diff --git a/dev/admin.htm b/dev/admin.htm
index 3dc024f..2ef3c8b 100644
--- a/dev/admin.htm
+++ b/dev/admin.htm
@@ -6,14 +6,13 @@ function status(msg) {
   document.getElementById('status').textContent = msg
 }
 async function queryParams() {
-  const req = await fetch('/api/params')
-  const json = await req.json()
+  const resp = await fetch('/api/params')
   //console.log(json)
   //console.log(Object.keys(json))
-  if (!req.ok) {
+  if (!resp.ok) {
     var err_msg = null
-    if (req.body != null) {
-      err_msg = await req.text()
+    if (resp.body != null) {
+      err_msg = await resp.text()
     }
     if (err_msg != null) {
       status("query failed: " + resp.status + " " + err_msg)
@@ -21,6 +20,7 @@ async function queryParams() {
       status("query failed: " + resp.status)
     }
   }
+  const json = await resp.json()
   status('parameter query successful!')
   const paramList = document.getElementById('param-list')
   while (paramList.firstChild) {
@@ -43,12 +43,10 @@ async function setParam(auth, name, value) {
       }
     }
   })
-  console.log('set param fetch pre')
   const resp = await fetch('/api/admin', {
     method: 'POST',
     body: msg
   })
-  console.log('set param fetch post')
   if (!resp.ok) {
     var err_msg = null
     if (resp.body != null) {
@@ -65,6 +63,78 @@ async function setParam(auth, name, value) {
   }
 }
 
+var manual_mode = false
+var manual_loop_running = false
+const sleep = (ms) => new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, ms))
+async function manualModeLoop(auth) {
+  if (manual_loop_running) return
+  manual_loop_running = true
+  try {
+    while (manual_mode) {
+      await sleep(60*1000)
+      if (manual_mode) await manualMode(auth, manual_mode)
+    }
+  } finally {
+    manual_loop_running = false
+  }
+}
+async function manualMode(auth, on) {
+  const msg = JSON.stringify({
+    auth: auth,
+    data: {
+      manual_mode: on
+    }
+  })
+  const resp = await fetch('/api/admin', {
+    method: 'POST',
+    body: msg
+  })
+  if (!resp.ok) {
+    var err_msg = null
+    if (resp.body != null) {
+      err_msg = await resp.text()
+    }
+    if (err_msg != null) {
+      status("manual mode set failed: " + resp.status + " " + err_msg)
+    } else {
+      status("manual mode set failed: " + resp.status)
+    }
+  } else {
+    status("manual mode set successful!")
+    manual_mode = on
+    if (manual_mode) {
+      manualModeLoop(auth)
+    }
+    //await queryParams()
+  }
+}
+
+async function manualHumidifier(auth, on) {
+  const msg = JSON.stringify({
+    auth: auth,
+    data: {
+      manual_mode_on: on
+    }
+  })
+  const resp = await fetch('/api/admin', {
+    method: 'POST',
+    body: msg
+  })
+  if (!resp.ok) {
+    var err_msg = null
+    if (resp.body != null) {
+      err_msg = await resp.text()
+    }
+    if (err_msg != null) {
+      status("manual hum set failed: " + resp.status + " " + err_msg)
+    } else {
+      status("manual hum set failed: " + resp.status)
+    }
+  } else {
+    status("manual hum set successful!")
+  }
+}
+
 window.onload = () => {
   document.getElementById('query-params').addEventListener('click', (e) => {
     queryParams()
@@ -80,6 +150,17 @@ window.onload = () => {
     }
     setParam(auth, name, value)
   })
+
+  document.getElementById('manual-mode').addEventListener('click', (e) => {
+    const auth = document.getElementById('password').value
+    const on = document.getElementById('manual-mode').checked
+    manualMode(auth, on)
+  })
+  document.getElementById('manual-on').addEventListener('click', (e) => {
+    const auth = document.getElementById('password').value
+    const on = document.getElementById('manual-on').checked
+    manualHumidifier(auth, on)
+  })
 }
     </script>
   </head>
@@ -104,6 +185,11 @@ window.onload = () => {
         <input id=value type=text></input><br />
         <input id=set-param type=button value="Set parameter"></input><br />
       </fieldset>
+      <fieldset>
+        <legend>Manual mode</legend>
+        <input id=manual-mode type=checkbox></input><label for=manual-mode>manual mode</label><br />
+        <input id=manual-on type=checkbox></input><label for=manual-on>humidifier on</label><br />
+      </fieldset>
     </form>
   </body>
 </html>
diff --git a/shroom_controller.py b/shroom_controller.py
index 2a4fda4..f1a3f41 100644
--- a/shroom_controller.py
+++ b/shroom_controller.py
@@ -77,10 +77,24 @@ class Humidifier:
     self.on_threshold = 2.6
     self.toggle_cooldown = 7
 
-    self.on = False
+    self._on = False
     self.history = np.zeros(10)
     self.switch_timeout = 0
 
+  @property
+  def on(self):
+    return self._on
+
+  @on.setter
+  def on(self, nv):
+    old_on = self._on
+    self._on = nv
+    if nv:
+      print("send hum on")
+    else:
+      print("send hum off")
+    send_update({"status": {"humidifier": nv}})
+
   @property
   def off(self):
     return not self.on
@@ -93,14 +107,10 @@ class Humidifier:
     if self.on:
       if avg < self.off_threshold:
         self.on = False
-        print("send status off")
-        send_update({"status": {"humidifier": False}})
         self.switch_timeout = time.time() + 1
     else:
       if avg > self.on_threshold:
         self.on = True
-        print("send status on")
-        send_update({"status": {"humidifier": True}})
         self.switch_timeout = time.time() + 1
 
   def toggle(self, s):
@@ -114,7 +124,7 @@ class Controller:
     self.target_upper = 0.90
     self.feedforward_coeff = 50
 
