Dual zone t stat?

bhilton

Hi everyone, i have in floor radiant heat run by a boiler for main level off slab sensor and forced air furnace for upstairs. No basement.

Whats a good single t stat to connect both systems heat calls to, and where it treats them as two separate zones so i can set each one with separate temps and schedules? Ideally id like a remote wifi temp sensor for the upstairs zone because i the tstat is located on main level for summer time central air conditioning. My current setup is with two tstats where the forced air honeywell has a remote for upstsairs.

Thanks!

Jamie Hall

Since the two types of systems have such radically different needs and behaviours, I'd honestly be very surprised if any one thermostat could manage both. Consider: radiant -- no setbacks, very slow response, best with long or preferably continuous runs with output controlled by mixing valve and outdoor reset. Forced air -- doesn't mind setbacks, very rapid response, works best with frequent short cycles. Couldn't be more different if you tried.

nicholas bonham-carter

If you have radiant floor heat, I would set it and forget it. Setbacks don’t work very well with floor heat, although outdoor reset does.—NBC

bhilton

nicholas bonham-carter said:

If you have radiant floor heat, I would set it and forget it. Setbacks don’t work very well with floor heat, although outdoor reset does.—NBC

Jamie Hall said:

Since the two types of systems have such radically different needs and behaviours, I'd honestly be very surprised if any one thermostat could manage both. Consider: radiant -- no setbacks, very slow response, best with long or preferably continuous runs with output controlled by mixing valve and outdoor reset. Forced air -- doesn't mind setbacks, very rapid response, works best with frequent short cycles. Couldn't be more different if you tried.

Thanks guys! I plan on setting the slab and forgetting it. I am just trying to eliminate having 2 thermostats on the wall, I'd rather have one, and it would be nice if it was accessible from my mobile devices. Of course, with a single t-stat I need all the configurations I mentioned above to be possible.

Jamie Hall

No question it could be done. I can't think of any company which has done it. If, however, you have a nice geeky friend all you need is several thermistors, a few ADC converter chips, an Arduino or similar computer, a wifi interface, and a few drivers and relays...

John Mills_5

I can't think of anything either. Get a good WiFi stat for upstairs. If you want one downstairs, you'll need a common wire so 3 wires from stat to boiler.

Solid_Fuel_Man

The only way I can think is a 2 stage, but I dont know of any which could do what you would like off the shelf. I'd go with two wifi stats.

ratio

The radiant could be controlled by a stat mounted in the boiler room (closet?) with a remote sensor somewhere unobtrusive, and the forced air stat could be mounted on the main floor. A remote could be used with that one too, for that matter.

I like Honeywell RedLINK stats for wireless applications, you can get an internet gateway to allow up to 4 stats (per gateway) internet access. IIRC the Honeywell app has a demo account available.

HVACNUT

> @Jamie Hall said:
> No question it could be done. I can't think of any company which has done it. If, however, you have a nice geeky friend all you need is several thermistors, a few ADC converter chips, an Arduino or similar computer, a wifi interface, and a few drivers and relays...

Are you serious or is it a Flux Capacitor?

ratio

Nah, you only need that if you want temporal feedback in the loop.

Solid_Fuel_Man

And 1.21 "jig-a-watts"

bhilton

Solid_Fuel_Man said:

And 1.21 "jig-a-watts"

Great Scott!!

bhilton

ratio said:

The radiant could be controlled by a stat mounted in the boiler room (closet?) with a remote sensor somewhere unobtrusive, and the forced air stat could be mounted on the main floor. A remote could be used with that one too, for that matter.

I like Honeywell RedLINK stats for wireless applications, you can get an internet gateway to allow up to 4 stats (per gateway) internet access. IIRC the Honeywell app has a demo account available.

Ok, thanks everyone, for now I'll just stick with the Tekmar slab sensor stat and the honeywell on the forced air (with remote) that I have going right now.