switching relays/ Taco vs Caleffi vs?

seeking_quality

Dear Gurus,
We are updating an old job.
Existing: Taco Switching Relay: SR506-4
Thinking of using instead: Caleffi Zone Relay: CZVR106

Have people had good experiences with the Caleffi Zone Relays? If you have any wisdom to share, we would love to hear it. Are any other products more reliable/higher quality?

Rich_49

Why would you replace a circ relay with a zone valve relay ?

Alan (California Radiant) Forbes

Both manufacturers are top quality. I’m being picky when I say the line voltage screw terminals on Taco controls are beefier and less likely to strip. 

hot_rod

We polled a lot of contractors when we built the Caleffi zone panels. Here is their top list of wants.

Larger enclosure for ease of routing wires
No wire nuts required on the line voltage
Transformers plug in and are circuit breaker, self resetting protected
The switching relays now have 40 Va transformers
R, W, and C connections for the thermostats
Post purge, pump exercise every 72 hours
Enough screw connections for L, W, and ground wires
Indicator lights on the front
Can daisy chain multiple boxes with 3 wire thermostat wire, box 1, zone 1 is always priority
Priority is always relay 1
Three sets of TT connections, one dedicated to relay 1, always
ZVR is for zone valves
ZSR is for switching pumps

The single switching relay fits on a 4 square box metal box.

GroundUp

I don't care for the Caleffi ZSR one bit. I primarily use Azel now for switching relays, but I like how robust the Taco's terminals are. Their internal space on the other hand, not so much.

seeking_quality

Thank you all! You guys rock.

Joe Mattiello

why are you thinking of replacing Taco SR control? it's a great product, and facilitator. are you experiencing any issues? If you need tech support, you can contact taco at 401-942-8000 and ask for tech support.

seeking_quality

Joe, the Taco panel failed after 10 years or so... no longer outputting 24V... that's ok, no equipment lives forever.

seeking_quality

We got the Caleffi Zone Relay: CZVR106, and installed it yesterday. Seems like a great, well thought out product so far. Does anyone have any opinion about powering it via a UPS (universal power supply) to protect it and all the thermostats from power blips, outages which last about a second or so before the generator kicks on? Seems like a good idea to me, just wondering what the experts think.

Robert_25

You can wire in a UPS if you want, but in my experience the internet modem & wireless router take longer to reboot than the smart thermostats. If you are mainly concerned about surge protection, they do make HVAC surge protectors that you can easily wire in at a junction.

https://www.supplyhouse.com/A-C-Disconnects-19150000

*I have a small UPS that gives me 4+ hours of internet in a localized power outage, and also prevents us from waiting for the WI-FI to come back up after a short power blip.

EdTheHeaterMan

switching relays/ Taco vs Caleffi vs?

Sounds like Saturday Night Smack Down where @hot_rod in the Caleffi boxer shorts is sized up against @Joe Mattiello in the Green Taco tights... and Joe got a late Start in offering a replacement transformer idea to get the original Taco operational.

Looks like @hot_rod wins after just one round in the ring.

Some folks just don't think it through. A complete control were a replacement transformer will do just fine.