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Wifi replacement for aube telephone controller ct240

blaccko
blaccko Member Posts: 12
in Thermostats and Controls

Hello,

I have all m'y thermostats for my heating devices connected to a telephone controller (ct240). The purpose of this controller is to switch between two modes on all my thermostats at once (away or automatic) and to be able to do so remotly by phone.

I would like to replace the ct240 or to add to my system something that would allow me to accomplish the same thing (switch between two modes), but over wifi.

What device would I need?

Thnak you very much in avance,

Comments

  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 10,337
    edited January 27

    You need an internet connection at the property that is reliable for the times that you are away from the property. The new thermostats are connected to a WiFi at the home and your can use the associated App on your smart phone or tablet or computer that has internet access to connect to that WiFi signal. Will that be a problem? I know that some owners of seasonal homes turn off the internet and cable service when they are away for a long time.

    I used to have a customer in Cape May Point, NJ with that same setup. They liked it because the land line telephone was less expensive that leaving the Comcast service on all year.

    You can use any of the WiFi thermostats to control your home HVAC system. You will need a new thermostat for each of the existing thermostats that you currently have. I don't believe there is a single Wifi device that you can connect to your existing thermostats to accomplish your goal. Ecobee, NEST, Honeywell, Amazon, and Google along with several others, have thermostats that you can choose from. You need to know what each thermostat is connected to. If you have TACO 571 Zone Valves, you may need an additional isolation relay for each thermostat in order to get the job done. It can become a real project depending on your system.

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

  • ratio
    ratio Member Posts: 3,945

    I'm unaware of an internet accessible thermostat that can do that specific task across several units at one shot. You might be able to replace just the CT240, depending on how it connects to the other thermostats. If all you need is contact closure to change modes, https://controlbyweb.com/ has a WebRelay that, well, is a relay that is internet-accessable. You could also just use the G terminal on a regular WiFi thermostat, just use the app to turn on the fan to close the contact & switch the system to occupied.

    blaccko
  • blaccko
    blaccko Member Posts: 12

    Hi,

    Thanks a lot. However, I do not wish to change my thermostat. They work well. I just need a wifi switch to replace the ct240…

    The web relay is something I will look into. Have you ever done something like that?

    Thank you,

  • ratio
    ratio Member Posts: 3,945

    Nope, never found a good-enough reason to buy one. They're programmable, so I don't think it's going to be just plug & play, but what you're looking for is pretty simple, I would expect them to have some kind of example program that should work fine for you.

    Again, this is predicated on the Aube merely closing a contact to do its thing, I have no details on it.

    blaccko
  • blaccko
    blaccko Member Posts: 12

    I'll look into it!

  • ratio
    ratio Member Posts: 3,945

    Ok, the 240 is two dependant contacts (basically DPDT [they throw at the same time], the 241 is 4x SPDT independent contacts). If you're only using both of the contacts, you'll need to use the WebRelay to control a DPDT relay to duplicate the Aube outputs.

    My suggestion of an Internet stat wasn't to replace your existing stats, but to use one of its internal relays to replace the Aube. All the outputs of a thermostat are basically relays. You could use any one to duplicate the function of the Aube (possibly with a DPDT relay as above). The heat and cool contacts are, of course, temperature controlled & therefore unsuitable for us—but the fan (G) is basically on/off. If you used that contact, all you would have to do is use the app to turn on the 'fan' & your system would change over to occupied. Many stats allow the fan to be scheduled too, which would get you programming for free. The advantage of this idea is no programming needed, the downside is the unalignment between what the app says & what it does.

  • blaccko
    blaccko Member Posts: 12

    This is interesting. I didn't understand it the first time ; )

    Do you know of any cheap wifi thermostat? I have Ecobee at home and know of Nest/Google, but is there cheaper alternatives?

    Many thanks

  • Derheatmeister
    Derheatmeister Member Posts: 1,627

    Yes…. We used to use the Ecobee 02 and the Freeze alarms made by control products for this operation !

    We used the Humidifier ports to Make and Break a switch which would interface with mostly Viessmann boilers.

    The "External Interface"/ Auto dailer which interfaced in think with X 4 therminal 1 and 2 on the Wb2a boiler will Shift the heating curve down which reduces the overall temp of the home….No Need for 8 Smart thermostats !

    The ecobee 02 is no longer avaible or supported.

    You can achieve the same via a web enabled switching device.

  • ratio
    ratio Member Posts: 3,945

    My personal favorite Internet thermostat is the Honeywell 8000 series, there's a direct to WiFi version (https://www.supplyhouse.com/Honeywell-Home-TH8321WF1001-Wi-Fi-VisionPRO-8000-Programmable-3H-2C-Touchscreen-Thermostat). Not exactly the cheapest, but I have ±100 in the field, including a few churches with 20-30 of them on one account.

    PC7060
  • rynoheat
    rynoheat Member Posts: 42

    A much cheaper alternative to the webrelay is Shelly. They make a Wifi and Bluetooth dual relay that goes for ~$30, and easily integrates with Google and Apple Smart home apps.

    I think the Shelly Plus 2pm would work for you situation, but they make a wide variety of similar devices. I have several that I'm happy with.

    ratio
  • ratio
    ratio Member Posts: 3,945

    @rynoheat, that's awesome! I've been looking for something like that, because I knew there had to be something cheaper out there.

    Thanks!

