Review of Smarthome INSTEON Wireless Motion Sensor

Customer Ratings:

That these units, when they work, function fairly well. Some examples:

1. Master Bedroom Closet

We have 1 mounted above the door, on the bottom of a shelf, facing down about 2-3 feet into the closet entry. Once we walk into the closet, it registers and activates the light switch to turn on then off upon a few moments after our departure. This particular location has worked about 90% +/of the time, requiring resyncing with the light switch 2 or 3 times in the one year since installation.

2. Laundry Room

We have another, mounted about 5ft off the floor, on the wall, looking horizontal across the rooms door entrance. Upon entering the laundry room, it suppose to activate and turn on the light. While inside, doing laundry, moving around, etc...expectations are that it remains on/active, until it detects that we've exited. In the same year, just a few feet away from the switch, this unit (and we've tried one other), dont seem to work correctly, every single time...possibly about 70-80% of the time, it functions as expected.

3. Maintenance Room

4. Garage Door

And several other locations throughout our residence...we have about 12 of these installed.

2 have needed to be returned, failing right out of the box upon arrival. 2-3 others have needed to be returned, after failing to sync/connect up with other devices, for whatever reason.

For our deployments, the short distances, and its purpose for development, sale and installation we'd expect better.

We're discouraged from buying more....

Had they worked better, we'd own another 15-20 units, especially for our space reserved for guests/in-laws, as the technology is ideal for such a space affording lighting control as necessary to save money (they forget to turn lights off, specially daytime).

other things worth mentioning...

1. the alkaline batteries last about 8-12 months, for as little use as they get (few times a week, if that), they draw quite a lot of power killing batteries too fast in our opinion.

2. upon power outages, we've found that most units require "resynching" with their respective light switches, possibly due to the light switches since they are hard wired, and the sensor is not...nonetheless, going around every few months re-establishing connectivity with these motion sensor units post power failures is becoming problematic. So much so, that thoughts of reverting to old school ways in these areas is cropping up more and more which is unfortunate!

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Having used X10 motion sensors which have to be programmed by pushing little buttons and counting presses to set all attributes (each time batteries are replaced) this model is a real joy. It has jumpers which can set all attributes (time out delay, night only or 24 hours, etc.) or one jumper which allows software to set everything. I linked these to my ISY controller and programmed all of the attributes form my keyboard. That was it! It was done! Everything worked! These have the ability to send three different attributes which can be used for control purposes. They send motion detection, dusk/dawn detection and low battery warning. I wrote some code in my ISY (Universal Devices) which emails me any time that any of my three motion sensors sends a low battery warning to tell me to check all of them. Pretty neat.

Range is excellent and battery life has been far better than the X10 Hawkeye sensors. Also. when changing a battery, I never need to reprogram. I just change the battery and I'm done. These cost more but have a larger lens area and "see" a lot more. The swivel mount is a big help in pointing the sensor in the right direction. I'm very pleased with the performance.

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The motion detector does work, however, it could be better. The effective distance is only 30' not 40' as advertised. It is difficult to get the day night threshold set. It requires the use of a tiny standard screwdriver to adjust the potentiometer. The results of day/ night threshold adjustments are inconsistent and unpredictable. The potentiometer used to adjust the count down timer has the same issues. There is no way to adjust the ramp rate of the light controlled by this motion sensor. The sensor is fairly sturdy. I drop kicked it across a room (I got a little frustrated while setting the count down timer) and it didn't break! If you simply require a motion sensor to turn on or turn off a light this motion sensor will work.

Honest reviews on Smarthome INSTEON Wireless Motion Sensor

I've used several of these over the years, and currently have a few working in my house. They work quite well, but reliability depends completely on the soundness of your Insteon infrastructure and how much noise is on your Insteon network. While they say they are rated for outdoor use, I'd also be wary of that statement as they tend to act up when they get wet. I generally put white electrical tape around all seams of the device, especially the battery compartment to prevent any moisture from entering.

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I have a few of these throughout my house and they work exactly as I had expected. I have one at the bottom of the basement stairs so that when I open the basement door it senses me and throws on the first string of basement lights. I have a few of these in our large garage to catch all of the different angles.

