To followup the "Wireless Thermometer" thread, I wondering what folks are
using as a remote low temperature alarm. I'd like to get an indication of
low greenhouse temperature in my house, bedroom, cell phone, palm pilot,
etc. that would alert me to avoid diaster! I'd also like a security system
tied into the same system.

Something simple that will let me know if the temps is going too low or if
the door is forced open...

Power outages are not uncommon in this part of Virginia so something that
would work under those conditions would be a plus!

Thanks in advance,
Garland

GARLAND HANSON wrote:
To followup the "Wireless Thermometer" thread, I wondering what folks are
using as a remote low temperature alarm. I'd like to get an indication of
low greenhouse temperature in my house, bedroom, cell phone, palm pilot,
etc. that would alert me to avoid diaster! I'd also like a security system
tied into the same system.

Something simple that will let me know if the temps is going too low or if
the door is forced open...

Power outages are not uncommon in this part of Virginia so something that
would work under those conditions would be a plus!

Thanks in advance,
Garland


My Oregon Scientific with three remote units can be set to set off an
alarm per unit when a high or low temp is reached. Again, it is the
EMR899, which is a European model.

--
Reka

This is LIFE! It's not a rehearsal. Don't miss it!
http://www.rolbox.it/hukari/index.html

Reclaim Your Inbox!
http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/

Rediscover the Web!
http://www.mozilla-europe.org/en/products/firefox/

They're free!

GARLAND HANSON wrote:
To followup the "Wireless Thermometer" thread, I wondering what folks are
using as a remote low temperature alarm. I'd like to get an indication of
low greenhouse temperature in my house, bedroom, cell phone, palm pilot,
etc. that would alert me to avoid diaster! I'd also like a security system
tied into the same system.

Something simple that will let me know if the temps is going too low or if
the door is forced open...

Power outages are not uncommon in this part of Virginia so something that
would work under those conditions would be a plus!

Thanks in advance,
Garland


My Oregon Scientific with three remote units can be set to set off an
alarm per unit when a high or low temp is reached. Again, it is the
EMR899, which is a European model.

--
Reka

This is LIFE! It's not a rehearsal. Don't miss it!
http://www.rolbox.it/hukari/index.html

Reclaim Your Inbox!
http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/

Rediscover the Web!
http://www.mozilla-europe.org/en/products/firefox/

They're free!

Sensaphone is the system that many people use for greenhouse monitoring.
http://www.sensaphone.com/

It will call you on any phone you ask it to if certain conditions are met.
Temperature, intrusion, power failure, etc. You can probably set it to
monitor the news and call you when Bin Laden blows up a major oil producing
facility and thereby puts all greenhouses run on oil out of commission. It
costs about $400.00 However, without a back up power and heat system, all
it can do is call you when you are away to say your orchids will soon die.
Look into a generator with some kind of auto-start switch and a back up
heater, if you don't already have these in place.

I have a neighbor with a greenhouse who lets this infernal machine have *my*
home phone when she goes out of town. I believe it has the ability to cause
reasons to call in the middle of the night, among all it's other talents.

I don't use this system here. ;-0 I never leave. Still I have a back up
generator and two heaters in case one fails. Believe it or not there has
already been a case when the two heaters went down at the same time, and a
time when the auto-start switch shorted out at a power failure and caught on
fire. This is why I never leave.

I have a "Thermalarm III. A low cost wire connected BUZZER that sounds
inside my home if the temperature in the greenhouse goes outside a certain
preset range. Very helpful to scare you awake during the night but you have
to be home to hear it.. Low cost, about $50.00
http://www.thermalarm.com/Products/thermalarm3.html

I live in Virginia too. How'd you like those 17 degree temperatures the
other night?

"Reka" wrote in message
...
GARLAND HANSON wrote:
To followup the "Wireless Thermometer" thread, I wondering what folks are
using as a remote low temperature alarm. I'd like to get an indication
of low greenhouse temperature in my house, bedroom, cell phone, palm
pilot, etc. that would alert me to avoid diaster! I'd also like a
security system tied into the same system.

