220 VAC dryer monitoring

Is there a thermometer with a remote probe that could be used with my dryer vent? It seems like a simpler option to directly monitor the heat output of the dryer rather than trying to deal with high amperage AC power. I suppose another option would be to mount a vibration monitor on the dryer. Any other ideas to trigger the exhaust fan ?

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I use a Third reality vibration sensor on my dryer to detect when the cycle is done. It works great 98% of the time. I am sure something like that would work for turning on the exhaust fan.

I have my exhaust fan in two different rules. One turning it on when the door shuts. The second using a humidity sensor that says when humidity is a certain % higher here than the other end of the house turn on the fan. Don't know if that would work for you.

@kanewolf

Honestly it's very safe to use an induction clamp and iotawatt. It's reliable and easy and local. It uses clamps similar to this. They just go around what ever wire is connected to the breaker. You don't need an electrician to install as long as your thumb and forefinger work to open it.

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I went with the vibration sensor, and it works perfectly. Been using it for several years now and never had an issue. Much cheaper and easier to maintain, IMO. Our dryer is about 8 to 10 years old now, so maybe newer dryers may not vibrate enough, but for ours it works well.

How has battery life been? I was thinking that the continuous vibration reporting might kill batteries pretty quick.

I am using a SmartThings Multipurpose sensor which uses CR2450s, Just changed the battery on Jan 7 and it had lasted 11 months, the one before that was 12.

Isn't it worth mentioning that this solution will set you back $389 or am I missing something?

Price wasn't mentioned. That said for active line monitoring,. not much beats it

If we're putting all solutions on the table .. I put an old Amazon Echo from my junk box in the laundry room and set up an Alexa routine to have her listen for appliance beeps. Yes, that's a cloud dependency and sometimes Alexa can be a beyotch but it works sufficiently for my purposes.

mine does not beep and i have tried vibration sensors in two house neither vibrated enough to be reliable.. hence the aeon above.

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I also chose energy monitoring. But with a different Aeotec device. Here's what I use:

Works perfectly for 3-wire and 4-wire 240V dryer installations.

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I tried putting a Third Reality vibration sensor on my relatively new LG dryer. It is so quiet that the vibration sensor never triggers.

There are probably others, but a Fibaro Smart Implant could do this with a one wire DS18B20 sensor. The SI has to be powered though, with 24vdc as I recall.

My new LG Combo has WiFi.

This was my choice after vibration was too inconsistent.

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I played around with this a bit, as we have a Echo device in our laundry room. Our dryer plays a little tune and Alexa doesn't accept that apparently.

Curious, how did you hook it up?

It seems to have the potential for a more complex, if not invasive, install compared with the CT clamps.

My dryer has lights on while it is operating. One of these would report when the lights are on and when they are off:

That said, if you have a dryer with a vent, you are already taking air from your house that you have paid to condition, pulling it into the dryer and exhausting the air, thereby causing negative pressure in your house and requiring the house to pull in makeup air from somewhere else. Why would you also add turning on an exhaust fan to remove more air???

It goes in the middle of the dryer cord. Depending on how long your cord is the easiest way may be to buy a second cord. One in and one out. Works perfectly every time.

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