Farm Innovators Thermo Cube Thermostatically Controlled Outlet Reviews

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $14.99
Sale Price: $12.97
Today's Bonus: 13% Off

I've used this ThermoCube for a few years to protect some vulnerable water pipes in an otherwise unheated shed.

There are several cosmetically-identical versions. The TC-3 model (on this page) is designed to turn on at 35F and off at 45F, which is pretty critical information that should be in the product description. It's rated 15amps and 1800 watts according to , which sells these for over each.

I've been using this device to switch a radiant oil heater. The new ones will control 250-watt brooder heat lamps. If you're worried about pipes freezing, it's cheap enough and simple enough to be worth a try.

It gets 4 stars because the temp sensor is not accurate (on at 38F) and there's no indicator lamp confirming the device is getting power from the outlet.

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Look closely to make sure you get the one with the operating characteristics that you need.

TC-1 On at 0 F, Off approx. 10 F

TC-2 On at 20 F, Off approx. 30 F

TC-3 On at 35 F, Off approx. 45 F

TC-21 On at 78 F, Off approx. 70 F

TC-22 On at 120 F, Off approx. 100 F

You can select the one you want from the "Size Name:" pull down.

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Seems to work as stated, but if you have a use for this in an outside recepticle as I did,(heated water bowel and a bird bath heater), then reconsider!! All my outside outlets have a metal weather cap an the top and this cube is too large and hits the weather cap, so it does not plug all the way into the outlet. Bigtime unsafe seeing the prongs exposed!! Cost half as much as what I paid for the thing to send it back so I found a very short, but HD outside extension cord and plugged that in to the recepticle and the cube into that. Then put it in a waterproof bag sealing it up. Better than letting the prongs hanging out. Someone really dropped the ball when they designed this for "outside" use! They should have designed this body slimmer on the top.

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I am using this to control the on/off of power to my home built rain collector heater for my Davis weather station during snow storms.

6153 Wireless Vantage Pro2 with 24-Hour Fan Aspirated Radiation Shield

My unit turns on at around 36 degrees F and off at 41F. It worked great all through last winter without any problems.

I plugged a nightlight into the second outlet so that I could tell when the Thermo-Cube has switched on and when it had switched off.

I agree that it could be marketed better. None of the automative or hardware stores in my area even knew what I was taking about when I inquired about such a device.

THANK GOD for AMAZON.COM!

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I looked for years for something like this to help protect my frost-sensitive plants! I have been using it with C9 Christmas lights and a cover (sheet, blanket or pool cover) on my plants and haven't lost one plant since. It has saved me a lot of money since I don't have to put the lights on a timer all night long like I used to. It's really worth buying!

Reviews of SEI Wexford Petite Convertible Electric Fireplace, Black

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $569.99
Sale Price: $310.00
Today's Bonus: 46% Off

A good bit of assembly required, but easy enough to follow. The fully assembled heater is quite pretty and throws off a lot of heat. The included remote controls on/off and brightness of the logs and flames, but not the temperature. All-in-all, very pleased.

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I received this item as a gift and I really love it! It's as close to a fireplace as I can get in my small home! It's small enough to fit and still get a a comfortable cozy feeling. I agree it does have a hummm when you have the flame on, but easily overcome if you have other noise, ie TV. Well made and not too difficult to assemble.

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Super fast delivery. Ordered on Wed., received it on Friday! Packaged great! Assembly took a little over an hour (would have been quicker if I was not using my pink tools). I had to go online to find out how to use the cam bolt and lock, otherwise instructions are very easy to follow. All parts well marked with one extra of each. Unit is very attractive. Heats the room quickly. I would give 5 stars except when the "flame" is running it makes a distracting sound. For now I'm just keeping the "logs" glowing and the heat on.

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I love this fireplace since I can't have a regular burning fireplace this is the next best thing. The fire looks real and this unit puts out lots of heat.

Slumberest Premium Heated Mattress Pad Reviews

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $179.12
Sale Price: $152.09
Today's Bonus: 15% Off

I had become addicted to having a heated mattress pad. I bought this to replace my first one (heating elements had become loose in places and there were cold spots). I love to warm the bed before getting in and this has a pre-heat setting. I have a great down comforter so I don't need it heated overnight however, this does have automatic shutoff. Since most heated mattress pads have the same features nowadays, I bought this one mostly for the controller design. The display has several brightness settings and the controller is more attractive and takes up less real estate on my nightstand than the rest I've seen.

