Weather Temp App for My Cat

SmartApps & Automations
1

I currently have a Vera and I’m trying to convert to Smartthings. I have an outdoor cat using a shelter with a heating pad that turns on and off depending on the current temperature. I’m trying to find an app (like the one I use on my Vera) that gives me current temperature from the Wunderground Weather or reporting agency. I like the system because it doesn’t need a sensor and it is accurate enough (I don’t need precise temp monitoring) to do the job.

My cat and I appreciate any help.

2

There is a smart weather tile you can install.Not sure if you can install from mobile app, but, you can install it from the IDE it’s called the SmartWeather Station Tile

3 Likes
3

I use a multisensor to get the local temp; but cannot find anyway to use the temp as a trigger to turn a switch on or off???

4

Have you tried the Virtual Thermostat smartapp?

5

Hey Ernie - Thanks for the great tip.

I just installed the app and am trying to figure it out. The main parameters are ‘select the desired temp’ ,and 'never go below (temp).

EDIT 1: Seems my multisensor only updates once an hour (go figure). Looking at the code for the virtual thermostat it seems I just need to enter the “desired temperature” in the “heater” mode to achieve the desired result (turn on a switch when the temp goes below 60f). Now I will wait and see.

EDIT 2: Hey it works! After waiting for the sensor to update, the switch turned on as expected.

Thanks very much for the help, I really appreciate it.

Shawn

PS. For the OP, I too am switching on kitty bed heaters (four of them no less). We’re on a one acre lot with mutliple rescued cats, so this is a real time saver as compared to marching around in the rain and cold to switch heaters on and off manually. Thanks for getting the post going.

6

Unless I’m missing something that app requires a sensor. But thanks anyway Kevin.

7

If you have created the SmartWeather Station Tile it will show up as a sensor in Virtual Thermostat.

1 Like
8

the only thing you have to do is go into the preferences and set a zip code and the click the refresh button

9

Got it working! Thanks Kevin. Now I just want to see if I can get a controller to update it a little more often.

10

If you modify the SmartWeather Station Tile code to include the capability “polling” or “refresh” it would allow you to use the Pollster app. Alternatively, I use Tasker and Sharptools to poll the weather tile due to issues with Pollster dying.

1 Like