I’d like to go about writing a “software thermostat” that takes temperature readings from throughout the house to arrive at a setpoint for the poorly-located thermostat.
The control-side (bumping the thermostat up and down) is no problem.
I have a Dallas 1-wire hardwired sensor in each room, but no way to interface that to Vera. That’s one option… something like an Arduino translator to sample the 1-wire sensors and translate to USB/RS-232.
I’d prefer stand-alone sensors, either on Z-Wave or another protocol. Something that can run from AC power would be better than battery, so I could sample often.
I tried a Supermechanical Twine, but it’s very limited and a glutton for batteries. It’s also rather expensive (per-unit).
I’ve read what I can find on the 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 motion detectors with temperature, but it sounds like none of them is a sure thing – all with varying degrees of reliability.
So, ideally, I’d like to find something that is:
- Inexpensive (<$50 per location?)
- Powered, or runs a long time on rechargable cells
- Accurate to at least 1 degree F
- Vera-compatible, or within reach of software plug-in.
- Reliable communication (no X-10, thanks)
One option is to buy multiple Z-Wave Thermostats, like the Filtrete CT30. Power each of them with 24v, but connect it to NO Heater. Just use it as a Vera-compatible temperature sampler. Has anyone done this? Maybe four Radio Thermostat units controlling one actual heater?
This forum seems full of motivated and skilled home automators, so I suspect someone has made a better thermostat than a single-location unit. 