OT..X10- security question.. for Bob LaLonde

Bob, I ran across your name on one of the security news-groups..I wonder if
I could ask a non-fishing question....

I sometimes travel for long periods of time. The kids look in on the house,
but sometimes not for a week or more. The neighbors check things out daily,
but they simply watch from the outside as they take their walks. Since I
live in a hot, humid climate..I worry about the air/conditioning system
failing due to rolling blackouts, etc. If that were to happen, I'd have a
mold issue pretty quickly if the a/c wasn't repaired promptly.

I'm thinking about installing some sort of a device ( is X10 the right
name??? ) that, IF the temperature ( or even better.. the humidity) got
above a certain number... (say 90 degrees) ..the device would dial my
cellphone. It wouldn't have to "say " anything. The mere fact that I
received a call on my cellphone from my home number ( when no one is
supposed to be home ) would cause me to send one of the kids over...right
away.... to check inside and to check if the air conditioning unit is still
on and working.

It makes sense if the device was powered with a/c, but with a battery
back-up..since it is the absence of electricity that would probably trigger
the a/c failure.

Any thoughts; products; ideas; LINKS that would help a do-it yourself kind
of guy accomplish this would be appreciated. Thanks

--
RichG manager, Carolina Skiff Owners Group on MSN
http://groups.msn.com/CarolinaSkiffOwners
..

I have a device like that in my cottage called a Sensaphone. It
monitors temperature, noise and moisture. My particular version is
called the cottage sitter and I can remotely change the temperature so
that the cottage is heated up by the time I arrive. It is set to call
me as well as my heating contractor who has a key if the furnace goes
out or I get water in the basement. I believe the web site is
www.sensaphone.com. I think there are also outputs to do things like
turn lights on and off at different times although I don't do that. I
know it checks for heat as it called me last year while I was fishing
the NWC and reported that the cottage was on fire. Fortunately it was
just my wife and contractor testing the unit. It can be set to alert
on both high and low temperatures.

"RichG" wrote in message
. com...
Bob, I ran across your name on one of the security news-groups..I wonder
if
I could ask a non-fishing question....

I sometimes travel for long periods of time. The kids look in on the
house,
but sometimes not for a week or more. The neighbors check things out
daily,
but they simply watch from the outside as they take their walks. Since I
live in a hot, humid climate..I worry about the air/conditioning system
failing due to rolling blackouts, etc. If that were to happen, I'd have
a
mold issue pretty quickly if the a/c wasn't repaired promptly.

I'm thinking about installing some sort of a device ( is X10 the right
name??? ) that, IF the temperature ( or even better.. the humidity) got
above a certain number... (say 90 degrees) ..the device would dial my
cellphone. It wouldn't have to "say " anything. The mere fact that I
received a call on my cellphone from my home number ( when no one is
supposed to be home ) would cause me to send one of the kids over...right
away.... to check inside and to check if the air conditioning unit is
still
on and working.

It makes sense if the device was powered with a/c, but with a battery
back-up..since it is the absence of electricity that would probably
trigger
the a/c failure.

Any thoughts; products; ideas; LINKS that would help a do-it yourself
kind
of guy accomplish this would be appreciated. Thanks

--
RichG manager, Carolina Skiff Owners Group on MSN
http://groups.msn.com/CarolinaSkiffOwners


For really basic monitoring of environmental USP makes some stuff that will
work with their autodialers.

I have not had a lot of call for this sort of thing where we weren't putting
in a full blown alarm system, but its worth a look.

Sensors:
http://www.unitedsecurity.com/supervise.htm

Dialers:
http://www.unitedsecurity.com/autodialers.htm

I typically don't sell to the DIY market, but there are a bunch of on-line
dealers that cater to the DIY market. Just do a search. A lot of guys like
Smarthome, but basshome, and several others also have the stuff.

I'm sure there are probably some cleaner packages than the USP items, but
they came immediately to mind.


--
Bob La Londe
www.YumaBassMan.com

"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
"RichG" wrote in message
. com...
Bob, I ran across your name on one of the security news-groups..I wonder
if
I could ask a non-fishing question....

I sometimes travel for long periods of time. The kids look in on the
house,
but sometimes not for a week or more. The neighbors check things out
daily,
but they simply watch from the outside as they take their walks. Since
I
live in a hot, humid climate..I worry about the air/conditioning system
failing due to rolling blackouts, etc. If that were to happen, I'd have
a
mold issue pretty quickly if the a/c wasn't repaired promptly.

I'm thinking about installing some sort of a device ( is X10 the right
name??? ) that, IF the temperature ( or even better.. the humidity) got
above a certain number... (say 90 degrees) ..the device would dial my
cellphone. It wouldn't have to "say " anything. The mere fact that I
received a call on my cellphone from my home number ( when no one is
supposed to be home ) would cause me to send one of the kids over...right
away.... to check inside and to check if the air conditioning unit is
still
on and working.

