Protect Your Family from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning!

Carbon Monoxide Can Be Deadly! You can’t see or smell carbon monoxide, but at high levels it can kill a person in minutes.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced whenever any fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal is burned. If appliances that burn fuel are maintained and used properly, the amount of CO produced is usually not hazardous. However, if appliances are not working properly or are used incorrectly, dangerous levels of CO can result. Hundreds of people die accidentally every year from CO poisoning caused by malfunctioning or improperly used fuel-burning appliances. Even more die from CO produced by idling cars. Fetuses, infants, elderly people, and people with anemia or with a history of heart or respiratory disease can be especially susceptible. Be safe.

Prevention is the Key to Avoiding Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends these DOs and DON’Ts to keep your family safe:

• DO have your fuel-burning appliances – including oil and gas furnaces, gas water heaters, gas ranges and ovens, gas dryers, gas or kerosene space heaters, fireplaces, and wood stoves – inspected by a trained professional at the beginning of every heating season. Make certain that the flues and chimneys are connected, in good condition, and not blocked.
• DO choose appliances that vent their fumes to the outside whenever possible, have them properly installed, and maintain them according to manufacturers’ instructions.
• DO read and follow all of the instructions that accompany any fuel-burning device. If you cannot avoid using an unvented gas or kerosene space heater, carefully follow the cautions that come with the device. Use the proper fuel and keep doors to the rest of the house open. Crack a window to ensure enough air for ventilation and proper fuel-burning.
• DON’T idle the car in a garage – even if the garage door to the outside is open. Fumes can build up very quickly in the garage and living area of your home.
• DON’T use a gas oven to heat your home, even for a short time.
• DON’T ever use a charcoal grill indoors – even in a fireplace.
• DON’T sleep in any room with an unvented gas or kerosene space heater.
• DON’T use any gasoline-powered engines (mowers, weed trimmers, snow blowers, chain saws, small engines or generators) in enclosed spaces.
• DON’T ignore symptoms, particularly if more than one person is feeling them. You could lose consciousness and die if you do nothing.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Home Controls offers several Carbon Monoxide alarms, from trusted manufacturers. They include:

• GE Security SafeAir 240-COe Alarm
• GE Wireless Carbon Monoxide Detector
• Napco Carbon Monixide Detector
• Linear Supervised Carbon Monoxide Detector (Wireless!)
  

If the CO detector alarm goes off:

• Make sure it is your CO detector and not your smoke detector.
• Check to see if any member of the household is experiencing symptoms of poisoning.
• If they are, get them out of the house immediately and seek medical attention. Tell the doctor that you suspect CO poisoning.
• If no one is feeling symptoms, ventilate the home with fresh air, turn off all potential sources of CO – your oil or gas furnace, gas water heater, gas range and oven, gas dryer, gas or kerosene space heater and any vehicle or small engine.
• Have a qualified technician inspect your fuel-burning appliances and chimneys to make sure they are operating correctly and that there is nothing blocking the fumes from being vented out of the house.

Prevention is the Key to Avoiding Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

	DO have your fuel-burning appliances — including oil and gas furnaces, gas water heaters, gas ranges and ovens, gas dryers, gas or kerosene space heaters, fireplaces, and wood stoves — inspected by a trained professional at the beginning of every heating season. Make certain that the flues and chimneys are connected, in good condition, and not blocked.
	DO choose appliances that vent their fumes to the outside whenever possible, have them properly installed, and maintain them according to manufacturers’ instructions.
	DO read and follow all of the instructions that accompany any fuel-burning device. If you cannot avoid using an unvented gas or kerosene space heater, carefully follow the cautions that come with the device. Use the proper fuel and keep doors to the rest of the house open. Crack a window to ensure enough air for ventilation and proper fuel-burning.
	DO call the Consumer Product Safety Commission (1-800-638-2772) at www.cpsc.gov for more information on how to reduce your risks from CO and other combustion gases and particles.

	DON’T idle the car in a garage — even if the garage door to the outside is open. Fumes can build up very quickly in the garage and living area of your home.
	DON’T use a gas oven to heat your home, even for a short time.
	DON’T ever use a charcoal grill indoors — even in a fireplace.
	DON’T sleep in any room with an unvented gas or kerosene space heater.
	DON’T use any gasoline-powered engines (mowers, weed trimmers, snow blowers, chain saws, small engines or generators) in enclosed spaces.
	DON’T ignore symptoms, particularly if more than one person is feeling them. You could lose consciousness and die if you do nothing.

