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smarty
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Posted: February 07 2012 at 09:58 \| IP Logged

Ken,
What type/brand/model of humidifier are you using? I am thinking
about adding humidification (I already have a dehumidifier - but it of
course cannot add moisture to the air).

Curious to hear what works well for everyone.

Edited by smarty - February 07 2012 at 10:12

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GadgetGuy
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Posted: February 07 2012 at 10:08 \| IP Logged

I have tried, and thrown out four Humidifiers over the years, as none of them worked satisfactorily for me. They all clogged up with calcium deposits so badly that they ceased to function before the heating season was over. We have excellent well water, but it is high in calcium even after water softening.

THEN I DISCOVERED the best of breed humidifier. I have been using it for three years and there isn't a spec of calcium on it yet!!!

I love it. It is hands down the best I have ever found.

It is manufactured by Desert Spring Products and uses closely spaced rotary discs that use capillary action to pull water up between the discs where it then evaporates from.

Here is a link to the product.
http://www.desertspringproducts.com/desertspring/humidifiers _rotary.asp

There are links on the site advising where you can buy the product. I can't say enough good about it. It is the first humidifier I have ever used in 40 years, that really works.

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syonker
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Posted: February 07 2012 at 10:17 \| IP Logged

Ken, do you by chance have a macro or something that compares the outside temp to some sort of humidity table and sets the humidity according to that need? Just trying to avoid rework if I can.

-S

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GadgetGuy
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Posted: February 07 2012 at 10:31 \| IP Logged

Yes-

I check the outside temp (I implemented a 1-wire network that reads my Refrigerator, Freezer, and Outside temps, but you can get it from a local weather site too [I have a macro for that]).

Then using the Outside_Temp I have two lines of code that calculates the optimum inside humidity according to the National Heating/Cooling Institute.

This code is . . .

Code:

HUMIDITY_TARGET=round(20+{TEMP-OUTSIDE_C}/2,0)

if({HUMIDITY_TARGET}<20,20,{HUMIDITY_TARGET})

where: HUMIDITY_TARGET is a global variable; TEMP-OUTSIDE_C is the current outside temp,
and the optimum humidity is just 20+0.5*Outside_Temp, and I always want at least 20% humidity even if the outside temp gets negative!

Hope that helps.

Edited by GadgetGuy - February 07 2012 at 10:34

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syonker
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Posted: February 09 2012 at 12:55 \| IP Logged

Hey, what's the trick to using ph_settstat() to turn the fan on, or set it back to auto...?

-S

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syonker
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Posted: February 09 2012 at 14:04 \| IP Logged

Ooh....and one more thing...appears that ph_gettstat("THERMOSTAT") and ph_gettstat("THERMOSTAT",1) are throwing syntax errors. I'm obviously not forming this right. Ugh.

-S

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GadgetGuy
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Posted: February 09 2012 at 15:00 \| IP Logged

syonker wrote:

Hey, what's the trick to using ph_settstat() to turn the fan on, or set it back to auto...?

-S

Syonker - the fan can only be turned on or off. There is no "auto" setting (Except if the fan is "off" it just means it isn't running all the time. It will run when a heat/cool operation is active.)

To turn the fan on execute . . .
ph_insteon("THERMOSTAT",107,7)

To turn it off execute . . .
ph_insteon("THERMOSTAT",107,8)

Woops though. These may be the "old" commands before Dave added the STAT support, so take with a grain of salr while I check further for the moment.

Edited by GadgetGuy - February 09 2012 at 15:03

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GadgetGuy
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Posted: February 09 2012 at 15:53 \| IP Logged

OK. Just ran some experiments to re-learn what I forgot.

For the recond the commands are . . .

ph_settstat(ID, TYPE, VALUE)
where:
ID is the ID you assigned the thermostat in the THERMOSTATS screen.
TYPE is a string describing the information youre setting. Valid types are coolsp,heatsp, and mode.
VALUE is the value you wish to set. For coolsp and heatsp will be the temperature you wish to set. For mode, this will be a number from 0 to 7 that corresponds to:
0 - Off
1 - Heat
2 - Cool
3 - Auto
4 - Fan
5 - Program Auto
6 - Program Heat
7 - Program Cool

The fan is turned on with a . . .
ph_settstat("THERMOSTAT","mode",4)
command.

But I can not find a way to turn the fan back off!!! Executing a Mode 0 (OFF) command just shuts down the heat/cool modes but leaves the fan running. Executing multiple "4" (fan) commands doesn't toggle the setting, it just keeps turning the fan on.

Unless there are some commands beyond the 0-7 range, I don't see how you can turn the fan off electronically. Maybe someone else has discovered a method?

The syntax of your gettstat functions is not fully formed.

A correct command to get the temp would be . . .

ph_gettstat("THERMOSTAT","temp",0)

There are three parameters to the function; the ID you assigned to the thermostat device (normally "THERMOSTAT"); a data type (string) you want returned (one of the following values: coolsp,heatsp,temp,humidity,mode,fanstat,setpoint); and the read flag (0=read from data base table, 1=force realtime read of stat).