Something simple that will let me know if the temps is going too low or
if the door is forced open...

Power outages are not uncommon in this part of Virginia so something that
would work under those conditions would be a plus!

Thanks in advance,
Garland
My Oregon Scientific with three remote units can be set to set off an
alarm per unit when a high or low temp is reached. Again, it is the
EMR899, which is a European model.

--
Reka

This is LIFE! It's not a rehearsal. Don't miss it!
http://www.rolbox.it/hukari/index.html

Reclaim Your Inbox!
http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/

Rediscover the Web!
http://www.mozilla-europe.org/en/products/firefox/

They're free!

Sensaphone is the system that many people use for greenhouse monitoring.
http://www.sensaphone.com/

It will call you on any phone you ask it to if certain conditions are met.
Temperature, intrusion, power failure, etc. You can probably set it to
monitor the news and call you when Bin Laden blows up a major oil producing
facility and thereby puts all greenhouses run on oil out of commission. It
costs about $400.00 However, without a back up power and heat system, all
it can do is call you when you are away to say your orchids will soon die.
Look into a generator with some kind of auto-start switch and a back up
heater, if you don't already have these in place.

I have a neighbor with a greenhouse who lets this infernal machine have *my*
home phone when she goes out of town. I believe it has the ability to cause
reasons to call in the middle of the night, among all it's other talents.

I don't use this system here. ;-0 I never leave. Still I have a back up
generator and two heaters in case one fails. Believe it or not there has
already been a case when the two heaters went down at the same time, and a
time when the auto-start switch shorted out at a power failure and caught on
fire. This is why I never leave.

I have a "Thermalarm III. A low cost wire connected BUZZER that sounds
inside my home if the temperature in the greenhouse goes outside a certain
preset range. Very helpful to scare you awake during the night but you have
to be home to hear it.. Low cost, about $50.00
http://www.thermalarm.com/Products/thermalarm3.html

I live in Virginia too. How'd you like those 17 degree temperatures the
other night?

"Reka" wrote in message
...
GARLAND HANSON wrote:
To followup the "Wireless Thermometer" thread, I wondering what folks are
using as a remote low temperature alarm. I'd like to get an indication
of low greenhouse temperature in my house, bedroom, cell phone, palm
pilot, etc. that would alert me to avoid diaster! I'd also like a
security system tied into the same system.

Something simple that will let me know if the temps is going too low or
if the door is forced open...

Power outages are not uncommon in this part of Virginia so something that
would work under those conditions would be a plus!

Thanks in advance,
Garland
My Oregon Scientific with three remote units can be set to set off an
alarm per unit when a high or low temp is reached. Again, it is the
EMR899, which is a European model.

--
Reka

This is LIFE! It's not a rehearsal. Don't miss it!
http://www.rolbox.it/hukari/index.html

Reclaim Your Inbox!
http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/

Rediscover the Web!
http://www.mozilla-europe.org/en/products/firefox/

They're free!

If all you want is a low temp alert. Use an alarm panel with dailer
and just use one of its zones to hang the low temp circuit on. You can
make your own simple circuit or....
Now days there are a lot of allready made products that you can tie
together to acomplish these tasks. Dig into Grainger and all the
surplus people like http://www.harborfreight.com/ or
http://www.surplussales.com/SSIndex2.html or
http://www.globalspec.com/ or
http://www.computersurplusoutlet.com/ or
http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/sto...atalogId=10001
or....


Many years ago I wanted to controll all the enviroment variables as
well as log the changes, make the systems self correct and notify me
to the problems and the corrections. I took a high powered laptop (for
the time) and bought several books on externall controlling and
compiling of programs. Spent many hours testing circuit designs,
etching boards and assembling componets to do what I wanted. The best
book for me was Paul Bergsman "Controlling the world with your PC"
I had alarms and fail safes and thermisters on lamp housings and
optocouplers to drive high voltages. I interfaced a household alarm
panel to the whole schmeer so it would alert me, then I could call in
and dig through everything and adjust as needed. It worked fine for
me, but I am an IT, phone system, video hacking, electronics nut, so
for me it was worth the time and effort.
But like I said at the top, nowdays you can buy some really good stuff
that is made for just such work.
I think nowdays, that with a generator, transfer switch, backup heater
a couple of sensors and a alarm panel you can pretty much cover your
A#$. I now run my propagation room, all the lighting, misters, timers,
heaters, sensors, and fans on one big ol APC Matrix series UPS with a
truck load of car batteries. While I am saving my spare change up to
by a generator to power the whole house and my data center (that has
its own UPS also) as well as the plant worlds. OK maybe more than just
my spare change. Right now if the power goes out I have about six
hours of run time to do something.

