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taco or honeywell zone valves

Big Ed
Big Ed Member Posts: 1,117
in THE MAIN WALL
Less known problems with Honeywell.

Comments

  • steve novak
    steve novak Member Posts: 33


    should I use Taco or Honeywell zone valves for a residential job with six zones and two pumps with cast iron baseboard hot water heat. The price seems to be about the same.
  • kevin coppinger_4
    kevin coppinger_4 Member Posts: 2,124
    I too prefer the honeywell

    zone valves. I have had newmerous problems w/ taco 271 right out of the box...I also don't like the slow open/close either...However the taco zone valve controls zvc series are tops in my book..would be great w/ a sr502 relay...kpc

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  • John Abbott
    John Abbott Member Posts: 358
    We .......

    have installed taco 570 series zone valves for 25 years with very few problems.The design is a marvel of simplicity and function.I have tried other brands and models but have gone back to the 570 series even on high end radiant systems.They are reliable available and they work.I had in the PAST serious problems with Honeywell zone valves caused by their design but that may not be at all relevent today.

    John
  • Joe Mattiello
    Joe Mattiello Member Posts: 720
    Taco Zonevalves

    Taco, zonevalve bodies are warranteed for 5 years, and the actuator three years. They have beem proven to reliable over the approx. 40 years in the field. Additionally, taco offers technical support for 570 series zonevalves, and all other products. Please advise, if you have any specific questions or concers regarding Taco, products.

    Joe Mattiello
    Technical support Technician
    401-942-8000 X 484
    Joe Mattiello
    N. E. Regional Manger, Commercial Products
    Taco Comfort Solutions
  • joe_14
    joe_14 Member Posts: 138
    zone valves



    i to prefer taco zone valves. i have had very good luck with them. if you are pumping away with your piping i would put the zone valves on the return this will eliminate any possible valve lifting due to the power of the pump



    good luck joeg.
  • John Abbott
    John Abbott Member Posts: 358
    The spring...

    on the taco 570's is strong enough to resist lifting from even high head pumps we always pump away.Even on commercial jobs with 0011 pumps we have never had one lift. Your concern is legitimate Joe but it is safe to put them on the supply.

    John
  • KBP&H
    KBP&H Member Posts: 48
    Waatch your wiring

    I recently installed taco 3 wires, wired by electrician,, the homewoner updated the thermostats to new honeywell t87 digital,, - these have a resistor in thepackage ( box from supply house) to install on 1 & 2- if the wires are backwards- the display will go blank.... Also these same t stats from big orange store w/ sub base don't come or mention the resistor, identical, but the back of the package says for two wire only.
  • joe_14
    joe_14 Member Posts: 138
    john



    thanks john for the info. i havent had this problem yet , but i havent used a high head pump.


    thanks again joeg.
  • kevin coppinger_4
    kevin coppinger_4 Member Posts: 2,124
    the biggest reason to put the ZV on the return.....

    (when pumping away)is to reduce /eliminate the zone valve pressure jump bang. Yes Honeywells are more suceptible to this but it can happen w/ any zone valve in a multilpe call situation, etc, etc..... I usually prefer circs especially now that they have IFC's out... kpc

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  • heatboy
    heatboy Member Posts: 1,468
    I have many of each..........

    installed over the years and both brands are relatively trouble free. They are very different in how they work and how they are wired. I wish I could type as well as others here do. It just takes way to long when you are a hunt and peck typist and have a lot to say ;-)

    hb

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    There was an error rendering this rich post.

  • kevin coppinger_4
    kevin coppinger_4 Member Posts: 2,124
    it is because of the .....

    wiring, that can get tricky, is the reason I use the Zone valve controls....plug and play! very clean, lets you prioritize and the lights are very cool as well as letting you know what on at a glance... kpc

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  • joe_14
    joe_14 Member Posts: 138
    wiring

    yes the taco controls make wiring a snap but every tech should learn and understand how they are wired. this will make us better troulbe shooters.its like having a calcultor and someone shows you how to make it add,subtract,multiply and divide but take the calculator away and we are lost. iam not trying to be a smart **** just making a point.



    joeg.
  • John Abbott
    John Abbott Member Posts: 358
    The ....

    taco 570's close VERY slowly and I have never experienced any banging or pressure jump under any circumstances.The Honeywells on the other hand are a different story even if the flow is in the right direction.

    John
  • John Abbott
    John Abbott Member Posts: 358
    You........

    make an excellent point Joe. We should all try to understand function, wiring, and trouble shooting of simple electrical devices without the benefit or need of a control with leds they are not always available on a no heat call.

    John
  • Big Ed
    Big Ed Member Posts: 1,117
    Birds Nest

    I will look into the plug & play set up . I dislike the wiring on a group of zonevalves . "Birds nest" , Trying to clean up the mess without spending a lot of time is troublesome . I also like to add little lights to the job :).

    Sounds like alot of fellow Wallies are happy with Taco. I will give them a try when I have the chance......
  • heatboy
    heatboy Member Posts: 1,468
    The thing to remember............

    about Taco 571 zone valves is their amp draw. The specs say .9 amps, but most I have measured will pull over an amp on start. Also, consider using a 50 VA instead of the 40 VA Transformer per three 571s. When three valves are opening simultaneously, they use in excess of 60 VA temporarily.

    hb


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  • John Abbott
    John Abbott Member Posts: 358
    You are........

    100% correct heatboy. They draw 1.1 to 1.2 on my meter and you must set heat anticipators accordingly or you will get short cycling and undershooting of thermostat settings.I feel really stupid for not mentioning that.I like the idea of the 50 VA transformer.

    John
  • Big Ed
    Big Ed Member Posts: 1,117
    Amp Draw

    What is Taco's amp draw reading on "fully open"??
  • kevin coppinger_4
    kevin coppinger_4 Member Posts: 2,124
    I thought we were....

    talking installation, done once and done right? kpc

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  • John Abbott
    John Abbott Member Posts: 358
    +

    > talking installation, done once and done right?

    > kpc

    >

    > _A

    > HREF="http://www.heatinghelp.com/getListed.cfm?id=

    > 323&Step=30"_To Learn More About This

    > Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in

    > "Find A Professional"_/A_



  • John Abbott
    John Abbott Member Posts: 358
    We.....

    are exchanging information and opinions Kevin .I thought that the wall was the proper forum for that. If I am wrong please correct me.

    John
  • John Abbott
    John Abbott Member Posts: 358
    The amp.........

    > What is Taco's amp draw reading on "fully

    > open"??



  • John Abbott
    John Abbott Member Posts: 358
    The........

    zone valve full amp draw cycles on and off when fully open as the heat motor cools the switch makes momentarily and then breaks when fully open.This cycle continues until the the thermostat is satisfied.The heat motor is a beeswax filled cylinder heated by a resistence heating element around it.When fully open it makes an end switch to start the circ/burner and breaks a switch to the heating element which makes and breaks to keep the valve open during the call for heat.So one minute there will be no current then for a few seconds you will draw full amperage. This is why some power robbing thermostats require a resistor with the 570.

    John
  • kevin coppinger_4
    kevin coppinger_4 Member Posts: 2,124
    no correction needed...nm

    have a great day John!...kpc

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  • kevin coppinger_4
    kevin coppinger_4 Member Posts: 2,124
    no correction needed..

    have a great day John!...kpc

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