It makes sense if the device was powered with a/c, but with a battery
back-up..since it is the absence of electricity that would probably
trigger
the a/c failure.

Any thoughts; products; ideas; LINKS that would help a do-it yourself
kind
of guy accomplish this would be appreciated. Thanks

--
RichG manager, Carolina Skiff Owners Group on MSN
http://groups.msn.com/CarolinaSkiffOwners


For really basic monitoring of environmental USP makes some stuff that
will
work with their autodialers.

I have not had a lot of call for this sort of thing where we weren't
putting
in a full blown alarm system, but its worth a look.

Sensors:
http://www.unitedsecurity.com/supervise.htm

Dialers:
http://www.unitedsecurity.com/autodialers.htm

I typically don't sell to the DIY market, but there are a bunch of on-line
dealers that cater to the DIY market. Just do a search. A lot of guys
like
Smarthome, but basshome, and several others also have the stuff.

I'm sure there are probably some cleaner packages than the USP items, but
they came immediately to mind.


--
Bob La Londe
www.YumaBassMan.com



Wondered what happened to United Security. About 1979 did some contract
work for them when they were in Livermore. Just getting into panels at the
time.

"RichG" wrote in message
. com...
Bob, I ran across your name on one of the security news-groups..I wonder
if
I could ask a non-fishing question....

I sometimes travel for long periods of time. The kids look in on the
house,
but sometimes not for a week or more. The neighbors check things out
daily,
but they simply watch from the outside as they take their walks. Since I
live in a hot, humid climate..I worry about the air/conditioning system
failing due to rolling blackouts, etc. If that were to happen, I'd have
a
mold issue pretty quickly if the a/c wasn't repaired promptly.

I'm thinking about installing some sort of a device ( is X10 the right
name??? ) that, IF the temperature ( or even better.. the humidity) got
above a certain number... (say 90 degrees) ..the device would dial my
cellphone. It wouldn't have to "say " anything. The mere fact that I
received a call on my cellphone from my home number ( when no one is
supposed to be home ) would cause me to send one of the kids over...right
away.... to check inside and to check if the air conditioning unit is
still
on and working.

It makes sense if the device was powered with a/c, but with a battery
back-up..since it is the absence of electricity that would probably
trigger
the a/c failure.

Any thoughts; products; ideas; LINKS that would help a do-it yourself
kind
of guy accomplish this would be appreciated. Thanks

--
RichG manager, Carolina Skiff Owners Group on MSN
http://groups.msn.com/CarolinaSkiffOwners

If you want, when you find something e-mail me a link and I'll take a look
at it, and ask some of my security cronies about it.

Also, you should post your query in news:comp.home.automation There are a
bunch of serious DIY guys there who can help point you in the right
direction.


*** Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com ***

Bob. It appears, to my uneducated mind, that this device will do exactly
what I want done.. Monitor things while I am away, and call me if something
is amiss. Do I read the adv. correctly?

http://www.smarthome.com/7005cs.html

Does it look like I need anything else, other than some batteries? It looks
like it will run on 110 a/c and then have a back up battery system if the
a/c goes out?? Looks like you could sell/install a zillion of these devices
to cottage owners everywhere...

Thanks very much for your help .
--
RichG manager, Carolina Skiff Owners Group on MSN
http://groups.msn.com/CarolinaSkiffOwners
..

"RichG" wrote in message
m...
Bob. It appears, to my uneducated mind, that this device will do exactly
what I want done.. Monitor things while I am away, and call me if
something
is amiss. Do I read the adv. correctly?

http://www.smarthome.com/7005cs.html

Does it look like I need anything else, other than some batteries? It
looks
like it will run on 110 a/c and then have a back up battery system if the
a/c goes out?? Looks like you could sell/install a zillion of these
devices
to cottage owners everywhere...

Thanks very much for your help .
--
RichG manager, Carolina Skiff Owners Group on MSN
http://groups.msn.com/CarolinaSkiffOwners
.





Looks like it might just be the ticket. Of curse you need to add the
accessories. I have never been crazy about non-rechargable batteries for
backup, but the product does appear to be what you need otherwise.

Sensaphone has been around for a long time. I have not used any of their
products, but no company survives if their stuff is crap.

For another perspective look at it ont he manufacturer's website.
http://www.sensaphone.com/cabins-homes.html

You can also download and review the manuals for different models he
http://www.sensaphone.com/sensaphone...r-support.html


--
Bob La Londe - Webmaster
www.YumaBassMan.com

Tornament Director
www.YumaProAm.com


*** Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com ***