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Dual zone t stat?

bhilton
bhilton Member Posts: 54
in THE MAIN WALL
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!

Comments

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,889
    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.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    Solid_Fuel_Man
  • nicholas bonham-carter
    nicholas bonham-carter Member Posts: 8,578
    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
    bhilton Member Posts: 54
    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
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,889
    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...
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • John Mills_5
    John Mills_5 Member Posts: 952
    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
    Solid_Fuel_Man Member Posts: 2,646
    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.
    Serving Northern Maine HVAC & Controls. I burn wood, it smells good!
  • ratio
    ratio Member Posts: 3,733
    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.

    Solid_Fuel_Man
  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 5,971
    > @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
    ratio Member Posts: 3,733
    Nah, you only need that if you want temporal feedback in the loop.
    Solid_Fuel_Man
  • Solid_Fuel_Man
    Solid_Fuel_Man Member Posts: 2,646
    And 1.21 "jig-a-watts"
    Serving Northern Maine HVAC & Controls. I burn wood, it smells good!
  • bhilton
    bhilton Member Posts: 54
    Solid_Fuel_Man said:

    And 1.21 "jig-a-watts"

    Great Scott!!
    Solid_Fuel_Man
  • bhilton
    bhilton Member Posts: 54
    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.

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