Recent content by cptcoconut

I'm finally getting close to completion on building my new home. The HVAC contractor has the furnaces installed and working, along with the zone controllers, dampers, etc., but they've set it up for testing with their standard, non-communicating thermostats. The home's automation and security...

Today's Coding4Fun (Microsoft) article is about an interesting use of Z-Wave: monitoring bathroom stalls to detect when one is available. Just thought somebody else here might enjoy the read. Coding4Fun: Stall Status: Know before you go

That makes sense, and I like that idea as well for safety reasons. I'll have to consider that one. I know that 4A @ 24V is way more than (i think it was 120mA) @ 3V. I was concerned that 12V seemed to be listed as a minimum on the Elk. Can someone confirm that the Out3 dry contact relay on the...

Sorry, you replied while I was typing my last post. Are you talking about the OUT3 dry contact relay on the Elk? That's what I was originally thinking I could use, but the Elk manual lists it as "rated 4A @ 12 - 24VDC". Since the fireplace is running at 3V, I assumed this output would not work...

Okay, I was thinking that might be the case with the parallel wiring. So, instead, I could wire the fireplace only to a relay connected to the Elk, and then connect the low voltage switch to an Elk input. Then the Elk can decide whether the switch overrides the current state or not. Right...

Hmm... I was planning to use the Omnistat2 (RC-2000WH) thermostats, but my goal with the fireplace is not to have it controlled based on the temperature, but to switch it on and off remotely (as part of a lighting scene, via a remote control, time of day, etc.). I only mentioned the...

I'm building a new home, and have nearly finished the pre-wiring, using a lot of the great advice from this site. I've read a few posts about automating fireplaces, but I'm still a little unsure of how to go about it with my specific unit. It is a direct-vent, sealed gas fireplace, and the...

I'm building a new home, and am interested in using the RC-2000 thermostat. I've done some simple automation with my current home, but I'm trying to jump in head first on the new construction. I'm planning on an Elk M1 Gold controller, and it mostly looks like the RC-2000 will do what I need...