Outdoor Wood Furnace Info
All-Purpose OWF Discussions => General Outdoor Furnace Discussion => Topic started by: RSI on March 02, 2011, 01:40:36 PM
-
I am thinking about selling a product that would allow you to see your boiler temperature on a smart phone, computer, etc and send text messages (to any cell phone)/ emails if the boiler temp goes over a temp you set. Can send text if too high (you forgot to close the door and is going to boil over) or temp too low (forgot to put in wood or if you put sensor after pump will tell pump failed)
It will also give you a graph of the boiler temperature. (would show how many time and how long it cycles, etc)
I am trying to figure out if there is enough interest to spend the time getting the bugs worked out to start selling them.
It would come with one sensor with the option to add up to 15 more. Sensors can have up to 300' of wire added so you can place at boiler and in house.
Right now my test unit requires a computer running full time and an active internet connection to get temp on smart phone or computer at another location. Also it only reads celcius right now. The text/email option isn't working yet either. If you want to see what is available right now, you will need to use live messenger. Just PM me your Microsoft live ID so I can add.
If you don't use live or MSN messenger, you can do it from an online microsoft live account.
-
I "might" be interested. I don't care about off site access, but I'd like to know inside the house what my temp's at without having to bundle up and take the 100 foot walk in the cold.
Even if I could look out a window and read the temp, that would be great.
-
I "might" be interested. I don't care about off site access, but I'd like to know inside the house what my temp's at without having to bundle up and take the 100 foot walk in the cold.
Even if I could look out a window and read the temp, that would be great.
I read mine with a pair of binoculars.
-
I have a ready check smoker remote hooked up downstairs where my lines come in (wireless receiver in house) within four degrees of actual temp I love it and would probably like your idea also. The cost of the smoker remote was around $40.00 dollars going to by my brother one for christmas this year coming.
-
I "might" be interested. I don't care about off site access, but I'd like to know inside the house what my temp's at without having to bundle up and take the 100 foot walk in the cold.
Even if I could look out a window and read the temp, that would be great.
Would you want it on the computer or just a stand alone display? I can get you something pretty cheap but you would need to run a wire.
-
I "might" be interested. I don't care about off site access, but I'd like to know inside the house what my temp's at without having to bundle up and take the 100 foot walk in the cold.
Even if I could look out a window and read the temp, that would be great.
Would you want it on the computer or just a stand alone display? I can get you something pretty cheap but you would need to run a wire.
What is the best way to do this? I have the wire ran and a Ranco ETC-111000 Electronic Temperature Controller (120 / 240V)
Thanks
-
I "might" be interested. I don't care about off site access, but I'd like to know inside the house what my temp's at without having to bundle up and take the 100 foot walk in the cold.
Even if I could look out a window and read the temp, that would be great.
Would you want it on the computer or just a stand alone display? I can get you something pretty cheap but you would need to run a wire.
I, too already have a wire ran, just nothing to hook to it yet. I call it lazy on my part. What are you talking?
-
You would need to add a sensor at the boiler.
2 conductor wire is needed.
Would the PC viewing option or stand alone display be preferred? PC option would connect to USB port. (the original idea here was LAN connection but it is a lot more expensive)
The best temperature reading would be from putting the sensor in a well but that would require the boiler to have an unused port and draining water to install.
The sensor could be strapped to a pipe but would likely read lower than actual. Copper pipe might not be too far off but steel or pex would be.
-
I just want a temp guage in my kitchen or outside my window. I also have wire run.
-
I will see what I can do.
-
I thought I read that I could add a remote thermometer to the ranco but can't find where I read it LOL
-
I set up a smoker temp gauge on mine and that is nice not to have to run to the utility room every morning and check from my bed to see if i have to get up and feed the beast. I do some programming and I have been going to do some type of wireless setup programmed to my iphone so when I am out I can call the "wife" and remind her to fill the boiler:)
-
;D Now if you could get it to load the wood from my laptop, I would give up a body part for that. ;D
-
;D Now if you could get it to load the wood from my laptop, I would give up a body part for that. ;D
I'd be down for one of these too...
...don't they make an app for that?
-
I am thinking about selling a product that would allow you to see your boiler temperature on a smart phone, computer, etc and send text messages (to any cell phone)/ emails if the boiler temp goes over a temp you set. Can send text if too high (you forgot to close the door and is going to boil over) or temp too low (forgot to put in wood or if you put sensor after pump will tell pump failed)
It will also give you a graph of the boiler temperature. (would show how many time and how long it cycles, etc)
I am trying to figure out if there is enough interest to spend the time getting the bugs worked out to start selling them.
It would come with one sensor with the option to add up to 15 more. Sensors can have up to 300' of wire added so you can place at boiler and in house.
