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Solution of the Week
Come Home to a Cool House and a Hot Tub
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Planning on making your home the place to unwind during the summer months? Doing so is easier and more affordable than you might think. One of our favorite projects is to add remote control ability to your hot tub and air conditioning system. To begin, you'll need to decide how you want to control them — either by phone on your way home from work or from your office computer before you even get on the road.
| | | Control via the Telephone | |
The most flexible way of controlling your hot tub and air conditioner is via telephone. In fact, with a wireless phone, you can have control of your home from almost anywhere in the world where you can get a signal.
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To set this remote access up, the first thing you'll need is an X10 Telephone Responder, which acts as the interface between your phone and the devices you want to control. The Telephone Responder connects to any power outlet and a phone jack (you'll still be able to keep a phone connected). It receives signals from your phone (password protected for your security) and then sends them to the electronic devices in your house through the electrical wiring that's already in your walls — no new wiring is required.
| | | Control via the Internet | |
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Telephone control may be great for flexibility, but unless you invest in an intelligent controller with voice response, it doesn't do much in terms of confirming that your equipment acted upon your commands. But with HomeSeer Automation Software, you'll be able to see the status of every controlled device at a glance, so you'll know instantly what temperature your home and spa are set to; you'll even receive confirmation of commands if the controlled device is connected to a two-way device.
| | | Temperature Control | |
 For basic remote thermostat operation, try the Bi-directional X10-Compatible HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) System. This unit responds to X10 signals, which are transmitted along the power lines that are already installed in your home — so no complicated wiring is required.
With this HVAC system and either the X10 Telephone Responder or HomeSeer Software installed on your PC, you'll be able to do things like:
- Remotely set your home's temperature anywhere between 60� and 90�F — before you arrive home
- Remotely establish a low temperature setting of 40� F in case you forgot to do it before leaving for a vacation
- Remotely switch between heat mode, cool mode or auto mode
Of course, even though you can control the thermostat remotely via the phone or computer, you'll still have direct, on-command control of the thermostat while you're home.
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The X10 HVAC system shown above consists of three basic parts: a Wall-Mounted Thermostat, a Control Unit that connects to your home's existing HVAC system, and a Powerline Interface Module and cable. First, using the instructions in the owner's manual, replace the thermostat connected to your HVAC system with the Control Unit. Once it's connected, plug it into an AC power outlet using the included Powerline Interface Module and cable. Click here for a diagram.
At this point, you'll want to choose an X10 house code, represented by the letters A-P (16 total). We recommend using anything other than A, which is the default setting and the one your neighbors are most likely to use if they get a similar system, which may result in phantom signals. The house code is set by adjusting four dip switches according to the instruction manual.
Next, using the steps in the instruction manual, replace your home's main wall thermostat with the new X10-compatible model. Once it's set up, you're ready to put the system to use.
For example, say you want to set the thermostat to 72� a few hours before you come home.
With the X10 Telephone Responder: Simply dial your house from any touchtone phone, enter the 3-digit security code and enter the touchtone code that corresponds to setting the temperature to 72� (Click Here to see the code chart). The thermostat will then set the house temperature to 72�, ensuring the place will be comfy by the time you arrive.
With HomeSeer Software: Simply connect to your HomeSeer web page following the instructions in the user manual. Enter your username and password, go to the temperature control area, and select which temperature you want to set your home to. You'll also be able to see what the house is currently set to.
| | | Electric Hot Tub Control | |
Depending on how your hot tub is powered, we offer a variety of X10 receivers, all of which are controllable via the X10 Telephone Responder or HomeSeer software:
- For Plug-In 120V Models, we recommend using a Leviton Heavy Duty Wall Receptacle, 120V, 20A (#2243W)
- For Plug-In 220V Models, we recommend using a Leviton Heavy Duty Wall Receptacle, 220V, 20A (#2242W)
- For Hardwired 120V Models, we recommend using a Leviton Fixture Relay Module, 120V, 20A (#2250)
- For Hardwired 220V Models, we recommend using a 30-Amp Appliance Relay Module, 220V, 30A(#1289)
Depending on which X10 receiver you need, you'll need to hook it up and assign an X10 address according to the directions in the instruction manual. The X10 address consists of an X10 house code (represented by the letters A-P) and a unit code (represented by the numbers 1-16). It doesn't matter which house/unit code you choose, although we recommend avoiding codes that begin with A.
Control With the X10 Telephone Responder: Simply dial your house from any touchtone phone, enter the 3-digit security code and enter the touchtone code that turns on the X10 address to which you assigned your hot tub X10 receiver.
Control With HomeSeer Software: Simply connect to your HomeSeer web page following the instructions in the user manual. Enter your username and password and go to the device control area to access your hot tub X10 receiver.
Tip: Keep in mind that a hot tub may take up to 24 hours to heat up if it has been off for a long time or if it has just been filled with fresh water.
Note: The solutions above are designed for standalone hot tubs, not for hot tubs that get their heated water from a pool's heater.
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