Interesting, but it doesn't help those with radiator thermostats. For them its either on or off! I'd certainly be wary about providing control of electric fires - Dimplex type radiators are probably safest. But we can't stop a client plugging anything in to a 13a socket. Barry Barry Taylor, Clinical Scientist Medical Physics Service Tulley Medical Physics Building, Hull Royal Infirmary Anlaby Road, Hull HU3 2JZ Tel: 01482 608971, Fax: 01482 608951 Internal extension HRI 608971 [log in to unmask] [log in to unmask] Web page http://www.hey.nhs.uk/content/services/rehabEngineering.aspx ________________________________ From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Keren Down Sent: 11 December 2012 09:00 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: controlling a heater via an environmental control system Isn't British Gas doing this in a mainstream way? http://www.britishgas.co.uk/smarter-living/control-energy/smart-home-revolution.html From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Geggie, Colin Sent: 11 December 2012 08:44 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: controlling a heater via an environmental control system Dear All Occasionally we are asked to interface electric heaters to environmental control systems. Obviously this is technically very straightforward but we tend to avoid doing it. The concern is the risk of someone switching on a heater and possibly falling asleep and then being unaware they have left the heater on. Instead, we always recommend that environmental control equipment users have their central heating adjusted appropriately. I note there are now ways of controlling radiator valves via infra-red and this seems to me to be a much safer way to proceed as the max room temperature is set by the thermostat. However this will be a lot more complicated to install. I wondered if other services take a similar view regarding control of electric heaters and I would be grateful for any thoughts that you might have. Also, have any of you interfaced environmental control systems to IR radiator valves or any other type of central heating control. If so were there any difficulties encountered? regards Colin Geggie Clinical Bioengineer, Environmental Control Co-ordinator SMART (South East Mobility and Rehabilitation Technology) Centre Astley Ainslie Hospital 133 Grange Loan Edinburgh EH9 2HL Tel. 0131 537 9423 Fax. 0131 537 9552 ***************************************************************** The information contained in this message may be confidential or legally privileged and is intended for the addressee only. If you have received this message in error or there are any problems please notify the originator immediately. The unauthorised use, disclosure, copying or alteration of this message is strictly forbidden. *****************************************************************