Lux WIN100 Heating & Cooling Programmable Outlet Thermostat
by Lux Products
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List Price: Our Price: $37.97 You Save: $22.02 (37%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Category: Tools See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Lux WIN100 Heating & Cooling Programmable Outlet Thermostat
Customer Review: Handy for Basic Air Conditioner with Mechanical Controls
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought the WIN100 Heating & Cooling Programmable Outlet Thermostat to use with my cheap window A/C that has manual controls. It won't work with units that have electronic controls unless the unit can be set up to come on when plugged in, because this thermostat effectively unplugs the device to turn it off and plugs it back in to turn it on. (For example, my big window air conditioner has electronic controls that go into standby when plugged in, waiting for input from the remote or front panel buttons, so this thermostat could not turn it on.)
There are 4 programs for weekend (Sat/Sun, no choice) and 4 other programs for weekdays (Mon-Fri, no choice). (You also set the time of day and day of the week, so you could deliberately set the day or time different from reality to accomodate special programming needs.) Each program is a temperature setpoint and time of day at which it becomes effective. There is also a temporary override that lets you set a different temperature, which remains in effect until the time of the next program, at which point the program takes over. Unfortunately, you have to flip open the cover on the front of the unit to access the override (and other controls), which requires unplugging the bulky plug of the air conditioner.
The unit can be (manually) set to operate either heating or cooling appliances. I have not yet tried a heater, so can't comment on how it works.
As long as your unit will come on when power is applied to its plug, this thermostat will control it nicely.
Customer Review: Great Control
Summary: 4 Stars
Just what we've been looking for to control a space heater in a RV. Was planning on building our own control using a 110V timer ... until I found this. Haven't had it long enough to test its durability; but outward indications are great construction compared to a different brand of set-back thermostat we recently purchased for the house. Accuracy is right-on; and the comfort zone is great compared to using the heater's thermostat. Very easy to program. We would recommend this item ... can't build it for this price.
Lux's website states this is "not for use on Electronically Controlled Space Heaters"; the package states "not for use on Electronically Controlled Space Heaters"; and the manual (downloadable from Lux's website) states "WARNING: For use only with Air Conditioners and space heaters that automatically restart cooling and heating operation after power reconnection". So why would one give this item a bad rating because it won't work with an electronic controlled space heater?? As all three warning indicate 'If your heater won't restart when you unplug it and plug it back in, this control will not work for you'.
Also Lux's website states "Setting Range 45° F to 90° F". Can't fault the control because it won't work at 40° F.
Customer Review: Above and Beyond the Call of Duty
Summary: 5 Stars
Once in awhile a product comes along that works better than described, and this is one of them. I am usually a tough sell, but when some company produces something that works this well, they deserve accolades. It will run a space heater all winter, and then you can use it in a window fan during spring, to blow cooler air into the house. When it gets hotter for the summer, you can use it on the window air conditioner. Then you can use it in the fall to control the fan in the window again. This device is reliable, sturdy, and has served me without fail for a year.
You have to use it intelligently, and whenever I switch from heating to cooling, I push the little reset button on it. It has a bug or two in it, but I do not use a programmed situation, only setting it for cool or heat, on 'Hold' and letting it go at that. It seems to me it is to be highly recommended, and worth the money for being able to control those heating and cooling items supplied with worthless thermostats for controlling them. It is digital and seems to be very accurate. I cannot recommend it enough, and would give it ten stars if I could, for actually doing what it says it will do, which is getting to be unusual in the American market!
Customer Review: Green Solution
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw this device mentioned in another review and I just had to give it a try. To be honest I didn't know that this existed! We live in a drafty house built in 1936, so central AC is out of the question. We unfortunately are at the mercy of window units. Before, I was trying to monitor our window box AC unit with programmable timers, having the unit go off every hour for 15 minutes. But it never really worked, either we were too hot or too cold, never comfortable.
Last night I plugged this in and set the temperature to 75 and would you believe it, it worked! For the first time in weeks I woke up without a stuffy nose and cough (from being chilled out), and it was easy to get out of bed to a pleasant room, not jumping up to run and turn the AC unit off.
I highly recommend this to anyone who has to deal with the pains of window units, which do not regulate temperature; this is a great gift for anyone where temperature conformability is vital. Although I was wary at the initial price, the energy star rating, the regulation of use and the peace of mind of overall health and comfort are defiantly worth it.
Hope this helps! :)
Customer Review: Accurate and a great value
Summary: 4 Stars
I recently purchased two of these units to regulate the temperature in my bedroom and my living room. I live in a 1 bedroom apartment. The temperature readout is spot on and it's easy to program. However I do have two complaints:
1. The unit can only program weekdays and weekends. That means you can't choose a specific day of the week to program. For example, I am never at my apartment on Saturdays, however since Saturday and Sunday must have the same schedule, as well as monday-friday, I'm wasting energy.
2. In order for this unit to work, there MUST be a ground plugged into the outlet. I bought two "DeLonghi HHP1500 Mica Panel Radiator" heaters (they are amazing, I highly recommend) which don't have a ground. In order for it to work, I had to plug in an extension cord into the thermostat to trick it into thinking the ground was plugged in, then I plugged my heater into the extension cord and it worked.
Overall, I recommend the thermostat.