I bought a Synchrolinc with the intent of building a notification system for when our washing machine is done it's cycle. I figured it would be pretty easy, since the last thing it does is spin (which I assume uses the most current) and then stops, so if I could calibrate it to detect only that spin cycle, then set a trigger for when it 'shuts off' I'd be in business.
The biggest problem is the clunky calibration method on these things. Basically, you press the button once to set its 'low current' setting, and once more to set its 'high current' setting. The problems are that it wants to you to get the appliance to that state for 10 sec, and then hit the button (which is difficult because a) the button is behind the washing machine and I can barely reach it, and b) the washing machine changes state a lot as its setting up to spin - front loader so it does a lot of little half-starts as it tries to balance the load).
I think I get it set up, but then it still goes on and off countless times in each load. It's very frustrating.
Smarthome says it can be calibrated numerically using the HouseLinc software which I have no other use for, and is only for Windows.
Anybody know any other ways I can get this done?