Here's a little story about merging my computer skills with the central heating.
A few months ago I got fed up with adjusting the 24 hour timer I have on my boiler. The problem is I work different shifts so every week I would need to adjust the timer for the working week and then for the weekend. I had a look at the various timers you can buy but I couldn't seem to find one that could fit my needs, that is, a three weekly pattern. So then I had an idea... I would put together my own.
I should explain that I have a computer running all day that acts as my media server. I set to work to task it with controlling the heating as well. First I bought a Velleman K8055. This is a USB connected circuit board with some inputs and outputs. I wired up an output to the boiler and hey presto I could switch the heating on and off using a command on the computer. A bit of programming later and I ended up with a web page from which I can turn the heating off and on and activate the timer. This is the best part for me
. I can set my timer to run a particular heating program for any day I choose. I can program it weeks/months in advance if I want. The web page is accessible from the Internet as well so I can turn the heating on or off if, for example, I leave work early.
Since then I've connected a temperature sensor and have started logging the temperature change in my lounge. Here's the webpage for my heating,
and here's the computer on which it runs,
I should point out the computer uses an Intel Atom chip so doesn't use a lot of power.
Just thought this might be of interest to someone as I haven't seen many examples of this.
Ben
A few months ago I got fed up with adjusting the 24 hour timer I have on my boiler. The problem is I work different shifts so every week I would need to adjust the timer for the working week and then for the weekend. I had a look at the various timers you can buy but I couldn't seem to find one that could fit my needs, that is, a three weekly pattern. So then I had an idea... I would put together my own.
I should explain that I have a computer running all day that acts as my media server. I set to work to task it with controlling the heating as well. First I bought a Velleman K8055. This is a USB connected circuit board with some inputs and outputs. I wired up an output to the boiler and hey presto I could switch the heating on and off using a command on the computer. A bit of programming later and I ended up with a web page from which I can turn the heating off and on and activate the timer. This is the best part for me
. I can set my timer to run a particular heating program for any day I choose. I can program it weeks/months in advance if I want. The web page is accessible from the Internet as well so I can turn the heating on or off if, for example, I leave work early. Since then I've connected a temperature sensor and have started logging the temperature change in my lounge. Here's the webpage for my heating,
Just thought this might be of interest to someone as I haven't seen many examples of this.
Ben