25% Off inQuire Intercom Room Unit

Save 25% on the On-Q/Legrand inQuire Intercom Room Unit through the month of November!

You’ll never be more than a few steps away from answering the door, monitoring a child’s room or communicating to another part of the house. On-Q inQuire Intercom Systems not only deliver superior sound, but also install in decorator-style wall plates that blend into the home’s décor. A broadcast system allows talk/page from every unit, and LEDs show stations that are in use, muted or being monitored.

Available in white, black, light almond, or ivory, the Broadcast Intercom Room Unit is perfect for any décor. The modern, adjustable backlit keypad makes it simple to communicate in low-light conditions. In addition to paging, the user can monitor other units from anywhere in the house.

• inQuire Room Unit
• Entire inQuire Product Line

Features: Trims with a standard decorator wall plate (included) offering a modern design – perfect for any décor. Page, monitor, do not disturb and hands-free reply Multi-level volume control Modern backlit keypad

• Sale expires Nov. 30, 2009.

Rebates! Rebates! Get Yer Rebates Right Here!

From now until Dec. 31st, 2009, Trip Lite is offering instant rebates on some of their most popular products. You can save up to $140 and more importantly protect your valuable electronic and automation equipment.

Here is the break down:



 

$140 INSTANT REBATE!

2200VA Pure Sine Wave UPS System
The highest level of A/V power protection and power conditioning.

TPHTR223U

 

 

 

$12 INSTANT REBATE!

1500VA Digital UPS System
Ideal power protection and power conditioning for every HD component.

TPHTRL15UPS

 

 

 

 

 

$10 INSTANT REBATE!

Isobar® A/V Surge Suppressor
Premium surge protection and line noise filtering for all A/V components.

TPAVBAR8

X10 Euro-style Devices on Sale!

Home Controls is liquidating our stock of 230V Euro X10 devices. We’ve drastically reduced the price of these current and older model kits — but the quantities are limited, so act fast! All products are brand new, in their original packaging.

X10 Computer Interface Kit: The Universal Computer Interface is programmed from a Windows based Multimedia PC to control the full range of X-10 compatible devices. Functions include timed events and macros – groups of commands that take place with a single press of a button on a controller. Kit includes Computer Interface Module, 2 Lamp Modules, Transceiver Module, Appliance Module, Remote and ActiveHome  CD.

• X10 Computer Interface Kit with Euro-Style Plugs
• X10 Computer Interface Kit with German-style Plugs
• X10 Computer Interface Only (with software) with French-style Plugs

X10 7-Piece Voice Dialer Security System: The voice dialer security kit is a fully supervised system that gives you the power to protect your home whether you are home or away. These kits are easily installed (no wires). The modular, upgradeable security system includes base console (with built-in siren), 2 door/window sensors, motion detector, lamp module, keychain remote and security/home control remote and motion sensors.  Easily expandable to include more sensors/remotes/modules (up to 16 sensors, 8 remotes and 16 home automation modules).

• Voice Dialer Security System with German-Style Plugs
• Voice Dialer Security System with French-Style Plugs

X10 Plug-In Appliance Module: Plug-in module for switching 230V appliances, halogen and fluorescent lighting on or off. Switches loads up to 300W.

• X10 Plug-In Appliance Module with German-style Plug
• X10 Plug-In Appliance Module with French-style Plug

X10 Plug-In Lamp Module: Plug-in module for switching and dimming lights up to 300W. Responds to on, off and dim. Controllable from a distance with X10 devices through the existing house.

• X10 Plug-In Lamp Module with French-style Plug
• X10 Plug-In Lamp Module with German-style Plug

X10 Wireless Wall Switch, 4 Buttons: The wireless wall switch has 4 buttons and can be set to control X10 modules with codes 1 and 4 or 5 and 8 or 9 and 12 or 13 and 16. These pairs of codes are selected by a switch inside the battery compartment. The fourth button allows adjustments of brightness.

• X10 Wireless Wall Switch, 4 Buttons

Each product listing shows the European countries that supports the various devices. All sales are final on surplus products.

10% Discount on Keypad Controllers with Light Dimmer

Home Controls is excited to offer a 10% discount on the new and very popular UPB Keypad Controller with Load Dimmer from PulseWorx.