Right now my test unit requires a computer running full time and an active internet connection to get temp on smart phone or computer at another location. Also it only reads celcius right now. The text/email option isn't working yet either. If you want to see what is available right now, you will need to use live messenger. Just PM me your Microsoft live ID so I can add.
If you don't use live or MSN messenger, you can do it from an online microsoft live account.
I have been wanting to this exact thing with my unit.I had contacted the company that makes the "LAB JACK" ,and conversed with them about doing this.I eventually never got any more replys from them.I guess i wasn't smart enough electronics wise to design something with thier products.
I would like to be able to check my temps and such on my smart phone while at work or away.
If you design something and decide to sell it resonably I might be interested.Then if your venture doesn't pan out,and you would be willing to help a guy out.I would like to try and design something to do what you propose. :thumbup:
-
Well my first attempt was a failure. Was not reliable enough.
I am on the second attempt now and it is working fairly well so far. Still needs some changes done but I am working on it. This one only has one sensor and it only has about a 2 ft cord on the sensor. But the controller can connect to wifi or lan connection so you can put it out at the boiler if needed.
Right now it looks like I will be selling it for around $125. If anyone here is interested in one now they can get them for $75. I don't plan to start selling them anywhere else for a while to make sure no problems come up.
I currently just have the sensor strapped to a copper pipe in the basement. You can see it here. (I was doing some testing on it today that made the graph get screwed up around noon Saturday
http://rsiboilers.com/temp.htm (http://rsiboilers.com/temp.htm)
-
Ours gets installed Wednesday. There are two ports for supply and two for return. I am initially only to be using one (each) of them. With the angle of the stove to the back window I too will be using binoculars. I think my wifi would reach that far, need to confirm with my IPhone.
In short I have some interest.
-
RSI- Whats the status of selling this? MY wifi signal does not seem strong enough to put the sensor at the boiler. Would you recommend it to be attached to the inlet side of the HTX?
-
If you want it at your boiler I can include an outdoor enclosure antenna for a little extra. It would need to be mounted outside the boiler.
You would want to put the sensor before any heat exchangers. Otherwise the temp would drop every time they are drawing any heat.
I am having some trouble getting the email alert part to work. If you want one, it will take a couple weeks to get some ready to go. Just let me know and I can get it going.
To get access to it from the internet you will need to setup port forwarding at your router. If you don't know how to do this, send me a PM and I will explain the steps. It varies depending on brand but should be real easy to setup.
-
We lost electricity yesterday and the wife and I decided to go out. Prior to leaving (and losing the electric) I was searching sites for alternatives to monitoring the water temp. A favorite seemed to be the Maverick Redi Chek Remote cooking thermometer (ET-72). In short I ened up buying one.
When I got home I decided to connect it to the inlet side of my HTX. To ensure accuracy, I uses a small piece of foil tape over the probe. I was seeing a 5F differance between boiler temp and inlet temp to HTX. When the furnace fan came on I was seeing a 15-20F temp differance. This didn't make sense. Then I figured it out (As you probably did reading this). My dealer installed the inlet and outlet pipes incorrectly. I was reading the outlet temp. According to all the information I have read installing a HTX, the inlet is supposed to be the bottom port and the top the outlet. I work in an industry that uses HTX and of course it makes sense to connect to the bottom port. This assures the air is pushed out of the HTX.
This will be an easy fix since SS clamps were used. (I'll swap the lines).
In short, I think I'll use this method to monitor for now.
-
What kind of lines are going to the heat exchanger?
-
ThermoPex from the boiler to the house, PEx lines inside the house.
http://outdoorwoodfurnaceinfo.com/forum/index.php?action=media;sa=media;in=30;preview (http://outdoorwoodfurnaceinfo.com/forum/index.php?action=media;sa=media;in=30;preview)
-
You must have Consumers Energy Ridgekid. What? Did you or your wife sneeze and your power went out? thats all it takes at my place! @#$%^&*()!@ power company! 19 hours and $35 worth the gas in the gennie. @#$%^&*()!@#$%^&*() power company!
-
ThermoPex from the boiler to the house, PEx lines inside the house.
http://outdoorwoodfurnaceinfo.com/forum/index.php?action=media;sa=media;in=30;preview (http://outdoorwoodfurnaceinfo.com/forum/index.php?action=media;sa=media;in=30;preview)
I can't tell from the picture what the clamps are.
Are they the cinch clamps that are one time use or do you use a wrench to tighten then? Are made specifically for pex?
You will probably have to cut some off the end up the pex to keep it from leaking. The fittings leave permanent groves in the inside of the pex and even if you get them lined up again it won't be the best seal.
-
Wow...never answered your question did I RSI. They are clamps you tighten with a wrench.
