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[joshlarsen]

OK, I'm new to this forum and X-10. Did some searching and didn't find what I wanted so ill ask for my self.

I have a tractor and a diesel pickup that I want to control the power to my block heaters. The truck has a 1000Watt heater so about 9Amps and the tractor has a 1500 watt heater so about 13.5Amps. So neither will go over 15watts. Truck sits outside of the garage and tractor sits in the barn. The barn has a separate feed from my power meter but both are located on my side of the same meter.

Here's what i want to do:
For example I want to be able to turn power on and off automatically to my truck block heater so it turns on at 5AM and off at 8AM but to only turn on when its below 20 degrees F outside. I would like to have the control be from my computer but also would like the ability to turn them on and off by a switch or a remote manually. My computer is on a UPS so it does have power conditioning as it needs to stay on at all times for other things. The barn is about 200 feet from my office where the computer is. This would be just the first step and if I purchase a system I will add more to it later on.

Is this possible and if so what do I all need to complete it?

Thanks,
Josh

P.S. I would like notification that the power has been supplied to the block heaters and the outlets are basically indoors. I run the truck heater from an outlet in the garage under the door and the barn is protected from the elements but it still gets cold.

[Dan Lawrence]

You can do that with ActiveHome Pro and the CM15A Interface. Look at http://www.x10.com/activehomepro/activehome-pro.html  and see what it can do.

[jrwhit]

I would say ActiveHome Pro and a CM15A can help with this project but there would be several IFs.
Unless the newest versions of AHP have temperature monitoring, this software alone would not know when to turn on the modules via the outside temperature. In order to do this, you may want to look into PCCompanion. I believe it has temperature monitoring.
Also, X10 modules, as a rule, do not have 2 way communication, so monitoring the status of the devices from the house would be difficult without more expensive modules than x10 normally sells.
I would also worry about the 200 foot range. An unmodified CM15A may have trouble bridging the gap between house and barn, especially if the barn has steel siding. A modified antennae
would help the range, but don't expect long range directly out of the box.

[dave w]

I would also worry about the 200 foot range. An unmodified CM15A may have trouble bridging the gap between house and barn, especially if the barn has steel siding. A modified antennae would help the range, but don't expect long range directly out of the box.

I think PLC from CM15A would go that far if a high output repeater was in the system. But RF is probably a no-go.

[Tuicemen]

 As jrwhit pointed out.
Your biggest issue will be the distance! Everything else can be over come.
You Don't state if the barn is on the same breaker panel.
There are a couple of ways to over come the distance issue.
Add a tm751 in the barn placing it up high and as close to the house as possible.
Also do a antenna mod to the Cm15A and place it as close to the barn and a high as possible! Send RF signals to the barn.
Another method would be to place a PC in the barn with a cm19 or another cm15 have PcCompanion running on it no AHP needed.
(yes it can trigger events based on temperature)
You could add PCC  in the house as well and use its Home networking option.
Of coarse that would be my last resort.
AHP will tell you it sent the command even if a third party software sends that info.
Having a light that turns on with the block heater would be the most accurate confirmation that the module received and acted on the signal.
As dave w stated:
If wire runs aren't to long powerline commands may work but you most likely would need a booster of some sort which I'm not familiar with.

[HA Dave]

...... Another method would be to place a PC in the barn with a cm19 or another cm15 have PcCompanion running on it no AHP needed.
(yes it can trigger events based on temperature)

A barn PC... at first thought might be dismissed... but it shouldn't be. The old XP's have been around for a decade now... they are setting idle everywhere. Many only require being plugged in to return to service. But.... doesn't PCC require an Internet connection to get temperature data? That could be an issue with many barns.

We get more than enough of these questions about outbuildings (barns, garages, sheds). We should look at a coax or CAT5 method of transmitting the RF over long range. Then convert (release?) it as RF. Or maybe if someone with a PLC repeater amp... could do some tests. We could at lease have some somewhat solid evidence or range.

[Tuicemen]

A barn PC... at first thought might be dismissed... but it shouldn't be. The old XP's have been around for a decade now... they are setting idle everywhere. Many only require being plugged in to return to service. But.... doesn't PCC require an Internet connection to get temperature data? That could be an issue with many barns.

PCC can get weather info from a few means.

• It can use data from a personal weather station (CSV file).
• It can retrieve the info from a CVS file on any PC it can see
• It can get the info from a home network utilizing a program that will communicate to it like another copy of PCC
• It can get the info from the internet directly.

So a direct internet connection in the barn isn't needed however a home network link most likely would be needed.
This link would most likely have to be with a wired connection.
 

[rjniles]

I tend toward the simplistic, so here is my idea:

MT13A mini timer in the house set to turn on two appliance modules in the barn at 5AM and off at 8AM. The mini timer would also allow manual control. I suggest the appliance modules be on separate unit codes so each can be controlled individually.
In the barn, get  low temperate line voltage t-stats (maybe like the kind that controls heat tapes) and connect between the appliance mod and the block heater.. If it is above 20 degrees the heaters will not come on when the appliance mods switch to on.

[Tuicemen]

rjniles
Good Idea!
I prefere hardware over software myself although it isn't always possible.
Range most likely would still be a issue, but you could place the mini timer in the barn!
However joshlarsen wishes to use a PC which the mini timer can't talk to!
 

[HA Dave]

• It can get the info from the internet directly.

.... So a direct internet connection in the barn isn't needed however a home network link most likely would be needed.
This link would most likely have to be with a wired connection.

Back to a barn PC with maybe a cantenna (a wifi antenna made directional using a can) to make it talk with or be part of the home broadband/wifi. Maybe use a product like logmein to remotely monitor the PC.

The remote or Barn PC could even send confirmation emails so as to inform the user that actions have been taken. Or even networked with the home PC.

[lodtrack]

Hate to be a party pooper but sometimes x10 can be a little overkill for a simple problem. We are talking about 2500 watts. In my part of the country that costs 52 cents an hour when both heaters are on. (rural power is 21 cents a kilowatt all in price) Since we know that the X10 equipment won't give him positive feedback that his heaters are on and temperature sensing is another issue, I would go the low tech route. Canadian tire(product # 52-2463-2 ) sells a block heater extension cord timer. It features both temperature sensing and timing. At costs involved for power( block heater season is 5 months long here) I went with the combo cord as most vehicle don't need to be heated through the entire night. If you are worried about a harder to start diesel, he could go with just the temperature sensing on that unit. I have used these cords for two years without issue and the likelihood of failure is low. Hope this thread is not considered blasphemy in an X10 forum response...

[dave w]

Heretic!     

[HA Dave]

...... Canadian tire(product # 52-2463-2 ) sells a block heater extension cord timer.

Great solution (even if no PC is required) You get a helpful from me (even though your solution is blasphemous).