outside temp reader

[v1rtu0s1ty]

Hi folks,

I need some help again. I am looking for an inexpsive product so I can monitor the temperature outside. I will be using this with a rope light. When temp goes below 20F, I will turn on the rope light via my relay. Oh, I will be wrapping the rope light on a palm tree during winter.

Can someone please help me what what I need?

Thank you so much in advance!

Neil

 

[beelzerob]

Will a rope light produce enough heat? I would think you'd need to use those big bulb outside lights for that.

 

[nightwalker]

A lot of the devices for 1wire networks look to be fairly reasonable. I use lots of DS18s20's in and around the house for temperature readings. It depends on what you're using as an automation controller weather or not it's reasonable to get that information to a place you can act on it.

 

[nightwalker]

Will a rope light produce enough heat? I would think you'd need to use those big bulb outside lights for that.

I'm pretty sure just the rope light wouldn't be enough in State College anymore than it will be in Illinois. That's asking a lot of a rope light.

 

[beelzerob]

I'm pretty sure just the rope light wouldn't be enough in State College anymore than it will be in Illinois. That's asking a lot of a rope light.

Heh..ya, but I'd also sooner kill myself than plant a palm tree here. I had more than enough of those for a lifetime... Those things are wicked to trim. A palm tree in Ill....that's ambitious.

If it doesn't lose its leaves in Fall like any well-behaved tree, then I don't want any part of it!

If you're talking 20 degrees, or other typical Ill. weather, are even big-bulb outdoor lights going to be enough to keep a palm from freezing?

Oh, and to actually provide useful info instead of questioning your whole premise..... I use the datanab for all things temp related. It'd be an initial investment of around $200, which is a lot to just monitor outside temps. But if you'd like to monitor 31 other things too, then it's a good start.

 

[v1rtu0s1ty]

Yes, I have confirmed that rope light works around a palm tree from someone in Chicago. But of course, it is wrapped with a thick mil plastic and mulch of 4 inches. However, this is not a palm tree that we buy at Home Depot/Lowes/Ikea. I bought a seedling and it's called Mediterranean Fan Palm and it's quite hardy too with some winter protection. I know someone who grows Med Fan Palm in zone 4 for almost 10 years now.

I will buy another one and it will be Trachycarpus Fortunei. This type has survived winters at -17F but with leaf damage. I couldn't recall where I saw the article. However, it was protected. It came back the next spring.

Nightwalker,

I just want to get a reading from an external temp sensor. This way, when it goes below 20F, the rope light turns on. So how much are these DS18s20? How do I connect it to my elk? What would be the ELK rules?

Here is a pic from someone who is in zone 7.

 

[beelzerob]

Hehe...well, I hope your rope light plan works. I have to say, rope light wrapped around a palm tree is PRETTY! Rope light wrapped around a palm tree, then wrapped with plastic....not so much.

I lost all interest in tree maintenance when we had to rent heavy equipment to dig a hole in the concrete they call soil in Arizona. Now the only effort I make with trees involves a chainsaw...

 

[v1rtu0s1ty]

I found them. The price is the best!!!

http://www.embeddeddatasystems.com/page/ED...SENSORS/DS18S20

So what do I need on my ELK to be able to get the reading?

 

[nightwalker]

Nightwalker,

I just want to get a reading from an external temp sensor. This way, when it goes below 20F, the rope light turns on. So how much are these DS18s20? How do I connect it to my elk? What would be the ELK rules?

I didn't realize you wanted to hook this up to an Elk. Wouldn't you be better using an Elk temp sensor, something like an ELK-M1ZTS? Ds18s20's are inexpensive, like $3.50 or so but you will need the adapter to read the network. The 1wire network is as far as i know a software based protocol and I have no idea how you would get that into the elk. I don't use the Elk but I do have a HAI OmniPro, and while it's a fine system it has limitations about what you can and can't get it to control, The Elk and OmniPro are pretty comparable. I use HomeSeer as a controller and let that handle all but security.

 

[v1rtu0s1ty]

I didn't realize you wanted to hook this up to an Elk. Wouldn't you be better using an Elk temp sensor, something like an ELK-M1ZTS? Ds18s20's are inexpensive, like $3.50 or so but you will need the adapter to read the network. The 1wire network is as far as i know a software based protocol and I have no idea how you would get that into the elk. I don't use the Elk but I do have a HAI OmniPro, and while it's a fine system it has limitations about what you can and can't get it to control, The Elk and OmniPro are pretty comparable. I use HomeSeer as a controller and let that handle all but security.

I actually just thought about this. Rather than getting the temp reading into my ELK, just set OPEN when temp becomes 20F. So if ELK sees an OPEN connection, then TURN ON OUTPUT 120 which is actually for my relay. Is that possible?

 

[v1rtu0s1ty]

I looked at the product you mentioned, ELK-M1ZTS, looks like it's what I need. However, I remember the relay I have is only for 12volts. Rope lights or christmas lights are 110v if I recall correctly. So how do I control it then?

 

[v1rtu0s1ty]

so if M1RB is for 12v, what is it for 110v? M1RB is what I have.

 

[nightwalker]

so if M1RB is for 12v, what is it for 110v? M1RB is what I have.

You'll have to get an Elk person to take you further. I use UPB here for my lighting needs so when the sensor reads 20 or whatever you want it's not a big deal at all to have a light or string of lights come on. It's going to depend on what you do for a lighting system. It can also probably be done through on of the output relays on the elk to a 110v relay to switch the lights on. I don't use relays much these days so I can't tell you exactly how that will work through the elk.

 

[v1rtu0s1ty]

so if M1RB is for 12v, what is it for 110v? M1RB is what I have.

You'll have to get an Elk person to take you further. I use UPB here for my lighting needs so when the sensor reads 20 or whatever you want it's not a big deal at all to have a light or string of lights come on. It's going to depend on what you do for a lighting system. It can also probably be done through on of the output relays on the elk to a 110v relay to switch the lights on. I don't use relays much these days so I can't tell you exactly how that will work through the elk.

Thank you so much! I'll contact them next week.

 

[Spanky]

You have several options for temperature detection with the ELK M1.

1. M1ZTS temperature sensor connects to one of the first 16 zones on the M1.

2. M1KAM module allows for 1 wire temperature sensors connected to the M1.

3. A temperature sensor set for 20F that provides a contact closure connected to the M1.

Write a M1 Rule so that Whenever the temperature sensor's temperature is below 20F, then turn on an output relay connected to your 120VAC device or use a powerline appliance module that can switch 120 VAC. Write another Rule to turn everything off when the temperature warms up.