the more internet prominent suppliers of this systems -

formatting link
strikes me that the ability to switch on the heating 20 minutes before you get home, via your phone, might be one of the more obvious uses of these things - but I haven't spotted a straightforward solution.

Thanks, Rob

Reply to
Rob
Loading thread data ...

formatting link
but there's a reasonable chance they'll work reliably, unlike x10 stuff.

Reply to
Bill Taylor

I designed and built my own system over 10 years ago. At the time, I recall thinking that everyone's heating would be controlled this way in a few years time. How wrong I was - although some products have appeared on the market, their use is seen as geeky, and basically nothing has changed for decades with what you find installed even on new installations.

Reply to
Andrew Gabriel

interlinked ones, but these look cool! Thanks for that!

Reply to
Tim Watts

Oooh, I hadn't spotted the WiFi enabled ones, I have one of their non-networked models, and semi-regret not going for the networked one originally.

Dad was asking about programmable stats the other week, I might pass mine onto him and upgrade mine ...

Reply to
Andy Burns

The Nest [1], by the man behind the iPod, looks nice. It requires a 24v control system as is common in the USA, and the first batch sold out very quickly. So would require some effort (probably re-wiring stat location and a small control board) and patience.

It builds a profile automatically based on your use; compensates for warm-up time; notices when you are away; compensates for weather (by geeky internet nowcast rather than external sensor) and lots more. Oh and you can monitor/control from your iPhone. No control for your lights though.

Cheers Andy

[1]
formatting link
Reply to
Andy Webber

This is the cheapest internet power controller I've seen - it needs a Windows PC with USB at 'base'; I don't know t browser requirerements for the 'remote' end

formatting link

Reply to
Owain

if you dont want a computer running then you need something more expensive like

formatting link
advertise another home automation kit "Aviosys IP POWER 9202E Home Automation Control Kit" but its never been in stock - I have been looking for months and email enquiry appears to be ignored :-(

Reply to
Ghostrecon

Alternatively there are little computery things called thin clients that go for next to nothing (some < £15) on eBay and can be given a dose of Linux or run on the original Windows CE or linux based OS it came with.

formatting link
consumption can be low, less than 20W for the few (well, 30 odd) I have collected (and done really nothing with to date. Me, eBay addiction.. Grrrr...).

With some programming ability and a solid state relay or similar driven from the parallel port, ye could set up any kind of remote network controlled heating system. As well as ethernet, they have USB ports so could interface with the internet power controller above.

Reply to
Adrian C

thanks that looks very interesting

Reply to
Ghostrecon

That's excellent, just what I had in mind. Thanks!

Rob

Reply to
Rob

I noticed their iphone app only seems to be able to address 1 unit - I've emailed them to check that and ask if they are expecting to add abilitiy to control an arbitrary number of units.

Reply to
Tim Watts

The web site says they've got an android version one in the pipeline for this year, and a version that can control multiple stats, should just boil down to a range of port numbers

Wonder if the app always uses the external ADSL address, even when it's on internal WiFi?

Reply to
Andy Burns

Ah good - I'm going to Android when my iPhone contract is up next year.

Indeed.

Mine had an option of using a local address or a remote.

Reply to
Tim Watts

HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.