Re: Second Opinion Needed? Central Heating Automation on the cheeep..

["psghome2002" <psghome@xxxxxxx>]

I guess the hardwired option is best as it does away with the
possibility of the X10 signal not getting to the AD10/AM10?

--- In ukha_d@y..., "MartinHA" <ukha@o...> wrote:
> I also thought about upgrading my heating this way.
> Instead I wired up HV with two handy little relay boxes in
parallel with
> the existing timer and then also used the digital temp. sensors for
> extra control (the house we moved into didn't even have a
thermostat!).
> The system works perfectly and now I can see what the temperature
> readings on the TV.
> I recently purchased a telephone card from maplin which will
allows dial
> in and switching of relays. Now I can turn the heating on from my
> Mobile...
>
>
> Martin.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ian Lowe [mailto:ian@xxxxxxx...]
> Sent: 14 February 2002 18:37
> To: UKHA Mailing List
> Subject: [ukha_d] Second Opinion Needed? Central Heating
Automation on
> the cheeep..
>
>
>
> Okay,
> I am looking at my Central Heating, which I am fairly certain is
about
> as
> standard as standard can be (cheap builder) I already swapped the
dumb
> timer
> for a smart(ER) one, but the inflexibility of even this quite
complex
> controller is just getting annoying..
>
> Given our current HA setup (see SWMBO thread ;) ) the prospect of
> bringing
> the heating within the whole Web/TV Menu/Server setup is extremely
> appealing..
>
> Now, there seems to be a standard wallplate for all of these
> controllers.
> You want to add a controller with more features, you click off the
old
> one,
> click in the new...
>
> the faceplate looks like a pattress box, with a row of pin contacts
> across
> the top..
>
> the contacts are labelled:
>  N  L  1  2  3  4
>
> And the helpful wiring diagram shows that "L" is the live
feed, "N" is
> Neutral Return *for the timer only*, and the connectors have the
> following
> behaviour..
>
> 1 is connected to live when the Hot Water is "off"
> 2 is connected to live when the Central Heating is "off"
> 1 is connected to live when the Hot Water is "on"
> 2 is connected to live when the Central Heating is "on"
>
> This seems to be a "cover everything" setup, as our own
system
doesn't
> make
> any use of the "off" connections...
>
> Basically, it looks like the entire function of the controller is
to act
> as
> a timed relay, throwing two switches.. (the thermostat etc are all
wired
> into the ratsnest control box which actually works the motorised
valves
> etc
> below this...)
>
> Now, the point:
>
> I have trivially automated this using two AM10's. :)
>
> Much prodding with my multimeter, with the system in it's various
states
> shows me that the Neutral return from the controller does, in
fact, only
> allow the timer to be powered, it serves no extra purpose. Also,
the
> "live"
> feed to this connector block is a true "live", not switched
about
or
> processed in any way. (all the control is on the Neutral leg of the
> circuitry).
>
> This indicates to me that the entire Heating system can be viewed
as a
> Black
> box from this point.
>
> I have an AM10 for each system. Plugged into the AM10, is a short
lead,
> which has *only* the live wired, (the system is double insulated)
and
> the
> live *only* from this is connected to the wire which used to be
> connected to
> pins "3" and "4" respectively.
>
> This works nicely, and I'm rather pleased.
>
> I would just like to know, is anyone currently sitting hand across
mouth
> saying "you what? My God Man, rip it out before your house
catches
> fire!"?
>
> :)
>
> Ian.
>
>
>
> For more information: http://www.automatedhome.co.uk
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