The key to the project is replacing your old thermostat with a remotely controlled model we have one at Smarthome. The X10 Compatible HVAC System looks and works like a regular thermostat and the wiring is pretty easy to install. The new thermostat will replace an ordinary 24-volt wall thermostat commonly found on gas, electric, oil, and propane heating systems. If your remote home has an all-electric Heat Pump system, it works on these units also. There is no need to pull new wires between the new thermostat and the heater; the existing wiring will do the job.

We have a vacation home in the mountains we often visit in the winter. However, once we arrive it takes the heating system a couple of hours to heat up the house. How can I remotely control the heating before we leave and have it warm and toasty when we arrive?

Burrrr, I know the feeling! This has happened to me also. The family arrives at the house, turns up the heat, everyone has to walk around in coats while the heater warms up the place. Let me tell you how I fixed our cabin to be fully heated before we arrive.

What's different about this thermostat is that it can receive the wireless X10 signals from any X10 transmitter in the house. In addition to being controlled manually from the wall unit, it can also take commands remotely. When it gets an X10 signal, it can do any of the things a human operator can do standing at the thermostat. Turn on the system and select the set point (the desired temperature). It will then control the home's heating and air conditioning system just like the old mechanical model. Now you just need to get an X10 signal to the home but remote controls don't go 100 miles.

To send X10 signals remotely, like they use to say, "let your finger to the walking." You will need a device to interface between the phone and electricity lines up at the cabin. The Telephone Responder installs into a regular phone jack and plugs into electricity. It can take touch-tones from an incoming phone call and produce X10 signals the thermostat needs to change the set-point temperature. The X10 signals travel over the home's AC wires so the Telephone Transponder can be placed just about anywhere in the home.

Before you leave for the road trip, call the cabin and the Telephone Responder will answer the call. If you have an answer machine on the same phone line, it can work with most of them too. You will need to dial in a security code (so someone doesn't accidentally get into your system), then dial in temperature. If you normally keep the cabin heated at a low temperature, like 40 degrees (so the pipes don't freeze), simply dial in the new temperature. The temperature you set is made up of an X10 codes. For example if you want the cabin heated to 75 degrees, dial in "4" and "*" on the phone's keypad. The Telephone Responder will send the X10 signal "4-ON" over the home's electrical wires. When the thermostat receives that signal, it will change the temperature set point to 75 degrees and the heat will come on. The thermostat comes with a cross-reference chart so you'll know what each X10 signal does to the thermostat.

Now the family can enjoy a warm and toasty cabin upon arrival.