NOOK
GARLAND HANSON wrote:
To followup the "Wireless Thermometer" thread, I wondering what folks are
using as a remote low temperature alarm. I'd like to get an indication of
low greenhouse temperature in my house, bedroom, cell phone, palm pilot,
etc. that would alert me to avoid diaster! I'd also like a security system
tied into the same system.

Something simple that will let me know if the temps is going too low or if
the door is forced open...

Power outages are not uncommon in this part of Virginia so something that
would work under those conditions would be a plus!

Thanks in advance,
Garland


My Oregon Scientific with three remote units can be set to set off an
alarm per unit when a high or low temp is reached. Again, it is the
EMR899, which is a European model.

If all you want is a low temp alert. Use an alarm panel with dailer
and just use one of its zones to hang the low temp circuit on. You can
make your own simple circuit or....
Now days there are a lot of allready made products that you can tie
together to acomplish these tasks. Dig into Grainger and all the
surplus people like http://www.harborfreight.com/ or
http://www.surplussales.com/SSIndex2.html or
http://www.globalspec.com/ or
http://www.computersurplusoutlet.com/ or
http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/sto...atalogId=10001
or....


Many years ago I wanted to controll all the enviroment variables as
well as log the changes, make the systems self correct and notify me
to the problems and the corrections. I took a high powered laptop (for
the time) and bought several books on externall controlling and
compiling of programs. Spent many hours testing circuit designs,
etching boards and assembling componets to do what I wanted. The best
book for me was Paul Bergsman "Controlling the world with your PC"
I had alarms and fail safes and thermisters on lamp housings and
optocouplers to drive high voltages. I interfaced a household alarm
panel to the whole schmeer so it would alert me, then I could call in
and dig through everything and adjust as needed. It worked fine for
me, but I am an IT, phone system, video hacking, electronics nut, so
for me it was worth the time and effort.
But like I said at the top, nowdays you can buy some really good stuff
that is made for just such work.
I think nowdays, that with a generator, transfer switch, backup heater
a couple of sensors and a alarm panel you can pretty much cover your
A#$. I now run my propagation room, all the lighting, misters, timers,
heaters, sensors, and fans on one big ol APC Matrix series UPS with a
truck load of car batteries. While I am saving my spare change up to
by a generator to power the whole house and my data center (that has
its own UPS also) as well as the plant worlds. OK maybe more than just
my spare change. Right now if the power goes out I have about six
hours of run time to do something.

NOOK
GARLAND HANSON wrote:
To followup the "Wireless Thermometer" thread, I wondering what folks are
using as a remote low temperature alarm. I'd like to get an indication of
low greenhouse temperature in my house, bedroom, cell phone, palm pilot,
etc. that would alert me to avoid diaster! I'd also like a security system
tied into the same system.

Something simple that will let me know if the temps is going too low or if
the door is forced open...

Power outages are not uncommon in this part of Virginia so something that
would work under those conditions would be a plus!

Thanks in advance,
Garland


My Oregon Scientific with three remote units can be set to set off an
alarm per unit when a high or low temp is reached. Again, it is the
EMR899, which is a European model.

Garland,

I have coupled a Thermalarm (bimetallic thermometer that uses the needle and
two "stops" as the electrical contacts), with an X-10 sending unit in the
greenhouse (X-10 is a technology that sends signals over your existing power
lines), and an X-10 receiving unit and a Sensaphone in my office.

