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It's quite easy and cheap to make a wifi-connected thermostat yourself. I did it, it's great. I made a web interface so that I can control it with my phone whe

It's quite easy and cheap to make a wifi-connected thermostat yourself. I did it, it's great. I made a web interface so that I can control it with my phone when I'm not at home. It is based off an ESP8266 placed in the boiler which controls a relay to tell the boiler whether to heat or not, and an ESP8266 in my office that has a temperature probe and a rudimentary user interface, and runs a web server to allow remote temperature inputs, and controls the ESP8266-relay over WiFi. The 3d-printed enclosure is rather coarse, but does the job: https://img.jes.xxx/1585 https://img.jes.xxx/1585 EDIT: Failure of the system could result in you freezing, but that's true of anything that controls your heating, and at least this is a device you understand are in control of, and it doesn't rely on anything outside your house. If it fails and you're freezing, just short the terminals of the relay while you debug it.

maxerickson 9y ago
A seemingly common safety is to wire the custom thermostat in parallel with a simple commercial one so that the commercial one kicks in if the temperature gets too low.
jpindar 9y ago
In cold climates, the problem with failed thermostats isn't frozen people, it's frozen pipes, which can happen when the people aren't home. An easy way to insure against such failure is to put your homemade thermostat in parallel with an old fashioned thermostat which is set to a constant low temperature.
GistNoesis 9y ago
If you are in Europe, you can also buy the ESP8266 from Olimex with relay, box and eventual lipo plug. You then just have to flash your code on it. Only downside is they are not properly shielded electromagnetically so they can only be sold as Kit for experienced users (as certification costs would dominate the price). Also, if your house happens to burn, you can be pretty sure the insurance companies will pin it on your uncertified DIY appliances.
- TeMPOraL 9y ago
  > Also, if your house happens to burn, you can be pretty sure the insurance companies will pin it on your uncertified DIY appliances. This is one thing that's constantly on my mind when toying with long-lived electronics projects. Do we know of an actual precedent here?
  - GistNoesis 9y ago
    I don't know of actual precedent, but there are numerous examples of lipo house fires (which aren't fully covered). And semi related personal one-datapoint anecdote I've experienced water damage and robberies in the past and they were a lot more prompt to try to find loopholes to not have to pay. I can't afford to set a precedent, so I stick to fused low voltage off the shelf products.
- kwhitefoot 9y ago
  Use an off the shelf wireless plug in switch and a Telldus transmitter then you don't do any high voltage or high current wiring at least if you are controlling a standalone heater.
baldfat 9y ago
I want a DIY Smart Vent to go with 3D Printer Thermostats in each room. https://community.smartthings.com/t/smart-air-vents/4913/21 https://community.smartthings.com/t/smart-air-vents/4913/21

maxerickson 9y ago

A seemingly common safety is to wire the custom thermostat in parallel with a simple commercial one so that the commercial one kicks in if the temperature gets too low.

jpindar 9y ago

In cold climates, the problem with failed thermostats isn't frozen people, it's frozen pipes, which can happen when the people aren't home. An easy way to insure against such failure is to put your homemade thermostat in parallel with an old fashioned thermostat which is set to a constant low temperature.

GistNoesis 9y ago

If you are in Europe, you can also buy the ESP8266 from Olimex with relay, box and eventual lipo plug. You then just have to flash your code on it. Only downside is they are not properly shielded electromagnetically so they can only be sold as Kit for experienced users (as certification costs would dominate the price). Also, if your house happens to burn, you can be pretty sure the insurance companies will pin it on your uncertified DIY appliances.

TeMPOraL 9y ago
> Also, if your house happens to burn, you can be pretty sure the insurance companies will pin it on your uncertified DIY appliances. This is one thing that's constantly on my mind when toying with long-lived electronics projects. Do we know of an actual precedent here?
- GistNoesis 9y ago
  I don't know of actual precedent, but there are numerous examples of lipo house fires (which aren't fully covered). And semi related personal one-datapoint anecdote I've experienced water damage and robberies in the past and they were a lot more prompt to try to find loopholes to not have to pay. I can't afford to set a precedent, so I stick to fused low voltage off the shelf products.
kwhitefoot 9y ago
Use an off the shelf wireless plug in switch and a Telldus transmitter then you don't do any high voltage or high current wiring at least if you are controlling a standalone heater.

baldfat 9y ago

I want a DIY Smart Vent to go with 3D Printer Thermostats in each room. https://community.smartthings.com/t/smart-air-vents/4913/21 https://community.smartthings.com/t/smart-air-vents/4913/21