I want a temperature sensor in my attic to turn on and off attic vent fans. I found all the battery operated units but I have easy access to AC up there and would like a powered sensor so I don’t have to replace batteries and so it can be a repeater. Anyone know of an AC powered temperature or temp/humidity sensor?
Doing a search on the forum would yield you results to the HSM100 that can be modified to use AC power and become a repeater.
- Garrett
[quote=“garrettwp, post:2, topic:172287”]Doing a search on the forum would yield you results to the HSM100 that can be modified to use AC power and become a repeater.
- Garrett[/quote]
A hardwired temp sensor is on my to-do list also. . .for similar reasons it’d be nice to just have one that always worked without battery changing needs.
I did just a superficial search on the HSM100 mentioned and did see some of the dialog going on about it, but no longer term reports on satisfaction or lack thereof. Couldn’t find the specs anywhere either for when on a/c power the polling time for temp, motion, etc, nor what voltage and amperage a/c adapter it will take.
Did find this Aeon labs sensor out there too that can be powered off USB, so you could get any old $5-10 110v to USB adapter on eBay or Amazon and power it.
[url=http://store.homeseer.com/store/Aeon-Labs-Z-Wave-Multisensor-P1325C57.aspx]http://store.homeseer.com/store/Aeon-Labs-Z-Wave-Multisensor-P1325C57.aspx[/url]
For the HSM100 see:
http://store.homeseer.com/store/HomeSeer-HSM100-S2-Z-Wave-Multi-Sensor-P1189C57.aspx
http://www.expresscontrols.com/pdf/EZMotionOwnerManual.pdf
[quote=“Brientim, post:4, topic:172287”]@TheAce
For the HSM100 see:
http://store.homeseer.com/store/HomeSeer-HSM100-S2-Z-Wave-Multi-Sensor-P1189C57.aspx
http://www.expresscontrols.com/pdf/EZMotionOwnerManual.pdf[/quote]
Thx @Brientim! That manual was exactly what I was looking for. . .an owners manual (and possibly service manual) should be included on any webpage selling an item! (crossing my fingers I’m not an idiot and it was clearly available on Smarthome or Homeseer’s website. . .:))
I might get both an HSM100-S2 & an Aeon Labs 4-in-1 and compare back to back. . .plus the humidity sensing (if accurate. . . they are notoriously poorly calibrated) on the Aeon would be a big bonus.
The owners manual is also the “service manual” in the case of the HSM100.
You may wish to also read http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,3831.120.html thread in relation to the Aeon Labs 4-in-1.
Note that the units seem to have different specs for the temperature range of operation. An attic environment may be out of range for some of the sensors.
HSM100-S2:
•32° - 104°F (0° - 40°C) Range
•0.2°F Resolution
EZMotion:
Temperature Sensor
20° - 150°F Range
0.2° F Resolution
I did not find the proper specs for the new AeonLabs Multisensor.
[quote=“Lonestar10, post:7, topic:172287”]Note that the units seem to have different specs for the temperature range of operation. An attic environment may be out of range for some of the sensors.
HSM100-S2:
•32° - 104°F (0° - 40°C) Range
•0.2°F Resolution
EZMotion:
Temperature Sensor
20° - 150°F Range
0.2° F Resolution
I did not find the proper specs for the new AeonLabs Multisensor.[/quote]
@Lonestar10 - thank you sir, I didn’t even think to look that up and you’re totally right, unfortunately the HSM100-S2 is immediately out of the running.
AeonLabs has bad documentation even in the elusive fly by night world of home automation equipment!
Just to think outside the box…
How about a 3m-50 thermostat. It is wifi enabled, there is a plugin and can be powered by 24v transformer. I understand you would need all its function but it will expose the temp to Vera. I of course won’t act as a repeater but then you can have the choice to throw any type of device to achieve that. Just to put an alternative solution out there.
Append: Another option would be RFXCOM USB433. It has a plugin rfxtrx and this would open up the choice of a few sensors from various weather stations Manufactures like Oregon, lacrosse etc. Most are battery operated but have very good battery life in the years and not months. You can find out about compatibility at RFXCOM.com or http://rfxcom.com/oregon.htm for sensors.
Also, FWIW - the Google weather API isn’t that bad for purposes of attic fan activation. That’s what I’m using right now in fact. I do have separate monitoring in various places of my attic of temp & humidity, so I know that when it’s 85+ F outside, I generally want my ventilation pattern to start to cycle.
I use several HSM-100’s in freezing areas and they do fine reporting sub freezing temps, I am not certain of the exact temp but think they might have bottomed out around -7 F during one very cold snap. At these temps though the newer “low self discharge” type rechargeables last much better than alkalines
edit: forgot you were looking to AC power anyway so battery type is unimportant
I just had our roof replaced and I put in a gable fan. It has a thermostat. But out of curiosity, I started watching my attic temp with a simple thermometer.
It seems that outdoor +15 is ideal for attics. Mine was running about 115 on a 95F day. So 104F max on the homeseer unit seems very low.
This was the article on the 1-wire temp, however, as fibaro are not the US, it would not be available.
I use this to control my attic fan.
http://www.etcsupply.com/ranco-etc111000000-digital-temperature-controller-p-86.html
I’ve had it for over two years and it works great
I have it mounted in a bedroom closet just below the attic