When the upper- or lower temperature setpoints are reached in the GH, the
Sensaphone goes through a 5-stage routine:

1) It alerts my office with an electronic voice that there is an "alarm
condition." If I don't acknowledge it, after 10 tries,
2) it calls my home number to repeat the process. Failing that,
3) it calls my "real job" office, then
4) it calls my cell phone, and finally,
5) another number I add when I'm away.

The Sensaphone has a built-in power-outage alarm and a thermister in case my
home gets too cold, plus two other connectors for other sensors, and a
microphone, in case it gets too loud in my home office (a break-in, for
example).

Check eBay for Sensaphones, as they list for about $400 new.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Books, Artwork, and Lots of Free Info!
..
"GARLAND HANSON" wrote in message
news:YGBwd.6263$mn6.518@trnddc07...
To followup the "Wireless Thermometer" thread, I wondering what folks are
using as a remote low temperature alarm. I'd like to get an indication of
low greenhouse temperature in my house, bedroom, cell phone, palm pilot,
etc. that would alert me to avoid diaster! I'd also like a security
system tied into the same system.

Something simple that will let me know if the temps is going too low or if
the door is forced open...

Power outages are not uncommon in this part of Virginia so something that
would work under those conditions would be a plus!

Thanks in advance,
Garland

Garland,

I have coupled a Thermalarm (bimetallic thermometer that uses the needle and
two "stops" as the electrical contacts), with an X-10 sending unit in the
greenhouse (X-10 is a technology that sends signals over your existing power
lines), and an X-10 receiving unit and a Sensaphone in my office.

When the upper- or lower temperature setpoints are reached in the GH, the
Sensaphone goes through a 5-stage routine:

1) It alerts my office with an electronic voice that there is an "alarm
condition." If I don't acknowledge it, after 10 tries,
2) it calls my home number to repeat the process. Failing that,
3) it calls my "real job" office, then
4) it calls my cell phone, and finally,
5) another number I add when I'm away.

The Sensaphone has a built-in power-outage alarm and a thermister in case my
home gets too cold, plus two other connectors for other sensors, and a
microphone, in case it gets too loud in my home office (a break-in, for
example).

Check eBay for Sensaphones, as they list for about $400 new.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Books, Artwork, and Lots of Free Info!
..
"GARLAND HANSON" wrote in message
news:YGBwd.6263$mn6.518@trnddc07...
To followup the "Wireless Thermometer" thread, I wondering what folks are
using as a remote low temperature alarm. I'd like to get an indication of
low greenhouse temperature in my house, bedroom, cell phone, palm pilot,
etc. that would alert me to avoid diaster! I'd also like a security
system tied into the same system.

Something simple that will let me know if the temps is going too low or if
the door is forced open...

Power outages are not uncommon in this part of Virginia so something that
would work under those conditions would be a plus!

Thanks in advance,
Garland

The sensaphone has saved me more than once. They are not really built for
greenhouse conditions, I am protecting my second one much better than I did
the first. Sensaphone does get lonely and sometimes asks me to come visit
at 3 in the morning for no good reason. Besides calling my house and a
backup person, I have a beeper with gets much better coverage than a cell
phone. Cell coverage is pretty weak in rural nowhere.

As with the other components of the greenhouse, having independent backup
systems is almost a must. I picked up a pallet of old computers and an old
AT&T OmiPulse. Old electronics is so cheap. The OmiPulse is an alarm
system that has 64 A/D converters, 48 relays and interfaces with a computer.
I have networked my greenhouses, lab, and house. I can now monitor
greenhouse temperatures from any location on the net and have started to
allow the OmiPulse to control noncritical functions. I still need to
connect a hardwire alarm from it to the house so all my alarms are not
dependent on the phone system. That is on the to do list. So far I am very
happy with the OmiPulse and its functions will continue to grow. Now when
the sensaphone call, I can watch things from the house and decide if I have
to get dressed.

Pat


"Al" wrote in message
...
Sensaphone is the system that many people use for greenhouse monitoring.
http://www.sensaphone.com/

It will call you on any phone you ask it to if certain conditions are met.
Temperature, intrusion, power failure, etc. You can probably set it to
monitor the news and call you when Bin Laden blows up a major oil
producing facility and thereby puts all greenhouses run on oil out of
commission. It costs about $400.00 However, without a back up power and
heat system, all it can do is call you when you are away to say your
orchids will soon die. Look into a generator with some kind of auto-start
switch and a back up heater, if you don't already have these in place.

