4-way / 3-way valve control

Ken Mac

I see Tekmar have some mixing controls around 300$ but again, pricy even compared to the Taco I series by the time you add a valve and actuator.

Ken Mac

Controllers

Been having a tough time finding outdoor reset controllers just to run one of these valves. The Taco I-series is out there but its pretty pricing considering what the electronics are doing. Any other options? I've muddled through honeywell's site but didn't find any thing simple like they offer in europe.

Used to be all kinds of this type of valve just using a sensing bulb placed outside back a long time ago.

Paul Pollets

Controls

Tekmar has the largest selection of after-market controls to run 4 way or 3 way mixing valves. The control selection will depend on what else you want the control to do.

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jp_2

$$$$

I really do not see the Iseries as expensive?

with a small modification it can also do room adjustments when you are feeling under the weather and like it a bit warmer.

are you looking for something in the range of $20.00?

you can also build your own if the electronics are that simple?

Ken Mac

I could build my own, but I need the next guy to be able to replace it if it stops working. In europe where these things are more common its a 100$ or so. Its just a PID controller setup with a couple of inputs.

I don't need all the boiler controls a 1000$ Tekmar gives me.

If I have 3 zones each needing an independant mix temp I'd have 900$ into Taco I series. That doesn't fly over the cheaper but less comfortable choice of pump zoning on a thermostat with a fixed temp thermostatic 3 way.

I know it is just because we don't have a large install base here yet but I hoped there was something I'm missing.

I would be glad to learn about any I-series mods out there by the way.

Weezbo

just a question for carification...

When you say three temp water requirements ... what are the temps ,size of the load on each and the size of the piping to each?

you may be over engineering the system...

Ken Mac

In more detail, there is a gasifying wood boiler, and 800 gals of storage supplying. Therefore the temp in the "primary" loop varies quite a bit depending on if the storage is charging or if it is being drawn down.

I could use a 3 or 4 way thermostatic to get a steady input temp to the in floor radiant zones and then pump zone them but it will probably result in massive over shoot since the building has a large passive solar gain.

If I provide outside reset I could provide the sensor on the south face in an area which will receive solar gain to mimic the indoor gain and the mix temp would anticipate the drop in gain when the sun goes down.

The other part of this is the second area is a workshop with infrequently opened overhead doors, much less solar gain and a much lower target temp ie prevent freezing.

Both need mixed down for the floor, both are going to have much different reset rates.

The heat loss in the house currently is about 60 kBTU since the window insulation shutters are not installed. The shop is completely dependant on desired temp. Design will be about 40 kBTU but would rise to 80 kBTU if temp was raised or the doors were opened more frequently.

The boiler is 120 kBTU so obviously the shop won't be heated to the norm on the coldest days of the year.

So, I know I don't need outdoor reset but trying to avoid overshoot. The shop could use a slab sensor feedback for setpoint control on the slab but would still require controls. The living area I don't think is going to do well on anything but outdoor reset or an indoor differential controller. It is the lag between sun out to sun down where the rooms temps are dropping fast but a pump zoned heating system on a thermostat doesn't see anything until it drops through the setpoint and then goes mad trying to bring the slab temp way up then overshoots.