Hopefully this all gets you going.

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syonker
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Posted: February 11 2012 at 08:30 \| IP Logged

Hey Ken,

Regarding your post a few back showing the use of the ph_gettstat() function....can you use this function to get the "current mode" of the thermostat?

Something like...

if(ph_gettstat(ph_getvar_s(1,1),"mode",0)=0,"HVAC_MODE_OFF", "CONTINUE")

...?

-S

EDIT: I think I answered my own question - it appears that this does indeed work.

Edited by syonker - February 11 2012 at 08:33

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GadgetGuy
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Posted: February 11 2012 at 08:52 \| IP Logged

syonker wrote:

it appears that this does indeed work.

Yep. It should. Noting that you get the stat name from a variable, it looks like you have multiple stats.

One thing to be aware of it that the Insteon stat interface has been notorious for giving erroneous readings. It is a good idea to put a reality check on the data you get back. For instance, if the temp changes more than a say 5 degrees between readings, it might not be valid and is probably worth doing another few reads (best 2 of 3) or ignoring the read and using the last good data point.

Once I did this, I have had very reliable information from my stat.

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syonker
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Posted: February 11 2012 at 09:00 \| IP Logged

Having a little trouble getting my humidity though - the function works, but returns nothing....as in:

What am I doing wrong...? EDIT: Forgot that I need to set the "flags" variable to "1" to indicate INSTEON. This works: ph_gettstat("HVAC","humidity",1)

-S

SIDE NOTE: I have a "version 2" INSTEON/Venstar thermostat (they sent me the latest when they found known problems in my prior unit - free - with a $75 voucher - Woo Hoo!. It's been performing like a rock so far. The prior one I had was CLEARLY flaky.

Edited by syonker - February 11 2012 at 09:29

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syonker
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Posted: February 11 2012 at 09:34 \| IP Logged

Ok, per above now I gotta ask...why is it that for:

ph_gettstat("HVAC","humidity",1)

You have to use "1" in the flags column (third position), but for:

ph_gettstat("HVAC","mode",0)

You must use a "0"....?

-S

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GadgetGuy
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Posted: February 11 2012 at 09:40 \| IP Logged

Syonker -

The syntax of your ph_gettstat() function appears correct. The only thing that could be wrong (that I see) is whether you have defined "HVAC" as a Thermostat device.

If it is undefined, you will not get a result.

You should have it added to the PowerHome Explorer>Devices>Thermostats collection. Just as I have THERMOSTAT below, you must have a "HVAC" device defined . . .

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GadgetGuy
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Posted: February 11 2012 at 09:51 \| IP Logged

Syonker -

The Flag setting of 0 or 1 determines (respectively) whether the data obtained is from the PH database for the stat or fetched directly by reading the stat itself.

Other than the time stamp on the data (and any variance) there should not be any difference. I am reading my Humidity with a "0" flag.

In the Device>Thermostats setup, you should have a Polling Time interval set and make sure the display boxes are checked as shown below . . .

I'm guessing that maybe your "Disp Humd" box isn't checked, and thus the PH database is not getting populated.

Edited by GadgetGuy - February 11 2012 at 09:52

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syonker
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Posted: February 11 2012 at 10:00 \| IP Logged

Just double-checked. All items in the list (including Disp Fan) are checked. Odd stuff.

Thanks for the clarification on the flag setting.

Got a bunch more wiring to do now - lots of INSTEON goodies to add.

One note - you said in an earlier post that you have multiple temperature sensors...wondering what you're using to do that. Would be nice to have a few additional thermometers in A/V cabinets, rooms with ceiling fans, etc. around the house.

-S

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GadgetGuy
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Posted: February 11 2012 at 10:20 \| IP Logged

Syonker -

I am puzzled why your humidity readings aren't showing up in the PH database. Dave (if he sees this) might have some ideas.

Re: temp measurements, I have set up a 1-Wire network which is the cat's meow.

Simple to run all over the place and nice to work with. I was going to direct you to the tutorial I put in the PH Wiki last year, but it is GONE!

So I am sending you a PDF copy to your (profile) email address. Look for it in a few minutes.

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GadgetGuy
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Posted: February 11 2012 at 10:28 \| IP Logged

Woops. Looks like your email and web site data is not valid.

I hit dead ends on both. Check my Profile email address and send me your current info.

Better yet, update your Profile in the Forum!

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syonker
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Posted: February 11 2012 at 11:54 \| IP Logged

Hi Ken....actually - yes, those addresses (web and e-mail) work...I had the web server down for a bit along with the whole house because I was wiring in a bunch of new INSTEON SwitchLinc controls.

GadgetGuy
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Posted: February 11 2012 at 12:53 \| IP Logged

OK.

Document shot # two is coming across your bow even as we speak.

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syonker
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Posted: February 11 2012 at 13:19 \| IP Logged

Got them both - thanks!

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