-
RSI-
I would like to revisit this. Is there a way to make this work using a surface mount temp sensor (on copper pipe)? I like my current setup but the remote monitoring would be better suited for me.
I would like to monitor the water temp coming in from the OWB, and the water temp going into and coming out of my HWH. Three senors. All tied into one Ethernet switch. (Or wireless to my router) When displayed I would like to pull up one webpage showing all three temps.
Is that doable?
-
RSI-
I would like to revisit this. Is there a way to make this work using a surface mount temp sensor (on copper pipe)? I like my current setup but the remote monitoring would be better suited for me.
I would like to monitor the water temp coming in from the OWB, and the water temp going into and coming out of my HWH. Three senors. All tied into one Ethernet switch. (Or wireless to my router) When displayed I would like to pull up one webpage showing all three temps.
Is that doable?
Yes but anything I could find what can use multiple sensors and get remote access is around $500
You can do it cheap running the sensors directly to a computer but then the computer has to stay on and I don't know of a way to get access from the internet. I suppose you could use a program to remotely view the computer screen but that is kind of slow.
-
I leave my computer on 24/7 because of the webcams. So that's not an issue. $500 is. I was thinking about something about half that. Senors for about $75 each and a $100 switch or converter. Probably wishful thinking.
How do you get the remote access?
-
I would be interested in just knowing the temperature of my OWB from inside my house. Does anyone know of a transmitting temp gauge with receiver?
-
Look up the Maverick Redi Chek. They offer both the single and double units.
-
I found something that might work.
http://www.controlbyweb.com/products.html (http://www.controlbyweb.com/products.html)
I'm looking at the X300 Temp Module ($240) (Built in server)
3 probes good up to 257F. ($30) (You get one probe with module)
PoE power injector ($40)
Total $310 (not including shipping)
Whats your impression?
-
I would be interested in just knowing the temperature of my OWB from inside my house. Does anyone know of a transmitting temp gauge with receiver?
A lot of people are using grilling thermometers.
If you want wired, I have thermometers that you can extend the wire up to about 120' (I have had them working on 150' but not as reliable) and have a red LED display. They are about $30.
You can also just attach the probe to a pipe in the house with pretty much any type thermometer and it will read about the same.
-
I found something that might work.
http://www.controlbyweb.com/products.html (http://www.controlbyweb.com/products.html)
I'm looking at the X300 Temp Module ($240) (Built in server)
3 probes good up to 257F. ($30) (You get one probe with module)
PoE power injector ($40)
Total $310 (not including shipping)
Whats your impression?
I will have to look at that when I get more time.
I think I have seen it before but can't remember right now.
Not many people will want to pay that much.
-
I put the new Redi Chek, by Maverick, on my P&M gasifier 250 last week, it has a 300' range with two temp. probes. My boiler is a little over 100' away from my house and I had sporadic performance. I wrapped a wire around the antenna on the transmitter (which I have on the back side of my boiler, one probe on supply side coming out of my boiler and the other on the return from the house) and ran it up a little bit over the top of my boiler and it works great. I can tell by looking at the temps when furnace fan kicks, when we're using hot water or when the boiler is firing. I paid $59. on e-bay, it is model ET-732. The cheaper one only has 100' range.
-
I use this, seems to be almost exactly what oyu are talking about. Not sure about working directly wit hte OWB as the temp range is too high, I simply put some insulation in between so I can see when it is turning on and off to my pool exchanger. It works over the internet and sends texts and such. I think you can have 15-20 devices. Don't need a computer, just a router.
http://weatherdirect.com/tx60dset (http://weatherdirect.com/tx60dset)
I love it. Would be nice if they made more probes though, for high temps and such. Maybe even branch out to vibration and other environements.
-
RSI-
Yeah I agree it's a little pricey and most would not be interested. I could save $82 with the cheaper module, but I know I would be sorry later. Being it's own server I wouldn't have to leave on my computer. (Like I do for the webcams). I think I'm a little more knowledgeable on how to set up remote monitoring now. (I hope!)
Skyking-
I like that new model! (ET-732). I have the ET-7 and ET-72. I will offer them to my son, if he''s interested. He has a CB4030.
Muffin-
I ran across those in my search, but was not satisfied with the temp range they offered.
-
I would be interested in just knowing the temperature of my OWB from inside my house. Does anyone know of a transmitting temp gauge with receiver?
A lot of people are using grilling thermometers.
If you want wired, I have thermometers that you can extend the wire up to about 120' (I have had them working on 150' but not as reliable) and have a red LED display. They are about $30.
You can also just attach the probe to a pipe in the house with pretty much any type thermometer and it will read about the same.
RSI, please send me a message. That would work for me. My circulator runs on a thermostat so I need to know the temp right at the stove....which is about 100' from my family room.