Question about the Temperature Guard VM500-3 Remote Access Monitor
Q; "We live in northern Minnesota and spend part of the winter in Arizona. We'd like to know if our furnace fails to maintain the 62 degrees F temperature we've set. How complicated is it to install a Temperature Guard VM500-3? This has been an especially brutal winter. Our son would install it for us since we are now in Arizona. Thanks. Dave
Answer: Installation is really simple. What I have done is added a list of the most frequently asked questions about this product. Not only is your home monitored but also you can phone your home or business any time of day or night and get the current temperature and power status. All this and no monthly monitoring fees! Recently, the more popular of the Temperature Guard products have been the Temperature Guard VM500-3-30 Remote Access Monitor with a 30 hour battery back-up and the Temperature Guard w/Humidity Sensor/ Dial Out Alerts, the VM-500-3HT
These are the Most Frequently Asked Questions/Instructions about the VM-500-3 Temperature and Power Monitors
Use with DSL, i.e. you do not have a land phone line in your home.
If your home has DSL, you must use a DSL filter with your VM500-3. This filter is included with each unit.
Use on a Digital Business Phone System: All Temperature Guard products require an analog phone line. Most digital phone system manufacturers offer digital to analog converters that you can use to connect a Temperature Guard to your digital phone system. Temperature Guard products can share an analog fax line
How to set up the Temperature Guard
1) Locate the Temperature Guard (TG) in the area where you want the temperature monitored
2) Plug in the phone line and power pack and then turn the Temperature Guard unit on.
3) Call the Temperature Guard from another phone, or cell phone.
4) Follow the spoken instructions and the manual to program at least the following items:
The phone number(s) where you want the TG to call you in case of emergencies.
The upper and lower temperature limits.
5) Hang up by pressing the "0" key until the TG says "Good-bye".
6) That's it. The TG is now monitoring your home or business!
What happens when the temperature goes out of programmed limits?
1) The TG begins to make emergency phone calls starting with the primary phone number.
2) If a person or answering machine answers the phone at the primary phone number, then the TG will say, "Warning the temperature is xx degrees. Please enter you PIN number." xx is the temperature in degrees F. If an answering machine answers, the TG will wait until your greeting message is over, and then it will leave the "Warning..." message.
3) The TG will wait for a valid PIN number.
4) If a valid PIN number is entered, then the TG will stop making emergency phone calls.
5) If a valid PIN number is not entered or an answering machine answers, then the TG will continue making emergency phone calls with the second programmed phone number.
6) Once all the programmed phone numbers have been called the TG will wait twenty minutes and begin making phone calls starting with the primary number.
7) Steps 1) through 6) are repeated until someone enters a valid PIN number or the temperature goes back to within limits.
8) If a new alarm condition occurs, steps 1 through 7 are repeated again.
Can a Temperature Guard and an answering machine share the same line?
Yes, most answering machines answer the phone on the 4th ring. To have the answering machine answer the phone, program the Temperature Guard to answer the phone on the 5th ring. To access the Temperature Guard, call your home and let the phone ring 3 times. Hang up and wait 20 seconds. Call your home again and on the 2nd ring the Temperature Guard will answer.
Storage Instructions: What do I need to do to store my unit when I am not going to use it for a long time?
Make sure you turn off your unit for storage. When you are ready to use it again, plug it in a few days before you need it to allow the battery to fully charge.
Using a Temperature Guard after storage: Charge the battery prior to leaving your home or business. Allow several days to charge after plugging the unit into AC power.
Restting the Maximum and Minimum Temperature Limits: To reset all max and min values on your unit, press 9 at the main menu. This option is NOT spoken. Pressing 9 will set the max and min readings to the current temperature (and current relative humidity on models equipped with humidity sensing).
Note: after pressing 9 you will be immediately returned to the main menu. Press 1 to hear the current status of temperature, humidity (if equipped) and power. The temperature and humidity high and low readings will be the same.
I hope this information has helped. Installing a Temperature Guard is one of the least expensive home disaster prevention devices available.
Thank you for your question.
Sincerely,
Barbara