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This is a great product! The individual controls are good for people who go to bed at different times and like different levels of warmth. We turn the thermostats down at night to sleep better and this product keeps the bed at just the right temperature.

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I have been using my heated mattress pad for about a month, and I love it. I cannot imagine not having it. I preheat to a setting of 5 (out of 10), then turn it down to a 2 or 3. It makes falling asleep so much easier when I start out in a warm bed! (I also have micro-fleece sheets...between the two, I'm never cold!) HIGHLY recommend.

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I got this to replace the "Soft Heat Warming Mattress Pad" a low voltage pad which I gave away because it made a buzzing sound that kept me from sleeping. The Slumberrest is warm, comfortable and silent. It is well made, and because it's cotton, it doesn't come loose and the bottom sheets don't slide up and off. I would give this 6 starts if I could.

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Well worth the money! We don't feel the wires, which I read happens in some reviews for cheaper mattress pads. The plug at the foot of the bed doesn't bother me or my 6 foot tall husband. The lowest setting is all we use so plenty warm. The preheat feature is nice takes about 15 minutes, not the full 30. I love how you can set the heater to turn off after 2, 6 or 10 hours. Many mattress pads don't have this feature. I only use it for the first 2 hours I used to only get cold when I first got into bed because of the freezing sheets. Now the sheets are warm when I get in bed :) The only down side is that I can hear a little bit of a hum when it kicks on if I'm laying on my side.

Best Vornado TVH500 Whole Room Vortex Heater Deals

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $179.99
Sale Price: $159.95
Today's Bonus: 11% Off

Pros:

Runs very quiet

Heats room well and quickly

Has a fan-only option for the summertime

Blue LED screen turns off after several seconds (good for nighttime)

Turns off after it reaches desired temp (I saw that some heaters only switch to the low setting)

Doesn't glow

Cons:

Beeps every time you press a button (not good when you are using it in a room where someone is sleeping)

Thermostat is off by at least 4 degrees (says the room is 73 when my other two sources say it is 69)

Not totally cool to the touch, as it says

No remote (for $150 it should have that)

Clicking sound when it turns on/off wakes me up sometimes

Overall, I am relatively happy with this fan, and after reading reviews for others it seems like this one functions just about the same and has the same pros and cons. However, most of the fans of this type run about $100 cheaper, which is leading me to consider returning it.

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This is a relatively small fan, and relatively quiet. It is not silent though. Overall, it's a good fan, except that it is way overpriced.

You pay for the LCD screen, and digital controls. The problem is that the LCD is tiny, and worst, it looses all setting if turned off or unplugged. Each time you have to select the temperature, the mode (heat/fan only), etc.

To top it all, it lacks a remote control. At this price, this is quite an omission.

I'll return mine at BBuy and get a cheaper version.

Discount Soleus Powered By Gree 10,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner

Customer Ratings:

Under normal conditions, our house can handle what most people consider extreme heat. It was built a hundred years ago, and the basic design and the many large windows keep us comfortable while those around us are frantically running up their electric bills.

Last summer was a major exception. The heat index was up over 124 degrees all day long. The air was so super-heated, it was like trying to draw a breath in a blast furnace. Even the nights were blisteringly hot.

Ordinary air conditioners were not the answer. The windows were not made for it, and cutting through a wall wasn't an option. It didn't leave many alternatives; we had to do SOMETHING. We quickly researched the possibilities, evaluated the most likely candidates, and decided to try the little Soleus portable.

The instructions were remarkably clear and understandable (always a good sign,) and assembling the hose was a no-brainer. It went together quickly and without incident. The only delay putting it into use came from the need to allow the refrigerant to settle before turning it on.

At 10,000 BTU, we didn't expect it to cool more than one room, so we set it up in the kitchen, sealed off the doorway with plastic sheeting to contain the cool air, and fired it up. The heat index outside was well into the life-threatening range, but within a matter of minutes, the kitchen was freezing! We had to turn it down. We made it through an impossible day in absolute comfort.

