I want to get sneaky on the wife. I want to either be able to control the temperature setting for the upstairs zone HVAC remotely (Internet), or replace the existing control head with a faux unit and get a wireless functional unit to use instead.
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Skim-coating with joint compound covers texture, renews old drywall and plaster, and leaves smooth surfaces ready to paint.
Featured Video
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
Easy enough to disconnect a mechanical thermostat. If it's "smart" and has displays or lights, though, you need to keep it powered somehow, but an old fan relay or gas valve solenoid off the furnace transformer would do that.
Not that I'm sure I condone this as a "trick".
Remote control of the thermostat!
Are you trying to Gas Light her?
If you go to Smart Home they have a number of items. They have some telephone controlls.
Don't know about IP interface, but I would not be surprised.
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
I've seen it done (sucessfully) at work, but I'd recommend against using the technique with a spouse.
Honeywell has a remote enabled thermostat- it is made mainly for retrofits in places where new wires are not possible.
Internet controllable stuff is out there, too. Total Line has a cell phone controllable stat.
Many of the contractor only stats have lockout features that don't allow the temperature to be changed, you can change the temperature it displays (like make it read 3* cooler than it really is) and more.
If I was you, I would be more concerned about what would happen if your wife found out about the t-stat games.....
If she finds out, it's going to be pretty cold in the house for a LONG time.
After ten years or so, I bet it already is "cold".Troy Sprout
"A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should also have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government." -- George Washington
Maybe he's wanting to heat up the place so she looses the flannel nightgowns and heavy underwear.
Maybe
But we know that what he wants don't matterTroy Sprout
"A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should also have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government." -- George Washington
Considering the date I'm guessing your wife is keeping it cold enough to store meat in the house and you are freaking about the electric bill.
I had this problem (and others) with my ex-wife. We had an inexpensive thermostat with a bi-metallic thermometer which I simply bent as needed to make it appear colder in the summer and warmer in the winter. In the summer when the temp in the house was 78 that thermometer would read 72 or 70 depending on how much I bent it. In the winter when it was 78 in the house that thermostat would read 82 (again depending on how much I bent the spring.) She'd look at the thermometer, grumble a little and adjust her clothing as needed.
It wouldn't have worked if there had been another thermometer in the house but perception is everything, she was also one of those people who set her clock 15 minutes fast to keep her from being late.
We sold that house, I wonder what setting it got left at.
------------------
"You cannot work hard enough to make up for a sloppy estimate."
You guys are real jokers. :)
Actually, this shouldn't be that much of an expectation, no? We live in the age of information, and managing your house remotely is only one example of how information transacted between remote and host can be accommodated.
Now, as for the hot-cold, me-wife thing ... I like the temperature cold (Yankee), but the wife doesn't (Southern Bell). She sees the temp on the control unit and ignores the fact that everywhere else on the floor (zone) is 5-6ºF warmer. She's the bookkeeper and if I do not approach this the covert-way then its me looking for a wireless solution to move the thermostat control.
The remote control should allow you to change the setting from the Dog House!
Some of the better digital thermostats allow you to set an ofset between what it measure and what it displays.IIRC the Honeywell Vision Pro series has that feature..
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
We did 4 new classrooms and a conference room at my church. About 2,600 sq. ft. of space, all on one unit.
I proposed that we put in 5 individual thermostats, with only one working unit. Let them adjust the temp up or down to their heart's content, only a few of us would know the truth.
I got voted down, but I still think it would have been a good idea.
Greg
I have done exactly what you suggested though in an office situation. A boss was fed up with different people constantly playing with the T stat so we disconnected the old one and ran a new line to his office but left the old one up for everyone to play with. In another situation similar, not only did we put in a new T stat in a new location but we put a security cover over the now defunct old one to make it look even more real and usuable. People will be people and they could still manipulate the old one with paper clips and the like. They got a real feeling of accomplishment out foxing the boss:).
roger
Not cheap, but this will do it:
http://www.smarthome.com/30532.html
Of course, there are even more expensive ways!
Jerry