BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
BIMMERPOST Universal Forums Off-Topic Discussions Board Alexa enabled portable A/C advice

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      02-04-2020, 11:13 PM   #1
obert
Brigadier General
obert's Avatar
United_States
1781
Rep
4,456
Posts

Drives: 2013 328i
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Seattle Wa

iTrader: (49)

Alexa enabled portable A/C advice

Looking at possibly getting an Alexa enabled A/C unit so I can turn it on before I get home in the summer. I picked up a fan today so we will see how that goes.

I would like to get some sort of a smart portable heater as well. But seems very limited and bad reviews.

I live in an apartment so I am trying to make it a little smarter while I am here.

Anyone have any thing like this? If so could you please share your experience and what you have.

Thanks
Appreciate 0
      02-05-2020, 12:17 AM   #2
dreamingat30fps
Lieutenant Colonel
United_States
5256
Rep
1,904
Posts

Drives: Miata, Cayenne, Model 3, F350
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: South Florida & NC

iTrader: (1)

Dunno, but couldn't you get a smart outlet instead? Probably easier to find and cheaper.
Appreciate 0
      02-05-2020, 12:25 AM   #3
obert
Brigadier General
obert's Avatar
United_States
1781
Rep
4,456
Posts

Drives: 2013 328i
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Seattle Wa

iTrader: (49)

Quote:
Originally Posted by dreamingat30fps View Post
Dunno, but couldn't you get a smart outlet instead? Probably easier to find and cheaper.
Doesn’t work with the fans I have or the heater. Plus I have read it’s not good to plug things that pull a lot of power into anything but the wall. I don’t want to start a fire.

I have tried the plugs with my fan and it just turn the power off and on. It will not turn the fan on.
Appreciate 0
      02-05-2020, 05:19 AM   #4
RickFLM4
Brigadier General
RickFLM4's Avatar
United_States
10876
Rep
4,816
Posts

Drives: M4
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: PB County, FL

iTrader: (0)

I think there are heavy duty timers designed for appliances like window air conditioners. I don’t think you can plug one into a regular timer like used for lamps because those are for 2 prong only / no ground.

Personally, I would never run a portable heater unless home, whether on a timer or otherwise.

Maybe Alexa has some suggestions?
__________________
Current: 2018 SO/SS F83 ZCP
Gone: 2015 SO/SO F82
Appreciate 2
obert1781.00
Salty Dog3572.50
      02-05-2020, 07:50 AM   #5
spazzyfry123
Lieutenant Colonel
spazzyfry123's Avatar
4307
Rep
1,912
Posts

Drives: Here and There
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: North Georgia Mountains

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
Why not a smart thermostat to control both heat and A/C remotely? Or does the apartment not have HVAC?
Appreciate 0
      02-05-2020, 07:57 AM   #6
obert
Brigadier General
obert's Avatar
United_States
1781
Rep
4,456
Posts

Drives: 2013 328i
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Seattle Wa

iTrader: (49)

Quote:
Originally Posted by spazzyfry123 View Post
Why not a smart thermostat to control both heat and A/C remotely? Or does the apartment not have HVAC?
No it’s doesn’t. It was build back in the 60’s so I don’t even use the Appartments heaters. I am cheap and live alone most of the time. I have concerns of fire with portable heater as well but I do live alone and don’t leave anything around the heaters. I know it will get really hot in the summer so it would be nice to start the a/c a little while before getting home.
Appreciate 0
      02-05-2020, 08:39 AM   #7
Conissah
Major
Conissah's Avatar
1575
Rep
1,049
Posts

Drives: 2018 M3
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Charlotte, NC

iTrader: (1)

Could look into IFTTT, they have tons of hooks you can link stuff to. My coworker uses it to shut the garage door and lock the doors if his and his wifes phone are outside the GPS fence he drew. Tons of possibilities.
Appreciate 1
obert1781.00
      02-05-2020, 05:12 PM   #8
dreamingat30fps
Lieutenant Colonel
United_States
5256
Rep
1,904
Posts

Drives: Miata, Cayenne, Model 3, F350
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: South Florida & NC

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by obert View Post
Doesn’t work with the fans I have or the heater. Plus I have read it’s not good to plug things that pull a lot of power into anything but the wall. I don’t want to start a fire.

I have tried the plugs with my fan and it just turn the power off and on. It will not turn the fan on.
Must be a fancy fan. Mine just has a dial and stays at whatever speed you set it to when the power comes back on.

As for the heater not sure what kind of power those pull. Just looked at a random switch I have here and its suppose to be rated to 15 amps.

Other than that dunno, I'm sure someone sells an expensive smart fan or heater.
Appreciate 2
obert1781.00
      02-05-2020, 05:22 PM   #9
obert
Brigadier General
obert's Avatar
United_States
1781
Rep
4,456
Posts

Drives: 2013 328i
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Seattle Wa

iTrader: (49)

Quote:
Originally Posted by dreamingat30fps View Post
Must be a fancy fan. Mine just has a dial and stays at whatever speed you set it to when the power comes back on.

As for the heater not sure what kind of power those pull. Just looked at a random switch I have here and its suppose to be rated to 15 amps.

Other than that dunno, I'm sure someone sells an expensive smart fan or heater.
Lol not fancy it just has a push on/off button. If it had a knob I could just leave on them the plugs would work.

No worries and thanks for the reply. Just was looking for other opinions and experience.
Appreciate 0
      02-05-2020, 06:13 PM   #10
infinitekidM2C
Major General
infinitekidM2C's Avatar
United_States
4186
Rep
5,727
Posts

Drives: 2019 M2 Competition
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Orange County, CA

iTrader: (4)

Garage List
The portable AC units can be set to come on at x temp. Does that not suffice? Are you looking to turn it on while driving your 328i or something?
Appreciate 0
      02-05-2020, 06:20 PM   #11
obert
Brigadier General
obert's Avatar
United_States
1781
Rep
4,456
Posts

Drives: 2013 328i
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Seattle Wa

iTrader: (49)

Quote:
Originally Posted by infinitekidM2C View Post
The portable AC units can be set to come on at x temp. Does that not suffice? Are you looking to turn it on while driving your 328i or something?
I will have to look at this but I don’t think mine has that option. I am actually looking to turn it on while I am on vacation just to waste power.

Like I said I am just looking for options and would like it to turn on while I am at work before I get home.

I think I can leave it on and it will turn on the cold at a certain temp but I don’t believe it has an option to come on from completely off at a certain temp.
Appreciate 0
      02-05-2020, 07:21 PM   #12
vreihen16
Recovering Perfectionist
vreihen16's Avatar
Ukraine
14882
Rep
938
Posts

Drives: 2015 BMW i3 BEV
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: Orange County, NY

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
I bought a Wink window-mount AC about 5 years ago, which worked remotely from their app. Worked well, but was loud.

There are plenty of wifi window AC options out there now, so you can pick one up that has some sort of remote app.....
__________________
2015 BMW i3 BEV, Giga World (Lodge interior), Tech/Driving Assist Packages, 30K miles
Appreciate 1
obert1781.00
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:25 AM.




bmw
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST