Anybody have one and what are your recommendations as to brands and model?

Thanks ...

--
www.eWoodShop.com
Last update: 4/15/2010
KarlCaillouet@ (the obvious)
http://gplus.to/eWoodShop

On 5/12/2012 10:54 AM, Swingman wrote:
Anybody have one and what are your recommendations as to brands and model?

Thanks ...


I'm sure glad you mentioned that. I want one...or two.

On 5/12/2012 12:03 PM, Max wrote:
On 5/12/2012 10:54 AM, Swingman wrote:
Anybody have one and what are your recommendations as to brands and
model?

Thanks ...


I'm sure glad you mentioned that. I want one...or two.

I'm looking at getting two (first and second floor units). The reviews
on the Honeywell and Filtrate are mixed, so it's hard to pull the
trigger on a specific brand and model.

Honeywell has a gateway that looks interesting:

http://www.forwardthinking.honeywell.../total_connect

... but it really kicks the price up.

Also, it seems there is a lot left out of the documentation ... like
whether you must have a 24v power source for each unit.

--
www.eWoodShop.com
Last update: 4/15/2010
KarlCaillouet@ (the obvious)
http://gplus.to/eWoodShop

On 5/12/12 1:03 PM, Max wrote:
On 5/12/2012 10:54 AM, Swingman wrote:
Anybody have one and what are your recommendations as to brands and
model?

Thanks ...


I'm sure glad you mentioned that. I want one...or two.

I'm curious too, are there any that are wireless to the furnace/AC from
the thermostat? I have read a bit about a few that you can set and
control remotely.

Our house only has three wires from the Furnace/AC to the thermostat, so
we don't have the fan control on the thermostat, it would be a major job
to retrofit a five wire cable, just because of the run.

--
Froz...


The system will be down for 10 days for preventive maintenance.

On 5/12/2012 11:36 AM, FrozenNorth wrote:
On 5/12/12 1:03 PM, Max wrote:
On 5/12/2012 10:54 AM, Swingman wrote:
Anybody have one and what are your recommendations as to brands and
model?

Thanks ...


I'm sure glad you mentioned that. I want one...or two.

I'm curious too, are there any that are wireless to the furnace/AC from
the thermostat? I have read a bit about a few that you can set and
control remotely.

Our house only has three wires from the Furnace/AC to the thermostat, so
we don't have the fan control on the thermostat, it would be a major job
to retrofit a five wire cable, just because of the run.


I'm "imagining" a system where the *receiver* replaces the present
thermostat and the "transmitter" goes wherever you want it.
By setting the temp on the "transmitter" the heater/cooler would respond
to the temperature desired "wherever".

Max

On 5/12/2012 1:09 PM, Max wrote:
On 5/12/2012 11:36 AM, FrozenNorth wrote:
On 5/12/12 1:03 PM, Max wrote:
On 5/12/2012 10:54 AM, Swingman wrote:
Anybody have one and what are your recommendations as to brands and
model?

Thanks ...


I'm sure glad you mentioned that. I want one...or two.

I'm curious too, are there any that are wireless to the furnace/AC from
the thermostat? I have read a bit about a few that you can set and
control remotely.

Our house only has three wires from the Furnace/AC to the thermostat, so
we don't have the fan control on the thermostat, it would be a major job
to retrofit a five wire cable, just because of the run.


I'm "imagining" a system where the *receiver* replaces the present
thermostat and the "transmitter" goes wherever you want it.
By setting the temp on the "transmitter" the heater/cooler would respond
to the temperature desired "wherever".

There are a number of them that do just that. Check out the Venstar, for
one:

http://www.smarthome.com/30403A/Vens...-Rewire/p.aspx


--
www.eWoodShop.com
Last update: 4/15/2010
KarlCaillouet@ (the obvious)
http://gplus.to/eWoodShop

Swingman wrote:
Anybody have one and what are your recommendations as to brands and model?