I have a neighbor with a greenhouse who lets this infernal machine have
*my* home phone when she goes out of town. I believe it has the ability
to cause reasons to call in the middle of the night, among all it's other
talents.

I don't use this system here. ;-0 I never leave. Still I have a back up
generator and two heaters in case one fails. Believe it or not there has
already been a case when the two heaters went down at the same time, and a
time when the auto-start switch shorted out at a power failure and caught
on fire. This is why I never leave.

I have a "Thermalarm III. A low cost wire connected BUZZER that sounds
inside my home if the temperature in the greenhouse goes outside a
certain preset range. Very helpful to scare you awake during the night
but you have to be home to hear it.. Low cost, about $50.00
http://www.thermalarm.com/Products/thermalarm3.html

I live in Virginia too. How'd you like those 17 degree temperatures the
other night?

"Reka" wrote in message
...
GARLAND HANSON wrote:
To followup the "Wireless Thermometer" thread, I wondering what folks
are using as a remote low temperature alarm. I'd like to get an
indication of low greenhouse temperature in my house, bedroom, cell
phone, palm pilot, etc. that would alert me to avoid diaster! I'd also
like a security system tied into the same system.

Something simple that will let me know if the temps is going too low or
if the door is forced open...

Power outages are not uncommon in this part of Virginia so something
that would work under those conditions would be a plus!

Thanks in advance,
Garland
My Oregon Scientific with three remote units can be set to set off an
alarm per unit when a high or low temp is reached. Again, it is the
EMR899, which is a European model.

--
Reka

This is LIFE! It's not a rehearsal. Don't miss it!
http://www.rolbox.it/hukari/index.html

Reclaim Your Inbox!
http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/

Rediscover the Web!
http://www.mozilla-europe.org/en/products/firefox/

They're free!

The sensaphone has saved me more than once. They are not really built for
greenhouse conditions, I am protecting my second one much better than I did
the first. Sensaphone does get lonely and sometimes asks me to come visit
at 3 in the morning for no good reason. Besides calling my house and a
backup person, I have a beeper with gets much better coverage than a cell
phone. Cell coverage is pretty weak in rural nowhere.

As with the other components of the greenhouse, having independent backup
systems is almost a must. I picked up a pallet of old computers and an old
AT&T OmiPulse. Old electronics is so cheap. The OmiPulse is an alarm
system that has 64 A/D converters, 48 relays and interfaces with a computer.
I have networked my greenhouses, lab, and house. I can now monitor
greenhouse temperatures from any location on the net and have started to
allow the OmiPulse to control noncritical functions. I still need to
connect a hardwire alarm from it to the house so all my alarms are not
dependent on the phone system. That is on the to do list. So far I am very
happy with the OmiPulse and its functions will continue to grow. Now when
the sensaphone call, I can watch things from the house and decide if I have
to get dressed.

Pat


"Al" wrote in message
...
Sensaphone is the system that many people use for greenhouse monitoring.
http://www.sensaphone.com/

It will call you on any phone you ask it to if certain conditions are met.
Temperature, intrusion, power failure, etc. You can probably set it to
monitor the news and call you when Bin Laden blows up a major oil
producing facility and thereby puts all greenhouses run on oil out of
commission. It costs about $400.00 However, without a back up power and
heat system, all it can do is call you when you are away to say your
orchids will soon die. Look into a generator with some kind of auto-start
switch and a back up heater, if you don't already have these in place.

I have a neighbor with a greenhouse who lets this infernal machine have
*my* home phone when she goes out of town. I believe it has the ability
to cause reasons to call in the middle of the night, among all it's other
talents.

I don't use this system here. ;-0 I never leave. Still I have a back up
generator and two heaters in case one fails. Believe it or not there has
already been a case when the two heaters went down at the same time, and a
time when the auto-start switch shorted out at a power failure and caught
on fire. This is why I never leave.