The next day was no cooler, so we headed for the kitchen, again, this time without the plastic sheeting. Over the course of a very dangerous afternoon, we were astonished to find that the little Soleus managed to cool ANOTHER large room, without turning it up any higher than we had before. The entire first floor stayed livable all the while it was running. A series of fans helped keep the air moving in the father reaches, but it was the Soleus that cooled things off.

We got another pleasant surprise when the electric bill arrived. We had run it for several hours a day for the better part of a week, and the bill was about what it always was for that time of the year.

We haven't had to use it this summer, but it's there if it's needed. Storage isn't a problem; it takes up very little floor space in the utility room. It could as easily be stored in a closet. It was a Godsend when we needed it the most. We couldn't be more delighted with this great little air conditioner.

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Cheap 10-PAK APRILAIRE 35 WATER PANEL PAD FILTER 600 700 760

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These filters seem to be built very well and pretty close to the factory filters.

For the price I would buy and use them always.

They work great!!

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Sunbeam Comforter Review

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List Price: $329.34
Sale Price: $131.33
Today's Bonus: 60% Off

I've had the full size and the twin size and the king size of this comforter. I can tell you, you will never have a more wonderful experience with an electric blanket/comforter than with this big fluffy, warm and totally cozy comforter. Like sleeping in a warm cloud, not a wired up toaster oven. BUT, unless you have access to a huge commercial washer, the twin size is the biggest one you will be able to wash at home. I have heard of people using duvet covers with these and not washing the comforter itself for years at a time, but, ew, I couldn't do that. I have tried washing these in top loaders and front loaders but nope, the full and the queen/king will not fit. Just be aware of that drawback before ordering. I really hate for anyone to miss out on the sleeping experience you will have with the Sunbeam electric comforter, though, so at least get a twin size and try it out.

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It's nice a big & fluffy Comforter/electric blanket.

The set up is easy, (preheat off/on, auto-heat off/on, set timers on back switch)

I decided on getting a electric blanket during the last "cold snap) I looked at many and for the price, size & quality this was the best.

(2nd day ship is a good idea if u don't want to wait.)

It does have the "standard wiring", I was hoping it would be the "new " invisi-wires(2x smaller),but because it is so big and fluffy it's really not necessary.

My boyfriend love's it! I would prefer it to heat up a little quicker. (so I have a chance to get nice and warm before my "blanket/bed hog" gets in! Does anyone have an Idea to keep one's blankets on one's person's side of the bed that really does work? I have already gone though most of "the gamet" suggestions welcome!)

I read the review that it's too big to wash...well I'll "cross that bridge" after the winter season. I did put my duvet cover over it.(I'm thinking in the spring on one of those unsually warm days, I'll hang it on the line and see if the hose and some "arm grease" will do the trick...it says " machine wash" let u know how that turns out!

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I'm 100% satisfied ... excellent product! above my expectations

I use king size, the fabric is comfortable and the temperature controls work individually so satisfactory. the only problem I found was the absence of an battery for the clock in case of an electrical power failure.

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I love this Comforter I turn it on 3 when i go to bed and I never get cold. It also really soft.

Review of LASKO 5965 PIVOTING CERAMIC HEATER with ELECTRONIC CONTROL

Customer Ratings:

I've used it for two winter seasons in a 20 x 20 room over the garage to supplement the faint wisp of air that comes from the main house HVAC system. The room use to be a constant 55-60 degrees. The Lasko is set from November until April on 70 degrees. It has worked very well with no flaws as of yet.

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I have used my heater for more than four years as a supplement to the central heating in my office in three different buildings. It has worked flawlessly and continues to provide excellent service.

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Received this as a Christmas gift. Used very lightly in my office. Died after a few months of use. Simply won't turn on. I imagine the electronics fried in it from the heat. More likely, there is a chip in there that causes it to die shortly after the warranty is expired.

It's another piece of junk made in China, now destined for a U.S. landfill.

Don't waste your money on Lasko.

