OT? AC Register in My Office

[Erich]

Jaysin, was a real talent. unfortunately he passed away about a year after he posted that switch project.

[Jim Stewart]

Now, there is an idea. I like it. If I can not find a controllable register, I just may do it. I'm going to search for it.

I did find it.

http://www.offroadfabnet.com/forums/...441#post150441

Now THAT is a cool contrivance!

-js

[Paul Alciatore]

Now, there is an idea. I like it. If I can not find a controllable register, I just may do it. I'm going to search for it.

I did find it.

http://www.offroadfabnet.com/forums/...441#post150441

On another metal fab forum. Might have been Offroad Fabrication Network. There was a guy who made a remote door light switch rig. It was all metal and very steampunk looking.
The lever was near the front door and the linkage and rocker arms went up the wall along the ceiling and down to an existing light switch on an adjacent wall. Actuating the lever cause the existing switch to change state. The workmanship was outstanding and it really became a focal point of art in his house. You could do the same remote type of linkage.

[Paul Alciatore]

Reggie,

Ah, the old battle of the stat. I know that trick and I have used it in offices where the temperature had to be kept in a certain range for the equipment. Those locked, cover boxes that thermostats are often locked in are of no use as a bobby pin or other thin object can be inserted in the slots. The good old boys and gals quickly learn that. So I have installed secret thermostats in the return air duct. The original ones were left in their original position for all to play with. The real thermostat kept the area at the correct temperature.

But that is not going to work with my wife. If it does not become arctic cold within a minute or two when she drops the thermostat down to the lowest setting, I will have to call the AC guys in and pay the bill for the service call. She will have her arctic blast, one way or another. I just need to control my office temperature.

And I have a small, electric blanket under my desk. My legs just can't take it at my age. I believe I still have some thermal underwear that I bought when I was in the Army. Frankly, it was so good that I could not even wear it even in a Maryland January with several feet of snow and a howling north wind. But I may need to break it out for my south Texas house - in summer.

Install a second concealed thermostat in your office in series with "Hers". Then she can no longer request cooling unless yours also does.
Or...wear a coat or thermal underwear while in the house.

[Erich]

On another metal fab forum. Might have been Offroad Fabrication Network. There was a guy who made a remote door light switch rig. It was all metal and very steampunk looking.
The lever was near the front door and the linkage and rocker arms went up the wall along the ceiling and down to an existing light switch on an adjacent wall. Actuating the lever cause the existing switch to change state. The workmanship was outstanding and it really became a focal point of art in his house. You could do the same remote type of linkage.

[reggie_obe]

Install a second concealed thermostat in your office in series with "Hers". Then she can no longer request cooling unless yours also does.
Or...wear a coat or thermal underwear while in the house.

[deltap]

Look in the Hart & Cooley catalog. They have round ones that adjust by rotating a center knob to adjust a butterfly valve. A notched pvc pipe could work as an extension to turn the adjustment knob. Not automation but it won't go to h after the first year.

[Paul Alciatore]

Floor register? There are no floor registers here. They are all in the ceiling. I don't think I can lay a mat over them and expect it to stay. At least not without spinning the earth a lot faster.

An easy way to seal off a common floor register is simply lay a rubber back floor mat over it. Provided there isn't enough airflow to levitate the mat she'll get all the cooling air where she is and you don't get any in your "zone".

[nickel-city-fab]

I wonder if the vent mechanism would allow for something like a pull chain in a loop? Taking the simplest approach...Yeah I know about cheap vents... mine are in the floor. I just got done ripping all the little vanes out of them, didn't work anyways.

[Paul Alciatore]

Oh so much truth here.

But we don't fight. She is in the room with the thermostat. I am not.

I've observed that this is another of God's cruel jokes. When we are young, the man is running hot and the woman is always cold. Then, at that certain time, the woman starts running hot and the man, having lost muscle mass and slowed metabolically, is now cold. Going through the second phase right now, but we have no A/C to fight over.

I went through a brief period of hot flashes (!) a couple of years ago. It's no joke!

We now return you to your regularly scheduled program......

[Paul Alciatore]

I thought of that, but my project list is already longer than my expected life. So I am hoping for a ready made device. And I added one more element, photo cells and rechargable batteries for power. But no temperature sensor, that was going to be my job.

Project! Micro-controller, temperature sensor, linear actuator! Go for it!

[Paul Alciatore]

That looks neat. I guess my Google foo was not up to snuff. It helps to know what words to include.

Only thing I do not like is the batteries. But there was a reference to 24 VAC power. I need to do another search.

Thanks!

"Smart" air vent:
https://www.amazon.com/Flair-Compati...dp/B07TKHXX8S/

Or Google "smart vent" or "motorized air duct damper 4 x 10"

[reggie_obe]

These: https://www.frostking.com/products/p...ic-vent-covers

[PStechPaul]

Two word solution: Refrigerator magnets...

[mickeyf]

simply lay a rubber back floor mat over it.

Wee gravity issue in this case. "Ceiling register." Serious levitation is exactly what is needed!