Comments on: software engineers shouldn’t use soldiering irons… http://pst.org/2009/01/software-engineers-shouldnt-use-soldiering-irons/ "Nobody pooped, twice." The life and times of Paul Traina Sat, 14 Mar 2009 19:32:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Paul Traina http://pst.org/2009/01/software-engineers-shouldnt-use-soldiering-irons/comment-page-1/#comment-237 Paul Traina Sun, 11 Jan 2009 07:26:50 +0000 http://pst.org/2009/01/05/software-engineers-shouldnt-use-soldiering-irons/#comment-237 I thought about that, but I figure if I'm going to the trouble, it would be just as much fun and the same amount of work to build my own. It's not like thermostats are like writing a routing protocol. In fact, I was going to use a PID controller to figure out when to kick on the second stage, and then I realized it's really quite simple. If the temp is > 5 degrees below target, or if the stage one heater has been running for more than 10 minutes, fire the stage 2 up. I thought about that, but I figure if I’m going to the trouble, it would be just as much fun and the same amount of work to build my own. It’s not like thermostats are like writing a routing protocol. In fact, I was going to use a PID controller to figure out when to kick on the second stage, and then I realized it’s really quite simple. If the temp is > 5 degrees below target, or if the stage one heater has been running for more than 10 minutes, fire the stage 2 up.

]]> By: Brent http://pst.org/2009/01/software-engineers-shouldnt-use-soldiering-irons/comment-page-1/#comment-236 Brent Sun, 11 Jan 2009 05:13:32 +0000 http://pst.org/2009/01/05/software-engineers-shouldnt-use-soldiering-irons/#comment-236 How about something like this: http://www.hometech.com/hts/products/automation/hvac/index.html#RO-300202 From the description: <blockquote> This gorgeous thermostat has an extra pair of connections, and two temperature settings. When you short the extra contacts together, the thermostat uses the 'night' setting (which could also be an 'away' or 'anti-freeze' setting.) Run an extra pair of wires from the thermostat to something that can connect the wires via remote control, and you have a remotely controllable thermostat! There are two basic ways to hook up this thermostat: Run the two wires to a Universal Module. Plug in the Universal Module and you can send X-10 commands from any X-10 controller (including a telephone transponder) to operate the thermostat. This mode is quite popular with the 'mountain cabin' folks. Imagine calling your cabin from your cell-phone while on the way to tell it to warm up the place! And always being assured that, when away, the thermostat will not let the pipes freeze. </blockquote> How about something like this:

http://www.hometech.com/hts/products/automation/hvac/index.html#RO-300202

From the description:

This gorgeous thermostat has an extra pair of connections, and two
temperature settings. When you short the extra contacts together,
the thermostat uses the ‘night’ setting (which could also be an
‘away’ or ‘anti-freeze’ setting.) Run an extra pair of wires from
the thermostat to something that can connect the wires via remote
control, and you have a remotely controllable thermostat!

There are two basic ways to hook up this thermostat: Run the two
wires to a Universal Module. Plug in the Universal Module and you
can send X-10 commands from any X-10 controller (including a telephone
transponder) to operate the thermostat. This mode is quite popular
with the ‘mountain cabin’ folks. Imagine calling your cabin from
your cell-phone while on the way to tell it to warm up the place!
And always being assured that, when away, the thermostat will not
let the pipes freeze.

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