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Re: Seed Starting -// Fans and Timers

Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html

No problem - he wrote to me.  I know him from having sold some articles to
National Gardening.
-Lon
----------
>From: "jallan6977" <jallan6977@clarityconnect.com>
>To: "Square Foot Gardening List" <sqft@listbot.com>
>Subject: Re: Seed Starting -// Fans and Timers
>Date: Mon, Jan 17, 2000, 2:29 PM
>

>Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html
>
>> I don't believe it was heat related.  The plants are kept in my basement
>> and there are no vents from the HVAC system.  It is cool down there
>> year round, though I have not actually taken a temperature reading.
>> We tend to heat the upstairs around 65 degrees.
>>
>>
>> I used the same cheap timer you would use to turn a small lamp on
>> and off.  I used a small six inch fan that only required a two prong
>> connector same as on the timer.  I could see how it would be more
>> expensive if you wanted to switch a larger load.  Best time to buy a
>> few of these timers was two weeks ago, as many places, walgreens
>> osco and the like, were clearing them out after selling them to turn
>> the various holiday lights on and off.  I find that these cheap switches
>> are hit and miss, some fail after a month or two, some (rarely) work
>> great for ages.
>>
>> The computerized timers.  A big hassle if this all you are going to use
>> them for.  Overkill.  But if you are already into that kind of stuff it's
>> easy
>> to do.  All the lights in my house are on special switches, that a human
>> or a computer can use.  Certain appliances are on switches that can
>> be controlled by a human or the computer, for example crockpot
>> in the kitchen and various fans.  The computer interface part costs
>> about $35.  The computer controlled switch for the fan costs $8-10
>> on sale $15 otherwise.  Since this borders on OT if you have any
>> other questions I will be happy to answer any offlist.  The stuff I use
>> is from www.x10.com.  It works great for me but many have had troubles
>with
>> the computer communicating across the a/c lines.  I have been using
>> this kind of stuff since the late 70's with few problems myself.
>> I have a "Macro" in my external interface that turns the starting area
>> lights on
>> at 4am and off at 10 pm.  From 6am - 10pm every 2 hours another
>> macro turns on a small oscillating fan for 15 minutes.
>>
>   I don't know exactly why I am receiving these posts from you but I have
>found the thread slightly interesting.  I have often toyed with the idea of
>having the computer control stuff.  I have a couple of old systems which I
>could dedicate to the purpose.  None of them have any form of windows nor
>the power to run it.  They are an Atari 128,  an Atari 800 48k, and a
>Commodore Vic 20 5k.  They all work allbeit at the snails pace of 4.7mhz.
>If you have any Idea where I should start looking for advice etc on how to
>put either to use I would appreciate you sending it to me.  I had at one
>time a home made rig which did use time or temperature to control an ac
>outlet thru a relay.  The temp. thing never did work correctly as it was
>much to sensitive.  Have you ever done anything with infra red and the
>computer that would allow it to control TV VCR etc.  That is real
>interesting.
>
>
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