I have a "Thermalarm III. A low cost wire connected BUZZER that sounds
inside my home if the temperature in the greenhouse goes outside a
certain preset range. Very helpful to scare you awake during the night
but you have to be home to hear it.. Low cost, about $50.00
http://www.thermalarm.com/Products/thermalarm3.html

I live in Virginia too. How'd you like those 17 degree temperatures the
other night?

"Reka" wrote in message
...
GARLAND HANSON wrote:
To followup the "Wireless Thermometer" thread, I wondering what folks
are using as a remote low temperature alarm. I'd like to get an
indication of low greenhouse temperature in my house, bedroom, cell
phone, palm pilot, etc. that would alert me to avoid diaster! I'd also
like a security system tied into the same system.

Something simple that will let me know if the temps is going too low or
if the door is forced open...

Power outages are not uncommon in this part of Virginia so something
that would work under those conditions would be a plus!

Thanks in advance,
Garland
My Oregon Scientific with three remote units can be set to set off an
alarm per unit when a high or low temp is reached. Again, it is the
EMR899, which is a European model.

--
Reka

This is LIFE! It's not a rehearsal. Don't miss it!
http://www.rolbox.it/hukari/index.html

Reclaim Your Inbox!
http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/

Rediscover the Web!
http://www.mozilla-europe.org/en/products/firefox/

They're free!

Al,
Thank goodness that my plants are inside for the time being. That 17
degrees would have been rough had I not been set up properly. The new
greenhouse will be built in the spring and I hope to have it well equipped
including the low-temp, power off, intrusion alarms.

I'm already doing some research on an auto-start, natural gas powered
generator that will run the house and the greenhouse when we lose power from
ice or the next hurricane.

For the time being, I have two propane (gas-grill types) tanks with an
attached heater that will keep a few rooms warm when the power fails during
the winter.

Thanks for the info,
Garland in Midlothian, VA (outside Richmond)

P.S. I tried to send you private email but I can't beat your spam blockers.
You can contact me directly at .



"Al" wrote in message
...
Sensaphone is the system that many people use for greenhouse monitoring.
http://www.sensaphone.com/

It will call you on any phone you ask it to if certain conditions are met.
Temperature, intrusion, power failure, etc. You can probably set it to
monitor the news and call you when Bin Laden blows up a major oil
producing facility and thereby puts all greenhouses run on oil out of
commission. It costs about $400.00 However, without a back up power and
heat system, all it can do is call you when you are away to say your
orchids will soon die. Look into a generator with some kind of auto-start
switch and a back up heater, if you don't already have these in place.

I have a neighbor with a greenhouse who lets this infernal machine have
*my* home phone when she goes out of town. I believe it has the ability
to cause reasons to call in the middle of the night, among all it's other
talents.

I don't use this system here. ;-0 I never leave. Still I have a back up
generator and two heaters in case one fails. Believe it or not there has
already been a case when the two heaters went down at the same time, and a
time when the auto-start switch shorted out at a power failure and caught
on fire. This is why I never leave.

I have a "Thermalarm III. A low cost wire connected BUZZER that sounds
inside my home if the temperature in the greenhouse goes outside a
certain preset range. Very helpful to scare you awake during the night
but you have to be home to hear it.. Low cost, about $50.00
http://www.thermalarm.com/Products/thermalarm3.html

I live in Virginia too. How'd you like those 17 degree temperatures the
other night?

"Reka" wrote in message
...
GARLAND HANSON wrote:
To followup the "Wireless Thermometer" thread, I wondering what folks
are using as a remote low temperature alarm. I'd like to get an
indication of low greenhouse temperature in my house, bedroom, cell
phone, palm pilot, etc. that would alert me to avoid diaster! I'd also
like a security system tied into the same system.

Something simple that will let me know if the temps is going too low or
if the door is forced open...

Power outages are not uncommon in this part of Virginia so something
that would work under those conditions would be a plus!

Thanks in advance,
Garland
My Oregon Scientific with three remote units can be set to set off an
alarm per unit when a high or low temp is reached. Again, it is the
EMR899, which is a European model.

