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lortan
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| Posted: July 15 2009 at 22:49 | IP Logged
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Hi all. I posted this question in another forum (smarthome) and I was refered to this site so here is a c/p of my question:
I want to be able to control an electrical outlet with a card/usb key/or some type of token system. I would like to have a way where I can add x amount of time onto the card/token/usb key and then allow the user to insert the card/token/usb key and it will turn the outlet on until the card runs out of time.
In my searches I came across the smarthome products and noticed some of the parts that might work for me.
Powerlinc Controller 2414U
outletlinc 2473swh
Is this even possible? I am hoping that if it is not possible with the current automation software maybe I could make a small program/software that I could use to control the outlet via the powerlinc controller.
What do you guys think. Am I totally nuts or can it be done?
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jeffw_00
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| Posted: July 16 2009 at 14:47 | IP Logged
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I don't know about card systems, but if you can get one that will write a log to a text file, Powerhome can poll the text file, do the math, and do the right thing, I think.
But I'm not sure I'd -want- to live in an apartment where my power was metered that way 8-}
Edited by jeffw_00 - July 16 2009 at 14:48
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lortan
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| Posted: July 16 2009 at 15:05 | IP Logged
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I want to get my kids to learn some work ethic I suppose. I want to give them "credits" for chores that will give them t.v. and video game time. no clean room=no tv. Kinda like the carrot horse thing just revamped for the 21st century ;)
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jeffw_00
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| Posted: July 16 2009 at 15:06 | IP Logged
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none of my business, but i think you'd do better to have an honor system, than enforce it impersonally with machines.
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lortan
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| Posted: July 16 2009 at 15:19 | IP Logged
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well the idea is to be able to teach them reward for work like real life - you work you get paid. The other part is that when you are not home all the time and they will just veg out in front of the tv rather than go outside or do something else. There is no honour among these little rats 
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BeachBum
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| Posted: July 16 2009 at 17:31 | IP Logged
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You could credit usage of something on an outlet using Powerhome or take away if over used. The problem I see is the device the TV or whatever is plugged into can be overridden by unplugging and plugged into an outlet directly unless it was somehow installed in a locked box.
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TonyNo
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| Posted: July 16 2009 at 18:48 | IP Logged
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Not arguing the merits, so how deep do you want to get into this? Throw a PC with some spare cycles on it, add some support software, and be done? I'm all for a neat project!
You could use a thumb drive with autorun set up to send something to PH via the command-line utility.
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lortan
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| Posted: July 16 2009 at 19:27 | IP Logged
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BeachBum wrote:
| You could credit usage of something on an outlet using Powerhome or take away if over used. The problem I see is the device the TV or whatever is plugged into can be overridden by unplugging and plugged into an outlet directly unless it was somehow installed in a locked box. |
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That's exactly what I was thinking, making a lock box that would hold the tv or game console cord captive. The unit would be like a powerbar with cords locked into it. You could still unplug the main cord from the wall if there was a problem but the other cords are locked into the insteon switch in the box.
So if I were to credit usage on the outlet using powerhome would this scenario work: My son has 2 hours on credit. He uses 1 hour in the morning when he gets up and then decides to save the other hour for later in the day if it starts raining or something. Would he have to log onto powerhome each time to get it to turn on/off or would it just monitor the usage itself?
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grif091
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| Posted: July 16 2009 at 22:08 | IP Logged
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You would not want the subject to have access to Powerhome. If you have to lock up the power cord, giving access to PH is giving up the keys to the kingdom. Some Insteon switch, or perhaps a button on a KeypadLinc, through PowerHome, controls turning the OutletLinc link On and Off. Powerhome keeps track of the total time the OutletLinc is turned On, prohibiting the turn On and specifically issuing an Off when the time has elapsed.
There is one issue that has not been mentioned. When you unplug a TV (remove power) it generally loses its channel awareness making it necessary to reprogram the channels or perhaps which Input should be used if coming from a Sat box. Don't know of any such switch but you would really like to have something that would disconnect the source signal rather than remove power from the TV. I would not have any problem keeping an extension cord under the mattress and plug the TV into another outlet if my time ran out.
Edited by grif091 - July 16 2009 at 22:09
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BeachBum
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| Posted: July 17 2009 at 09:36 | IP Logged
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Lee, the channel awareness upon powering on depends on the TV. I have one that is controlled by setup and another that doesn’t care how it lost its power and a third that can’t remember it’s a TV. As far as PH accessibility that’s up to the imagination of a youngster to explore but can ultimately be blocked by a much older and wiser wizard.
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PowerHome Messageboard : PowerHome General
Topic: timer - can this be done?
