Robert Ebsen
I love my Piper security system, and I love my greenhouse-enclosed above-ground pool. Now they are working together to make my life even more enjoyable.
Several months ago I bought two wireless remote plugs for my Piper security system. Both plugs are capable of being operated by the Piper App on my iPhone. One plug allows me to remotely operate the ceiling lights in the living room. The other plug allows me to turn on and turn off a lamp in my computer room.
I haven’t had much use for the computer room lamp to come on or off. Yesterday I got to thinking: Hey, now that I am so excited about swimming in my indoor-outdoor greenhouse pool, why don’t I use the lamp remote plug to operate my pool pump and heater. It worked!
Last night my wife and I slept over at the kids’ house. Before I went to sleep, I told the Piper app to turn on my pool pump and heater at 6 a.m. When we got home, the pool was warmed up. I jumped in.
This afternoon, I created a device to hold my remote weather station near, and in view of, my Piper camera. Now when I am away from home, I can see the pool temperature and decide if I want to turn on the heater, and for how much time.
I wonder when I will get tired of jotting down times and pool temperatures each night?
When I get up at night to go to the bathroom, I look at, and record, the pool temperature on the remote weather station next to my bed. With a floating pool cover on my greenhouse pool, I have been excited to watch the temperature go down ever so slowly. I cheer now when I see a four- to five-degree loss of temperature over night.
Now that I can view the pool’s temperature no matter where I am, I can imagine being on line at Ralphs market, taking out my iPhone, and dictating the pool temperature to my Notes App: It’s 82 degrees at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 15. I can imagine the checkout person’s response: Where in Encino is it 82 degrees?
What a strange feeling it is no longer being concerned about the weather report. InI look forward to the next rain so I can remotely turn on the pool heater and, an hour or so later, swim with impunity, listening to the pitter-patter on the pool’s roof.
Mr. Ebsen may be contacted at robertebsen@hotmail.com