--
Reka

This is LIFE! It's not a rehearsal. Don't miss it!
http://www.rolbox.it/hukari/index.html

Reclaim Your Inbox!
http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/

Rediscover the Web!
http://www.mozilla-europe.org/en/products/firefox/

They're free!

the website orchidexchange.com has an email link that can be used to reach
me privately. I will not post it here.
if you put the word "orchid" in the subject line the spam trap on the server
will ignore your email and speed it directly to my desk top where my private
spam trap can beat it up if it turns out to be spam anyway. Nothing is fail
safe. I check the log file every day for email that it catches by accident
and I didn't see anything that made me check deeper; so I do not know what
happened to any email you sent me.

Pat Brennan is in Virginia too, BTW. Richmond is about 3 hours south of
Leesburg, I think. I think Brennnan's is about 45 minutes south west of me.

Al
isn't the mind a funny thing. by adding a single letter to my domain name I
can make your eyes see three different words instead of two:
orchidsexchange. :-)


"GARLAND HANSON" wrote in message
news:vzVwd.610$2X6.331@trnddc07...
Al,
Thank goodness that my plants are inside for the time being. That 17
degrees would have been rough had I not been set up properly. The new
greenhouse will be built in the spring and I hope to have it well equipped
including the low-temp, power off, intrusion alarms.

I'm already doing some research on an auto-start, natural gas powered
generator that will run the house and the greenhouse when we lose power
from ice or the next hurricane.

For the time being, I have two propane (gas-grill types) tanks with an
attached heater that will keep a few rooms warm when the power fails
during the winter.

Thanks for the info,
Garland in Midlothian, VA (outside Richmond)

P.S. I tried to send you private email but I can't beat your spam
blockers. You can contact me directly at .



"Al" wrote in message
...
Sensaphone is the system that many people use for greenhouse monitoring.
http://www.sensaphone.com/

It will call you on any phone you ask it to if certain conditions are
met. Temperature, intrusion, power failure, etc. You can probably set it
to monitor the news and call you when Bin Laden blows up a major oil
producing facility and thereby puts all greenhouses run on oil out of
commission. It costs about $400.00 However, without a back up power
and heat system, all it can do is call you when you are away to say your
orchids will soon die. Look into a generator with some kind of auto-start
switch and a back up heater, if you don't already have these in place.

I have a neighbor with a greenhouse who lets this infernal machine have
*my* home phone when she goes out of town. I believe it has the ability
to cause reasons to call in the middle of the night, among all it's other
talents.

I don't use this system here. ;-0 I never leave. Still I have a back
up generator and two heaters in case one fails. Believe it or not there
has already been a case when the two heaters went down at the same time,
and a time when the auto-start switch shorted out at a power failure and
caught on fire. This is why I never leave.

I have a "Thermalarm III. A low cost wire connected BUZZER that sounds
inside my home if the temperature in the greenhouse goes outside a
certain preset range. Very helpful to scare you awake during the night
but you have to be home to hear it.. Low cost, about $50.00
http://www.thermalarm.com/Products/thermalarm3.html

I live in Virginia too. How'd you like those 17 degree temperatures the
other night?

"Reka" wrote in message
...
GARLAND HANSON wrote:
To followup the "Wireless Thermometer" thread, I wondering what folks
are using as a remote low temperature alarm. I'd like to get an
indication of low greenhouse temperature in my house, bedroom, cell
phone, palm pilot, etc. that would alert me to avoid diaster! I'd also
like a security system tied into the same system.

Something simple that will let me know if the temps is going too low or
if the door is forced open...

Power outages are not uncommon in this part of Virginia so something
that would work under those conditions would be a plus!

Thanks in advance,
Garland
My Oregon Scientific with three remote units can be set to set off an
alarm per unit when a high or low temp is reached. Again, it is the
EMR899, which is a European model.

