wifi thermostats

deek

Hi All

Im away from home a lot...like 8 months a year, and I would love to monitor and control temperatures remotely.  I know internet linked devices are out there but are they any good?  Are there any manufacturers you guys recommend for reliability and ease of set up?  I have a renter in a basement suit and I live upstairs.  It is a hydronic system with a fan coil up and baseboards down.  DHW is indirect on priority.

Thanks in advance.

Derek

Empire_2

Derek

They are out there and although I have not yet installed them, but I hear they are the cats meow.  Also get yourself an add on for the basement to monitor the temps if you wish.





Mike T.

deek

internet controls

Can anyone list a few brands so I can do a little internet homework on my own?  It sounds interesting but i wonder if the technology is there yet...

Cheers

Derek

Dave H_2

WiFi Stats

I have used one myself and it worked great for controlling the one air system installed - cooling and heating. Made by Radio Thermostat of America http://www.radiothermostat.com/



Others I know but have not used yet and dying to try;

The Nest http://www.nest.com/

EcoBee http://www.ecobee.com/



And they all have iphone apps



DaveH.

John Mills_5

Honeywell

With the separate internet gateway, the wireless Focus Pro kit, a Prestige or Prestige IAQ will connect to the internet. Coming in the future for lots less money is a WiFi regular Vision Pro. None of our suppliers have it yet. Ecobee is another popular system. Venstar who makes many of Carrier's stats, has a nice internet capable stat. 

NYCLandlord

Lowes

Either Lowes or HD has the HOMELINK or something like that which allows you to monitor or control thermostat, door lock, lights, etc..over the internet.  It requires internet service, monthly charge and the units that work with it isnt cheap.

Tim Potter

Bay Web

The technology is definitely here now,

If you have wired internet available, look at BayWeb, although their tech service people could probably get you hooked up on wifi.



http://www.bayweb.com/mktg/webthermostat.php



I have 3 units working in 3 Houses, they work great.



The aux input / email alert feature saved me from a frozen house & pipes when my boiler control failed.



The occupancy feature doubles as a burglar alarm, very slick



oh ya, there is NO monthly fee either.



DIYCONTROLS seems to have the lowest price http://www.diycontrols.com/search.aspx?searchterm=bayweb





Tim

Wayco Wayne_2

Honeywell.

I've been installing the new Honeywell 8000 wifi tstat. It's been working well on a few jobs, but.... I decided to put 5 in a small commercial building so I could monitor the temps and they could not connect with the wifi, and disrupted the customers service. Their Wifi wouldnt work until I disabled the eifi feature. I need to call Honeywell and see what could be up but havent had the time yet.

SWEI

WiFi interference

Stat is probably on or adjacent to the WiFi channel in use for the data network.  Scan with a spectrum analyzer before you stomp on anything else.

Wayco Wayne_2

Spectrum analyzer.

What be dat? Where can I get one? Lead me to an understanding Obiwan Kenobi.

SWEI

spectrum analysis

Any tech who regularly works with wireless data should have something like akin to one of these in his toolkit

http://www.ubnt.com/airview

http://www.metageek.net/

Instrumentation grade stuff runs 10-50x those prices.



I'm not familiar with the VP8000.  Does it join an existing WiFi network as a client (station mode) or does it act as an AP?  If it's joining the existing network, you wouldn't be choosing a channel.  If it's acting as an AP, you will have some way to pick a channel.  If you have a choice between the two, let it be a client to the existing AP.  To avoid interference, you can only have three channels in use (1/6/11 or 2/7/12) at the same time.  A spectrum analyzer (or a site survey tool offered on better WiFi hardware) will allow you to listen to all channels and let you know what networks are in use on what channels at what relative signal strengths.)



If you have an Android-based smartphone or tablet, you can try this https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farproc.wifi.analyzer

Rob Blair

Initernet based thermostat overshooting

Installed 6 Bayweb thermostats two seasons ago and they are overshooting temps.  The three in the basement seem to manage the concrete zones fine but the upstairs cannot hold the temperature (HTP below the floor).  Found out that they work on a 1 degree differential (on/off) and that does not seem to do well.

Any internet based thermostats that have some good anticipation for radiant floors?

Thanks,

Rob Blair

astoria2013

Venstar

I have tried and installed every different wireless, wired, touchscreen, etc.. thermostat and hands down I would install a Venstar T5800 with the wifi key.  I can monitor with my iphone, turn heat/ac up/down, monitor usage, it will send me alerts if someone touches it (kids), and more.  Super easy installation and it looks ten times better than any thermostat on the markey.  And its not super expensive.  Just my opinion.

Rob Blair

but have you used them for radiant floor? ntxt

ntxt

RLM

Honeywell's wifi choices

Honeywell offers two approaches, the TH8320WF1029 and the Red Link equipment. Both are hosted by Honeywell's Total Connect Comfort website at no cost. The H8320WF1029 is a drop-in replacement for a conventional thermostat with one catch: an additional wire, called the “C” wire is needed, because the thermostat is powered by the control system transformer instead of batteries. I installed one for a zone of a hydronic system; it works well. Note, that for a typical hydronic system thermostat only two wires will be available and the C wire would need to be installed; it is connected to the COM terminal of the transformer’s secondary (24 VAC) side. For a typical furnace with air-conditioning, the C wire is likely to be available, but may not be connected. Honeywell's videos are good for homeowners with furnaces, but don't address typical hydronic systems very well.

The other wifi approach is Honeywell’s Red Link control equipment.  It is more “commercial strength” and requires additional components (EIN, RIG, etc). However, it can be combined with other manufacturers' Red Link equipment on the same network. In one residence, I recently installed four Mitsubishi ductless heat pumps with Red Link control equipment in conjunction with Honeywell Focus Pro thermostats controlling three zones of hydronic panel radiators. All are remotely accessible via Total Connect Comfort. In addition, the iPhone app for Total Connect Comfort works fine- I can control any of these systems from practically anywhere.

Bob Morrison

October Engineering

Sudbury, MA

GusHerb

Using

All three, the WiFi Focus and Vision Pro, and the Prestige with RedLink gateway.



They all work very well and it's nice having control of everything from the app, which they recently just updated so you can now program the thermostat from your mobile device. Only thing I wish the app would have is operating status indicators. Nest had that and I liked it alot.