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From: mrl@drutx.UUCP (LongoMR)
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: Want info on smart house thermostats
Message-ID: <1936@drutx.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 2-Feb-85 17:39:47 EST
Article-I.D.: drutx.1936
Posted: Sat Feb  2 17:39:47 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 7-Feb-85 03:01:35 EST
References: <2710@ihldt.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Denver
Lines: 36

I have something called a "Magic-Stat" thermostat which allows
up to 6 setting a day. Each day of the week can be set to
different times. The model I have requires that you set it
in real time, i.e. you throw a switch to the "learn" position and'
proceed to use the thermostat for up to 7 days, changing it up to
6 times/day. The first 24 hour period that is programmed into it will
be placed into each day's cycle. Therefore, if I program the
thermostat during a 24 hour period, it will repeat the cycle every
day. If on a Saturday, or Sunday (or both) I change the cycle by
changing the temperature while in the "learn" mods, the thermostat
remembers that setting for the particular day of the week. In other
words, you can have up to 42 different settings/week. If you change the 
setting manually when not in the learn mode, the cycle will 
pick up at the next scheduled temp. change.
The thermostat defaults to 68 degrees when in the heat mode and 78 
when in a/c mode (power failure with a dead battery, start-up or
programming more than 6 setbacks/day)

The nice thing about this, tho, is that the thermostat senses the
temperature of the room and adjusts its cycle time to have the house 
at a certain temperature at a certain time. Therefore, if it's cold
one morning, the heat will kick on earlier than if it is warmer.

There is a new model of the thermostat which includes a clock and
intelligent programming capabilities. It also stores two different 
cycles for summer and winter so you don't have to reset when you
switch from heat to a/c. I got mine from JS&A ($79), but I
have seen the newer models in the sharper image catalog (I think)
for about $89. I have used the thermostat in two different houses 
for the past two heating systems (no, not at the same time.. I moved)
and , aside from replacing a 9V battery after 1 year, have had 
absolutely no trouble with it.

BTW, it appears that our heating bill was reduced by about 30% as
compared to using a manual thermostat. I had gas/forced-ar in both homes.
		M. Longo     AT&T Denver