-    self.manual_mode = False
+    self._manual_mode = False
     self.manual_on = False
     self.manual_timeout = 0
     self.manual_duration = 120
@@ -122,6 +132,15 @@ class Controller:
     self.humidifier_history = np.zeros(30)
     self.first_sample = False
 
+  @property
+  def manual_mode(self):
+    return self._manual_mode
+
+  @manual_mode.setter
+  def manual_mode(self, on):
+    self._manual_mode = on
+    send_update({"status": {"manual_mode": on}})
+
   def update(self, humidifier, humidity):
     if self.first_sample:
       self.humidifier_history[:] = humidity
@@ -141,7 +160,7 @@ class Controller:
     if self.manual_mode:
       if humidifier.off and self.manual_on:
         humidifier.toggle(s)
-      elif humdifier.on and not self.manual_on:
+      elif humidifier.on and not self.manual_on:
         humidifier.toggle(s)
     else:
       if comp_humidity < self.target_lower and humidifier.off:
diff --git a/shroom_internals/tcp_server.go b/shroom_internals/tcp_server.go
index c5873a5..37aff87 100644
--- a/shroom_internals/tcp_server.go
+++ b/shroom_internals/tcp_server.go
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ type ShroomPacket struct {
 type ShroomState struct {
 	sync.RWMutex
 	HumidifierOn   bool
+	ManualMode     bool
 	NumConnections int
 
 	Params     map[string]float32
@@ -162,10 +163,12 @@ func parseMsg(line []byte, db *sql.DB, state *ShroomState) {
 	} else if packet.Status != nil {
 		//log.Println("received status ", data.Status)
 		state.Lock()
-		// TODO change to have more detailed data
 		if packet.Status.HumOn != nil {
 			state.HumidifierOn = *packet.Status.HumOn
 		}
+		if packet.Status.ManualMode != nil {
+			state.ManualMode = *packet.Status.ManualMode
+		}
 		state.Unlock()
 		state.StatusUpdate()
 	} else if packet.Params != nil {
diff --git a/shroom_server.go b/shroom_server.go
index feb918c..4c6a7ed 100644
--- a/shroom_server.go
+++ b/shroom_server.go
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ var content embed.FS
 type statusJson struct {
 	Connected  bool `json:"connected"`
 	Humidifier bool `json:"humidifier"`
+	ManualMode bool `json:"manual_mode"`
 }
 
 type adminMsg struct {
@@ -103,10 +104,12 @@ func main() {
 		state.RLock()
 		num_connections := state.NumConnections
 		humidifier := state.HumidifierOn
+		manual_mode := state.ManualMode
 		state.RUnlock()
 		s := statusJson{
 			Connected:  num_connections > 0,
 			Humidifier: humidifier,
+			ManualMode: manual_mode,
 		}
 		msg, err := json.Marshal(s)
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/static/index.js b/static/index.js
index 82e0562..08912a1 100644
--- a/static/index.js
+++ b/static/index.js
@@ -155,9 +155,7 @@ async function updateCharts() {
   }
 
   if (autoupdate) {
-    chart_updater = chartupdater()
-  } else {
-    chart_updater = null
+    chartupdater()
   }
 }
 
@@ -165,36 +163,49 @@ const sleep = (ms) => new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, ms))
 var chart_update_millis = 2000
 
 async function chartupdater() {
-  if (chart_updater != null) return
+  if (chart_updater) return
+  chart_updater = true
 
-  await sleep(chart_update_millis)
-  // wait at least two seconds to avoid wasting a lot of bandwidth
-  const resp = await fetch("/api/update")
-  chart_updater = null
-  updateCharts()
+  try {
+    while (autoupdate) {
+      await sleep(chart_update_millis)
+      // wait at least two seconds to avoid wasting a lot of bandwidth
+      const resp = await fetch("/api/update")
+      updateCharts()
+    }
+  } finally {
+    chart_updater = false
+  }
 }
 
-var status_updater = null 
+var status_updater = false
 async function updateStatus() {
   const status_resp = await fetch("/api/status")
   const status = await status_resp.json()
   //console.log(status)
   const humidifier_state = (status.humidifier ? "on" : "off")
+  const manual_mode_state = (status.manual_mode ? "on" : "off")
   //console.log(humidifier_state)
-  document.getElementById("device-status").textContent = "connected: " + status.connected + ", humidifier: " + humidifier_state
+  document.getElementById("device-status").textContent = "connected: " +
+    status.connected + ", manual mode: " + manual_mode_state + ", humidifier: "
+    + humidifier_state
 
   if (autoupdate) {
-    status_updater = waitThenUpdateStatus()
-  } else {
-    status_updater = null
+    waitThenUpdateStatus()
   }
 }
 
 async function waitThenUpdateStatus() {
-  if (status_updater != null) return
-  await fetch("/api/status_update")
-  status_updater = null
-  updateStatus()
+  if (status_updater) return
+  status_updater = true
+  try {
+    while (autoupdate) {
+      await fetch("/api/status_update")
+      updateStatus()
+    }
+  } finally {
+    status_updater = false
+  }
 }
 
 async function testAdminMode() {