The Keypad Controller with Load Dimmer is an all-in-one controller and dimmer switch in a single package. This new line of controllers incorporates the functionality of our famous six and eight button KPC Keypad Controllers as well as incorporating a 400W dimmer switch.

• UPB Keypad Controller with Load Dimmer, 6 button.
• UPB Keypad Controller with Load Dimmer, 8 button.

The KPLD’s are perfect for retro-fit applications, when you want to replace a switch with a keypad and want to control the light as well. It transmits and receives UPB digital commands over the existing electrical wiring to remotely turn ON, OFF, and dim its own lighting load as well as trigger dramatic scenes throughout the home.

The KPLD is available in white, light almond, almond, ivory, black, brown and grey.

• Sale expires Nov. 30, 2009.

UPB Control with IR

Home theater, audio and video equipment, and lighting control go hand-in-hand these days.  Wouldn’t it be cool if you could use your favorite IR remote to also control your UPB lighting?  If you are not familiar with UPB, then pick up the phone and give Home Controls Tech Support a call for a crash course on the subject. If you are familiar with UPB, then read on.

Presently, there are two ways that I am aware of using IR with UPB. The first method is as follows.  Get your hands on the PCS Pulseworx 6-button keypad with dimming load control, PCKPLD6, and the matching PCS infrared remote, PCIRR.  I’ve blogged about this keypad controller before, and you can read up on it here.   The 6-button keypad has an IR receiver that will pick up the codes sent by the remote.  The 6-button and remote mimic each other; pressing any button on the remote would be like pressing the same button on the keypad controller.  The keypad controller and the existing UPB load devices, of course, would be configured to perform whatever lighting scene is desired. You then take your favorite IR remote and have it learn the IR codes sent by the PCS remote. Now you can use your remote to control the lighting scenes. You typically would have four scenes including On, Off and Bright and Dim with this controller.

The only drawback that this first method may have is that you will have to point your remote at the keypad controller.  You may not be able to mount the keypad controller at the “front” of your room, front meaning where you intuitively point the remote , such as towards the TV.  If, for example, the keypad controller is mounted on the wall opposite of where the TV and A/V gear is located, then you’ll have to do a 180 degree turn when switching control between A/V and lighting.  Just be aware that IR is line-of-sight.

The second method does not require a specific remote such as the PCIRR. The Monterey Instruments IR to UPB Module, MIIRUPBM, is a small, black box module that translates any IR signal to a UPB link command.  The black box is capable of “capturing” up to48 IR codes, which could be used for up to 48 scenes or individual lighting control. Any code, be it volume up, down, VCR play, DVD play, rewind, whatever could be used,  and in response to that code, the module produces a UPB ouput.  It’s recommend to pick an IR code that is not being used by the A/V gear, in this way, the lights can be controlled independently of the A/V gear.  The module is small enough (.75″ H x 1.625″ W x 3.0″ D) so that it can be mounted up front along with the A/V gear, or if hidden away in a cabinet, you can use one of several IR repeating systems to get the signal inside the cabinet.

As with the first method, there, too, is a drawback, with using the MIIRUPBM. The module does require a UPB powerline interface and a power adapter, included with the kit, so where ever you decide to locate the module, you need to have two available electrical outlets to plug in both powerline interface and power adapter.

Turn On Your Lamps & Knock Down The Price With The X10 PLM01

While supplies last, jump on one of the biggest deals this year with the XPPLM01 – X10 Pro Lamp modules.  These will not last long so jump on the deal while you still can.

• The XPPLM01, which retails for $17.95, is now selling for $7.95 only at Home Controls. That’s a savings of 65%! Just another slash from the ninja.
  

The X10 Pro Lamp module – Home lighting at your command: The XPPLM01 is the simplest and most effective way to control your household incandescent lights. Lighting control is simply a plug-in away. The XPPLM01 plugs into any standard 120V household outlet and gives you the ability to remotely control any incandescent light you plug into the Module (up to 300 watts). The Lamp Module is actually a Receiver that Responds to X10 Signals generated by X10 Controllers elsewhere on the electrical power lines. Simply dial in any House Code and Unit Code you choose for each Module and away you go! Don’t worry about losing manual control of the lamp… it will function normally even with the Module in place. The Lamp Module is the foundation of your home lighting system.

To jump on this deal, simply click here.