Air Con Timer - Page 2

Hi Ken,

I agree, hopefully my guests won't want to tamper with something that looks like an alarm box.  I am also returning in September and will bring a couple of units with me to install - I have Icelandic guests booked in for October, so I assume they will want to use the air con, even if it is a bit cooler.

Marie

Hi Marie

Hope they work ok for you, I think I am going to call the seller of these units, I down loaded the set up instructions and do not understand the night mode setting, the way it reads is that you would have to set that up on a daily basis which isnt much good if you are in the uk and you wouldn't want your guests accessing the settings.

Marie and Kenbo  I hope the units prove beneficial .

As with all things Electronic and battery operated they can malfunction ,often at the most inconvenient of times meaning the equipment will not operate, which in the case of rented accommodation could prove troublesome.

The mechanical coin operated version of control is much more reliable if maintenance availability would be an issue.

Please let us know how you get on.

LeckyLes.

Many modern units don't respond well to just having the power cut by timed units so be careful! 

Hi,  thanks for the warning.  The timer apparently sends a command to the air con unit to switch off, so I am hoping it will be ok, but I will try it on my oldest air con unit first just in case!

Marie

The sensors we are speaking of here Willy do not just cut the power, they replicate the signal that would come from the remote control and therefore provide a controlled shutdown.....exactly the same as the remote.

Check out the https://www.ecosense.uk.com range.  They do a remote battery operated sensor that works fine.  Because it does not involve electrics or wiring into your unit in any way you can set it up yourself.  They also have a range of replacement remote controls which allows you to restrict the temperature range of the units.  Again there is NO electrical element to this, you program the new replacement remote control from your original remote.  They provide step by step on-line video to show how to do this.  It saves us a lot on electricity and a lot on wear and tear making the units last longer as well as saving money.  Our air con service engineer said they are well worth having.  

We have used the replacement remotes for several years now and no complaints from renters.  Before changing to these remotes the renters would turn the units down to their lowest setting (16 degrees) and then use blankets to keep warm at night!  Now they think they are setting them at the lowest setting of 18 degrees but in actual fact the units can't go below 20 degrees.  We also removed the highest fan settings too by programming the remotes to stop at the next setting down.  

We have a remote sensor in the lounge that shuts off the unit if no one is in the room after 30 minutes.  We will probably get the night sensors for the bedrooms.  They are not cheap but will pay for themselves over time.  

I did look at these and they seem to do the same job but were a bit more expensive.  I do like the sound of the replacement remotes to restrict the temperature range though.

Marie

They are fiddly to set up but really worth the trouble.  It made a big difference to both our summer electricity bill and the wear on the units when they were serviced at the end of the season.  You can use just the remotes without the sensors.

That does sound good.  It might be simpler for me just to get the remotes for the bedrooms and put a sensor unit in the lounge.

Thank you for the information.