MovieChat Forums > 247°F (2011) Discussion > Why didn't they...

Why didn't they...

posted 12 years ago by stdragon
7 replies | jump to latest

Break the thermostat? There's no such thing as a heating control system that says "Oh, there's no thermostat attached, I better switch on 100% heat!!" No signal = no functionality one way or the other. That would have been the easy way out.

Plus, when they decided to break the window, the guy knew that would make the heater run continuously due to the cool air tricking the thermostat. So at THAT point they could have tried disconnecting the thermostat with nothing to lose.

I enjoyed the movie though. It reminds me of Open Water and Open Water 2. One bad decision or moment of bad luck and a seemingly innocent situation turns deadly.

[–] zyphic 12 years ago

Incorrect. The main thermostat (where the sauna temp is set) can operate independently of the attached interior themostat (which I'll call 'sensor' herein for easier distinction).

The temperature "sensor", as it were, is actually a 12V (or 24V) DC current fed switch. When the mercury/expansion coil inside it heats up enough it pushes a microswitch that changes ON to OFF or OFF to ON.

COULD the broken sensor have possibly turned the unit on full blast?

Yes. Especially since it was a home-build the default or "switch failure position" could have been ON. NORMALLY this would not be the case but it is possible as an oversight during installation.

The solution? If the thing goes full blast with the sensor broken then just bridge the wires. IF no current = ON then Full current will = OFF.

As a side note I liked how believable the logistics were in this film though. Not everybody knows how a sensor switch works. It feels almost to me that this film was based on a freak accident as all the details were really thought through.

[–] roy2k 12 years ago

Its not that they didn't think of it. The guy said he didn't know what would happen if they did and didn't think it was a good idea to do it.

If you want to reply to the OP, please go back to the OP's message to Reply, thanks!

[–] ramieldy 11 years ago

I was just about to say that. I watched this flick yesterday (the rating is pretty sucky. I gave it a 6 (mostly because budget was small and main character annoyed me).

One of the characters (very intelligent) trys his best to comprehend the situation and analyze possible solutions. He brings up ALL the possible outcomes of messing with the thermstat.

[–] achoip 12 years ago

I had two issues with the breaking of the window:

1) He goes through all the trouble of cooling off the stone so he doesn't burn himself, then bloodies up his hand taking out the window. Why didn't he just wrap that cloth around his hand first?

2) If that sensor controls the heater, why not scoop a few more stones into the bucket, then use the cloth to string up the bucket next to the sensor? If you replenish the stones ever so often, the room will cool down, but the stones should maintain a lot of their heat. This would trick the thermostat into thinking it's still essentially the same temperature.

Lisa needs braces. Dental Plan!
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Can't sleep. Clown'll eat me.

[–] PreachCaleb 11 years ago

If I'm ever trapped in a sauna, I'm bringing you with me.

Straightedge means I'm better than you.

[–] strahd9 11 years ago

Great point with the 1st one Acholp. That is what had me scratching my head. I figured he would wrap the rock up ala Full Metal Jacket when they have the soap in the sock to wail on "Private Pyle". It'd give you much more momentum and with it being in the towel it should be secured from flying out.

drew

I'm a person just like you
But I've got better things to do
- Minor Threat

[–] toadtje 11 years ago

In the actual events this movie is based on, they actually managed to break the termostat so that the heat was turned off. They had to endure 10 hours of falling temperatures before they were found, but they were all alive. They took some artistic liberties with this movie of course, but in real life, it worked for them to disconnect it.

But all in all a fairly mediocre movie. Lovely girls, terrible acting. Too bad they couldnt have done this with some actors who COULD ACT a bit. Then it would score much higher.