Low cost remote tempature monitoring

[Mike P]

Hi. We are buying a second home and I would like to be able to chevy the tempature via the web. Is there an inexpensive way to do this? I currently have an M1 installed in our home and hai stats. That will cost to much for a weekend home. I home is in Lake Placid, NY. Temps sometime drop to -30f. I would just like to monitor the temp. Just to see how the heat is doing.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Lagerhead]

Do you have full-time internet service into the house? Have you considered a stand-alone internet-enabled thermostat? This would give you control as well as monitoring. Keep the heat low normally, and turn the heat up while on your way to Lake Placid.

 

[JimS]

If you have internet available you could use a router with dd-wrt for access and then a USB temp device (can't recommend one but they can be found for about $10 and up). Total cost would be under $100 and some time putting the code together. This is probably about the cheapest you could do this. I think anything plug and play would cost considerably more.

If you don't have internet you might think about a phone device that you could call in to or have it call you when the temps got out of range. No specific suggestions for hardware on this though...

 

[Mike P]

I will have Time Warner cable for Internet access. A web based tstat sounds like the correct approach. Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Mike

 

[pete_c]

In the 1980's I used a Sensaphone device (or like - might have been the Heathkit version). It was very analogue with only dial in or auto dial out features. It did have both internal and external temperature sensors. I remember calling into the box and it would read me status

I did a quick Google and the Sensaphone 1000 kind of looked like what I had. (I might even still have it around).

Here's their web site to their newer products...not sure though if you will find a new sensaphone for less than $100 unless you bought something used.

Sensaphone

You could also maybe put some Elk sensors/thermostat (as you stated) on the wire using a serial to network device...not sure if anyone has done this with the Elk Alarm panel. It probably wouldn't really be too cost prohibitive.

 

[potts.mike]

I believe proliphix specializes in network enabled thermostats.

 

[tmbrown97]

I even saw a reasonable one at home depot the other day - wifi.

 

[fabriziojoe]

You could use a new 2gig technologies panel with a z-wave thermostat which can be controlled from a computer or smartphone.
No land line is required as all transmission goes over the gsm network.
I would also use a 2gig temp sensor just as a fail-safe.

Thanks

 

[Lagerhead]

I believe proliphix specializes in network enabled thermostats.

Yes, Proliphix has been in the business for a long time and has a broad line of products. I have two of these and have been satisfied. They have a free monitoring service that will alert via email or SMS you if the temperature exceeds limits that you set.