Radiant system controlled by app? Feasible/worth it?

WillC

Hi,

Building a new house with some ROTH panels.

Working with a seller that does not offer app controlled radiant floor. I am trying to come up with a design that would allow to be app controlled. I found a company called Loxone https://loxone.com/enus/products/room-climate/ they offer that option but I have never seen anyone using their system or controlling the heat via an app.

Current no app design proposed:
Combi ELU-199WC with Outdoor reset https://htproducts.com/literature/mktlit-97.pdf">https://htproducts.com/literature/mktlit-97.pdf

Circulator control SP-83 https://azelcontrols.com/store/sp-83-3-zone-pump-circulator-control-switching-relay-with-priority-for-hydronic-radiant-floor-heating-systems.html

Valve control SZ-V4 https://azelcontrols.com/store/sz-v4-i-link-4-zone-valve-control-for-hydronic-radiant-floor-heating-systems.html

Thermostat Honeywell TH1010D2000 https://honeywellhome.com/us/en/products/air/thermostats/non-programmable-thermostats/t1-pro-non-programmable-thermostat-24-vac-th1010d2000-u/

and some 24v valve actuators.

The app controlled system would look like this:

The valve controlled SZ-V4 would be replaced by their miniserver https://shop.loxone.com/enus/miniserver-gen-1.html, a temperature sensor per room and the valves by their valve actuators https://shop.loxone.com/enus/valve-actuator-air.html


Anyone of you has some experience with this type of design and could share their experience on how to design a good system so I do not run into some issues in the future?

Cheers.

Jamie Hall

Sure it's feasible -- but do you want to do it? Remember that radiant floors are not intended to be ramped up and down or use any setbacks at all -- they work best when left at a constant temperature to offset the space losses.

If you feel a need to run the temperature up and down and use setbacks and all, you will be much better served with something like copper finned baseboards or lightweight panel radiators, which can respond much faster.

Zman

If you are going to an app based radiant setup, just go with Tekmar. They have precanned solutions for this. https://www.watts.com/our-story/brands/tekmar?utm_source=PrevSite&utm_medium=Redirect&utm_campaign=tekmarsiteupdate

hot_rod

Or some ecobee thermostats

WillC

Thanks for the answers. How would the ecobee control the system, I thought I would have to replace the valve actuators by some that can be controlled by an electronic device?

Jamie Hall

You'll have to use relays for almost any control device, unless it has a 120 volt switched output. You'll usually need a power supply (24 VAC), the thermostat or other device, and an isolating relay switching the 120 volts for the actuators -- unless they are already 24 VZC, in which case the 24 VAC power supply, if it's big enough (watch your volt amperes) to handle the load -- but you'll still need relays.