Thanks ...

I'm looking for the opposite--a plug in thermostat that you can plug
an electric heater into. I heat my shop with cheap little electric
heaters, but the built in thermostats are nearly worthless.

--
G.W. Ross

With an expense account, anything is
possible.

"G.W. Ross" wrote in message
...
Swingman wrote:
Anybody have one and what are your recommendations as to brands and
model?

Thanks ...

I'm looking for the opposite--a plug in thermostat that you can plug an
electric heater into. I heat my shop with cheap little electric heaters,
but the built in thermostats are nearly worthless.

--
G.W. Ross

With an expense account, anything is
possible.

Get an "electric baseboard heater" thermostat and mount it in a double
electric box with a receptacle and a cord and you will have what you want --
reasonably cheap too.

EXT wrote:

"G.W. wrote in message
...
Swingman wrote:
Anybody have one and what are your recommendations as to brands and
model?

Thanks ...

I'm looking for the opposite--a plug in thermostat that you can plug an
electric heater into. I heat my shop with cheap little electric heaters,
but the built in thermostats are nearly worthless.

--
G.W. Ross

With an expense account, anything is
possible.

Get an "electric baseboard heater" thermostat and mount it in a double
electric box with a receptacle and a cord and you will have what you want --
reasonably cheap too.


Thanks! Just ordered two. All that I had found were in the $50-$70
range and that is a little much to use on a $10 heater.

--
G.W. Ross

With an expense account, anything is
possible.

Swingman wrote in
:

Anybody have one and what are your recommendations as to
brands and model?

Thanks ...


Wireless like a TV remote control for tempurature or 802.11
WiFi?

The former I have no knowledge of, the latter I have a
Filtrete. It works well but have had to replace it twice after
some thunderstorms passed through and zapped it. In fact the
first time I noticed it because it smelled of smoke. It comes
with a 5 year warranty so keep your packaging and receipt.

It is a direct replacement for a standard 24v stat and takes
only a couple of minutes to install. The PITA is getting it
connected to the wireless network. It boots up as a access
point, you connect to it and pass along the credentials that
it needs to connect to your home WiFi. After it connects you
then you have to download a small app to register it. Once
functioning there is both an Android and iPhone app from which
you can remotely control it.

The thing I don't like is that you must use their service.
Although it's free I would rather it had an embedded web
server. I can setup routing and DNS so I could connect
directly.

It's also easy to setup the programming online. Most of the
programmable stats are a pain to program from the limited
interface of the fromt panel. The Filtrete allows you to do it
online. Only when I'm off of work during the week is it out of
program mode making this the first stat that I actually used
for any length of time because of the clunky interface.

Ecobee (www.ecobee.com) is another one that I have no
knowledge of. When they started out they had a monthly charge
kind of like Schlage locks but I think they've since abandoned
that business model and just added it into the initial price.

Hope this helps.

Larry

On 5/12/2012 12:22 PM, Swingman wrote:
On 5/12/2012 1:09 PM, Max wrote:

I'm "imagining" a system where the *receiver* replaces the present
thermostat and the "transmitter" goes wherever you want it.
By setting the temp on the "transmitter" the heater/cooler would respond
to the temperature desired "wherever".

There are a number of them that do just that. Check out the Venstar, for
one:

http://www.smarthome.com/30403A/Vens...-Rewire/p.aspx


BINGO!!! Thank You.

On 5/12/2012 11:54 AM, Swingman wrote:
Anybody have one and what are your recommendations as to brands and model?

Thanks ...


If you can get into the TXU energy site, normally TXU.com you can check
out their setup for reference.

They are offering electricity for free at night, every night. There is
an iPhone app to control your/their thermostat.

txu.com/anytime


Looks like we are going to be able to control what we pay and and when
pretty soon with tiered pricing.

Leon lcb11211@swbelldotnet wrote in
:

On 5/12/2012 11:54 AM, Swingman wrote:
Anybody have one and what are your recommendations as to
brands and model?

