WAF story

[hucker]

Thus far in my HA odyssey my wife was been a disinterested (if not distrusting) observer of my antics. For the most part she tolerates it. Once she actually said she liked the 'all off' switch by the front door. The programmed thermostat makes her cold at night, she hates the UPB delay and she did ask if the temp sensors in each room were microphones, but I digress. So we get these chicken eggs to hatch (don't ask it would take to long) and she sees that the incubator's temp is off and she gets pretty frazzled that the chicks will 'die for sure'. I suggest that I can set it up so she is notified when temperature changes happen. I get 'the look' but she says gives the go ahead in the name of saving unborn baby animals.

An hour later, 25 feet of cat5, a spare hobby boards temp sensor, and 5 lines in my HomeVisionPro and we get email and text message notifications when the temp goes out of range by more than 3 degrees. So 7K into the HA project she finally has something she likes to the point that I *think* she said 'that is pretty cool'. I should have sprung for the better incubator...

 

[Steve]

Well, every woman is different. One quiet 'that's nice' may be the equivalent to another wife jumping up and down like crazy screaming 'wow, cool'. Ok, so admittedly most are not that way but I think most are in the middle somewhere. Sounds like she's still bitter over the big initial expense but small little victories like this will help. Be thankful you even get a little 'that's cool' smile cause some woman would yell and scream at even spending the $5. The UPB switches sound like they are the original firmware. If she truly hates the delay, maybe you can consider trading them in for the newer ones or selling them and replacing them?? Anyway, we all thank you for saving the chickens!

 

[keepersg]

So while we're on the 'chicken topic', my wife, after having watched me fiddle for the last couple of years came up with an HA project of her own. Chickens' egg production declines in the winter as the day length shortens. So she said "Maybe you could set up one of those lights with one of those controllers (Insteon appliance modules) and program it on your home control system (Powerhome) so I wouldn't have to walk down to the chicken coop so early." Which I did, immediately. Now she's thinking about the green house...She will probably think of a number of applications that would never occur to me. I think a survey of spouses for their thoughts about what's useful, worthless and irritating would be very interesting.

 

[hucker]

So while we're on the 'chicken topic', my wife, after having watched me fiddle for the last couple of years came up with an HA project of her own. Chickens' egg production declines in the winter as the day length shortens. So she said "Maybe you could set up one of those lights with one of those controllers (Insteon appliance modules) and program it on your home control system (Powerhome) so I wouldn't have to walk down to the chicken coop so early." Which I did, immediately. Now she's thinking about the green house...She will probably think of a number of applications that would never occur to me. I think a survey of spouses for their thoughts about what's useful, worthless and irritating would be very interesting.

Yeah I did the chicken light thing already... 14hrs a day within a minute. Thanks HomeVision. The UPB switches are happening slowly. She was OK with the 7K, she spend WAY more than me on the new house. I could have had a pro installed cresten and still be behind...