  • blaccko
    blaccko Member Posts: 12

    Hi,

    Thanks for all tout inputs. I found this.

    https://www.amazon.ca/-/fr/gp/aw/d/B095X6LMJC?ref=ppx_pt2_mob_b_prod_image

    Do you think it van work? I am not an expert, so unsure if that might do the trick (i'm un Canada, easier/fastrr to get this than a Shelly plus 2pm).

    Thank you very much,

  • blaccko
    blaccko Member Posts: 12

    Or do I need a dual canal relay like this ine?

    https://www.amazon.ca/Commutateur-application-contact-distance-fonctionne/dp/B08LVZR9WP/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?crid=2U0X8GB7C2D0C&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.xK4qGC2Cfle9O4iz3KZxqpg-ixMo6X24iajgEb-GMufoCh2kEiUXuAl4rbKa8KS_F7xSSFRCcEpd9uVkRViZH_wvXPqDos-FxoKSpmXJCHwshhXltw2IyCAR5_gd0dHVyW5wTVoGTjwEPC2X5tbRURuhFmUtrbTp0rmDXd9wkFH2YQR3hXEqwkTcmYpIlna9d2AawLgbJ0WA4Jj1K02tgw.K4P6I_vW4kv5B0_zMXdveM_JotdO5n-rtYgtu9idfYs&dib_tag=se&keywords=2+canal+wifi+relay&qid=1738119860&sprefix=2+canal+wifi+relay%2Caps%2C93&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1

  • ratio
    ratio Member Posts: 3,945

    Looks like it would work, but I have no experience with it so I can't be sure. Regarding the number of outputs you need, you should only need one, but you may need two sets of contacts. The Aube has one output channel that throws two relay outputs at the same time. If only one of them are in use, then you're good. If they're using both contacts for some reason, you'll need to use the relay to throw a double pole double throw relay. This method (a second relay) will also be needed if the web relay contacts aren't rated for whatever you're switching.

  • blaccko
    blaccko Member Posts: 12

    What do you mean when you Say: "This method (a second relay) will also be needed if the web relay contacts aren't rated for whatever you're switching."?

    Thanks,

  • Derheatmeister
    Derheatmeister Member Posts: 1,627

    FYI… You can Make and break a switch on a regular Wifi thermostat for exsample for a Fan which will accomplish the same thing as your Aube did. How many wires does your current thermostat have?

  • ratio
    ratio Member Posts: 3,945
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1838783#Comment_1838783

    The relay has to be rated for the load that it will be expected to switch. For instance, the contacts in a normal thermostat are rated to switch ≈30 AC volts at some fraction of an amp; it'll switch the furnace on and off fine but fill fail (catastrophically!) if it tries to switch electric baseboard heaters. It's fairly likely that the Aube was switching low voltage, and that Shelly web relay seems to be rated for line voltage, but I can't be sure so I'm trying to cover the bases.

    If the web relay uses an SSR of some kind instead of an actual relay for it's switching, there's a chance that it won't like the load that the Aube was switching. Another edge case that offers a small but distinct possibility.

    rynoheat
  • blaccko
    blaccko Member Posts: 12

    My thermostats are Aube TH115. From what I see, the CT240 uses a 0/12V to control the TH115. Am I understanding the manual correctly?

    https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://images.thdstatic.com/catalog/pdfImages/d2/d2153fab-a2a4-4c3a-b2b5-a19383b1413d.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiLkvSg_5mLAxU1L1kFHcUPNPUQFnoECBcQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3urKVqNoR_9MKdWxx9rdCe

    Therefore, I need to make sure the relay is rated for 0-12V. Is that right?

  • ratio
    ratio Member Posts: 3,945

    The CT240 seems to have the capability of more than just straight switching, page 8 shows a voltage & current output for changeover as well. Is anything connected to the terminals marked A, B, & C? If yes, it's not so simple as swapping wires over.

    How 'bout a pic of the Aube, back far enough to see all the connections on it?

    Do you have a multi meter and are you comfortable using it?

  • blaccko
    blaccko Member Posts: 12
    edited January 30

    No there is only something on the 1-2-3 terminals side.

    I am not at the propoerty right now. I will be able to take a picture tomorrow evening.

    Yes, I do have a multimeter and comfortable using it. What do you want me to test?

  • ratio
    ratio Member Posts: 3,945

    Ok, the 1-2-3 terminals are the relay side. According to page 8 of that manual you posted, the A-B-C terminals are a voltage & current output, so if those were in use we'd have to simulate the voltage or current to get it to operate. As it is, it should be straight forward relay contacts.

    You should check the voltage on the 1-2-3 terminals, to make sure what we're looking at. I'm expecting 24 VAC or possibly 12 VDC, but I'd like to prove it's not line voltage (120 or 240 VAC).

    Are there three wires on the 1-2-3 terminals or just two?

  • blaccko
    blaccko Member Posts: 12

    There is just 2 wires on the 1-2-3 terminals

  • ratio
    ratio Member Posts: 3,945

    That makes it easy. I would still like to know the voltage on the wires, just to be safe, but it looks like the relay you linked to above will work just fine.

  • blaccko
    blaccko Member Posts: 12

    Hello,

    So, it was a simple plug and play installation! Worked great right after pluggin the wires.

    Thanks a lot for helpful advides. I can now control my thermostats from afar.

    Have a great day!

    ratio
  • ratio
    ratio Member Posts: 3,945

    Glad it worked, and thanks for the follow-up!

    How is the user interface to the web relay?

  • blaccko
    blaccko Member Posts: 12

    Pretty sweet, it is an app. However, it works with Google Home, si I am mainly controlling it from there (Google Home, not the native app).

    ratio

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