Thanks ...


If you can get into the TXU energy site, normally TXU.com
you can check out their setup for reference.

They are offering electricity for free at night, every
night. There is an iPhone app to control your/their
thermostat.

txu.com/anytime


Looks like we are going to be able to control what we pay
and and when pretty soon with tiered pricing.


I believe that signing up for that program gives them the option
of controlling your temp if they see fit. While the intent is
good, I'm not big on giving control of my A/C to the utility
company.

Larry

"G.W. Ross" wrote in message
news
EXT wrote:

"G.W. wrote in message
...
Swingman wrote:
Anybody have one and what are your recommendations as to brands and
model?

Thanks ...

I'm looking for the opposite--a plug in thermostat that you can plug an
electric heater into. I heat my shop with cheap little electric
heaters,
but the built in thermostats are nearly worthless.

--
G.W. Ross

With an expense account, anything is
possible.

Get an "electric baseboard heater" thermostat and mount it in a double
electric box with a receptacle and a cord and you will have what you
want --
reasonably cheap too.


Thanks! Just ordered two. All that I had found were in the $50-$70 range
and that is a little much to use on a $10 heater.

I have seen cheaper thermostats, but that was a local company. A $10.00
heater, hmm -- maybe that is why the built in thermostat is useless, it is
probably manufactured for 25 cents. Do the math, a $10 heater was sold to
the retailer for $5.00, imported for $2.50, and cost $1.25 to make -- it
doesn't allow much budget for the built in thermostat.

On 5/13/2012 11:26 AM, Larry wrote:
Leonlcb11211@swbelldotnet wrote in
:

On 5/12/2012 11:54 AM, Swingman wrote:
Anybody have one and what are your recommendations as to
brands and model?

Thanks ...


If you can get into the TXU energy site, normally TXU.com
you can check out their setup for reference.

They are offering electricity for free at night, every
night. There is an iPhone app to control your/their
thermostat.

txu.com/anytime


Looks like we are going to be able to control what we pay
and and when pretty soon with tiered pricing.


I believe that signing up for that program gives them the option
of controlling your temp if they see fit. While the intent is
good, I'm not big on giving control of my A/C to the utility
company.

Larry


During peek demand periods they can cycle your AC off for 15 minutes at
a time. NO big deal, I have had that feature in the past. I never
noticed the difference. That was before I was involved in a test pilot
program in the mid 90's. That program involved a digital smart meter,
electronic thermostat that tied in to a modem and a switch for the water
heater. I controlled what temp depending on the price of electricity
during the day and controlled when the electric water heater ran. IIRC
between 10:00 pm and 9:00am I payed just under 5 cents per KwH. Between
9:00am and 1:00pm I paid just under 6 cents per KwH. Between 1:00 pm
and 5:00 pm I paid about 18 cents per KWH and between 5:00 pm and 9:00
pm I paid about 6 cents per KwH.
During certain unscheduled periods of high demand the thermostat would
blink a red light 15 minutes before a 37 cents KwH period would kick in
and that period could not run longer than 1 hour. The thermostat would
revert back to a higher temp setting so that you used less electricity
during that high demand period. I think I saw a total of about 45
minutes of this type usage during a 1 year period.

I was on this program for 2 years and 2 months, starting the first
complete year in 1996 and ending with the end of 1997.

I had a new central heat and AC installed in 1995.

Usage before the program 1995, 16693 KwH $1349.31 for the year

With the program, 1996, 16444 KwH for $1138.31 for the year
With the program, 1997, 15657 KwH for $1098.29 for the year

Back to regular usage with out the program 1998, 16401 KwH for $1341.18

Over all we were more pleased to be able to be cooler in the summer when
we were actually at home.

ALSO on weekends the pricing tier topped out at 6 cents per KwH
regardless of demand or time of day and this was also true regardless of
the day of week during the "6 month winter period".