Discount DeLonghi D14527DZ Dual Zone Deep Fryer

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I purchased this unit last month to make deep fried chicken wings, Hooter-style...I got a good recipe and fried them up per instructions and made the most outstanding hot wings in the world....the fryer worked very well....very easy to use once I figured out that my GFI outlet in kitchen had tripped...the unit brought the oil to temp fairly quickly and recovery time was out standing....liked the basket and the drain plug for oil....I highly recommend this unit...note....when frying put it on your oven under range hood to help eliminate the 'fry smell'....1st time I used I didn't and stunk up the house....after that I never had that problem.

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I highly recommend the DeLonghi D14527DZ Dual Zone Deep Fryer.

With it's huge 3lb food capacity my family no longer has to wait for the "second round" of fries or tots or anything.

The front drain has a huge advantage over picking up the old unit and trying to dump it into some container for disposal.

Very very happy with my purchase.

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We purchased this because we had several DeLonghi products that have been reliable, and we needed a fryer larger than our DeLonghi Rotofryer. A Rotofryer is good for a couple of people, but its small capacity makes it hard to keep a number of guests supplied in munchies.

First of all, this model is wonderfully designed for safety and cleaning. The magnetically attached cord will pull out at a light tug, and the operating controls require you to set them fully before any heat is applied to the oil. Despite an hour of continuous use frying fresh onion rings and zuchini, there was absolutely no burned flour in the bottom (the cool zone) and the oil was easily filtered when we were done. Finally, it comes apart in five pieces, four of which can go right in the dishwasher, making cleanup easy and safe. All the metal seems to be entirely stainless steel.

The controls, because of the safety design, are not as intuitive as one would expect, but I think it's a good trade. However, you have to set them correctly to know when your oil has returned to the proper temperature.

In my opinion, it is superior to the built-in fryers some of my friends have in their commercial ranges in their kitchens -far easier to clean.

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Easy to set up and use. Thermostat heats oil to desired setting with numbers display. Easy to clean and drain used oil. This deep fryer has replaced 3 T-Fal and 1 Cooks Essentials fryer. A bit expensive for this deep fryer but worth every penny in the long run. I give it A+++++ in overall value.

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My De'Longhi fryer was purchased for me from Sam's Club. I had been frying with an old Fry Baby that my husband and I affectionately referred to as "Ol' Sparky" because of its tendency to spark where the plug attached to the fryer. The Fry Baby was so poorly designed that we made a list of what we wanted in an fryer and went looking for it.

1. Size. This fryer uses about 1 gallon of oil at a time, and in that oil can cook several cups of French fries (at a time). This means that we can have guests over and finish fries in two batches. The Fry Baby would take over and hour to make a comparable pile of fries.

2. Oil removal. We reuse our oil several times, and the Fry Baby required that we pour the oil over the top and through a funnel. The De'Longhi fryer has a spout neatly tucked behind the front door of the fryer so that once the oil is cool, you can simply open the valve and drain it into the container of your choosing. No more spilling, funnels, and mess.

3. Temperature control. Ol' Sparky had a dial marked "1-10" and we could choose our setting. This, of course, is meaningless and required us to rig a thermometer to the hot oil, and adjust manually. The De'Longhi has a thermocouple attached to the heating element that reports the temperature to a thermostat and automatically readjusts the temperature when you add food items to the oil.

Since we purchased our fryer, we noticed some other nice features.

4. The plug is magnetically attached. If you accidentally pull it, it comes away from the fryer rather than knocking the fryer and hot oil off the counter. (We operate ours further out on the counter than other appliances to allow the steam produced from frying food to escape.)

5. The loosely attached lid allows steam to escape (the Fry Baby had a nearly-sealing glass lid). Allowing steam to condense on the lid and the water to drop into the oil can cause it to boil violently.

6. This fryer comes in many parts. There is the outer housing (the silver base with blank handles and door), the heating element with electronics, the plug, the lid, the basket, and the inner container for the oil (with the spout). Initially, this seemed like a lot, however, because you can take it apart, it is very easy to clean. You can remove the heating element and clean it (it securely latches on). Once you've drained the oil through the spout, you can remove this part and clean it. And of course, the basket is removable. Usually, this is all that gets dirty when we fry.

I highly recommend this fryer. We have done lots of frozen French Fries (maybe 30 pounds worth) and other appetizers (such as jalepeno poppers) at room temperature. The De'Longhi responds well to the addition of frozen items by quickly readjusting the temperature.

Cheers!