--
Reka

This is LIFE! It's not a rehearsal. Don't miss it!
http://www.rolbox.it/hukari/index.html

Reclaim Your Inbox!
http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/

Rediscover the Web!
http://www.mozilla-europe.org/en/products/firefox/

They're free!

the website orchidexchange.com has an email link that can be used to reach
me privately. I will not post it here.
if you put the word "orchid" in the subject line the spam trap on the server
will ignore your email and speed it directly to my desk top where my private
spam trap can beat it up if it turns out to be spam anyway. Nothing is fail
safe. I check the log file every day for email that it catches by accident
and I didn't see anything that made me check deeper; so I do not know what
happened to any email you sent me.

Pat Brennan is in Virginia too, BTW. Richmond is about 3 hours south of
Leesburg, I think. I think Brennnan's is about 45 minutes south west of me.

Al
isn't the mind a funny thing. by adding a single letter to my domain name I
can make your eyes see three different words instead of two:
orchidsexchange. :-)


"GARLAND HANSON" wrote in message
news:vzVwd.610$2X6.331@trnddc07...
Al,
Thank goodness that my plants are inside for the time being. That 17
degrees would have been rough had I not been set up properly. The new
greenhouse will be built in the spring and I hope to have it well equipped
including the low-temp, power off, intrusion alarms.

I'm already doing some research on an auto-start, natural gas powered
generator that will run the house and the greenhouse when we lose power
from ice or the next hurricane.

For the time being, I have two propane (gas-grill types) tanks with an
attached heater that will keep a few rooms warm when the power fails
during the winter.

Thanks for the info,
Garland in Midlothian, VA (outside Richmond)

P.S. I tried to send you private email but I can't beat your spam
blockers. You can contact me directly at .



"Al" wrote in message
...
Sensaphone is the system that many people use for greenhouse monitoring.
http://www.sensaphone.com/

It will call you on any phone you ask it to if certain conditions are
met. Temperature, intrusion, power failure, etc. You can probably set it
to monitor the news and call you when Bin Laden blows up a major oil
producing facility and thereby puts all greenhouses run on oil out of
commission. It costs about $400.00 However, without a back up power
and heat system, all it can do is call you when you are away to say your
orchids will soon die. Look into a generator with some kind of auto-start
switch and a back up heater, if you don't already have these in place.

I have a neighbor with a greenhouse who lets this infernal machine have
*my* home phone when she goes out of town. I believe it has the ability
to cause reasons to call in the middle of the night, among all it's other
talents.

I don't use this system here. ;-0 I never leave. Still I have a back
up generator and two heaters in case one fails. Believe it or not there
has already been a case when the two heaters went down at the same time,
and a time when the auto-start switch shorted out at a power failure and
caught on fire. This is why I never leave.

I have a "Thermalarm III. A low cost wire connected BUZZER that sounds
inside my home if the temperature in the greenhouse goes outside a
certain preset range. Very helpful to scare you awake during the night
but you have to be home to hear it.. Low cost, about $50.00
http://www.thermalarm.com/Products/thermalarm3.html

I live in Virginia too. How'd you like those 17 degree temperatures the
other night?

"Reka" wrote in message
...
GARLAND HANSON wrote:
To followup the "Wireless Thermometer" thread, I wondering what folks
are using as a remote low temperature alarm. I'd like to get an
indication of low greenhouse temperature in my house, bedroom, cell
phone, palm pilot, etc. that would alert me to avoid diaster! I'd also
like a security system tied into the same system.

Something simple that will let me know if the temps is going too low or
if the door is forced open...

Power outages are not uncommon in this part of Virginia so something
that would work under those conditions would be a plus!

Thanks in advance,
Garland
My Oregon Scientific with three remote units can be set to set off an
alarm per unit when a high or low temp is reached. Again, it is the
EMR899, which is a European model.

--
Reka

This is LIFE! It's not a rehearsal. Don't miss it!
http://www.rolbox.it/hukari/index.html

Reclaim Your Inbox!
http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/

Rediscover the Web!
http://www.mozilla-europe.org/en/products/firefox/

They're free!

"Al" wrote in message
...
snip Al
isn't the mind a funny thing. by adding a single letter to my domain name
I
can make your eyes see three different words instead of two:
orchidsexchange. :-)

LOL
Joanna