Remote Control of Tekmar Controller?

brucewo1b

You might want to call your fuel supplier if you have propane or oil heat, many have the Scultel system available. The system monitors 3 things-oil/gas level in your tank, burner failure, and low temperature in your home. If any of these conditions occur, Scultel calls your oil/gas office and they can send someone out to take care of the problem. This system is ideal for those who are away at any time during the winter months. The system simply hooks into your home's phone jack. Have also conneced one of the leads to a float device in a basement to call for a flood condition.

bruce pirger

Remote control of Tekmar Controller

I have a Tekmar 363 Universal controller doing a beautiful job with my radiant heat. I run a 063 ( I think I remember this is right...the 4 bottom controller with temp sensor) as the control input to the 363. Slab sensor is connected to the 063.

I am making a somewhat radical career shift and I am taking a job that will have me out of the country every other week, i.e. the house will be left alone. New York State, freezing is a big concern.

Is there an easy way to provide remote access to the system, i.e. Internet or other?

When I installed the system, I thought about "snooping" the simple communication lines between the 363 and the remote 063 sensor (or is it just 060?). Never got around to it, but I thought perhaps Tekmar has...but I didn't see any mention in their website.

Another thought is to hook a mechanical solenoid up, positioned in front of the 060 sensor, and then controlling the solenoid remote to "push" the button. Ideally, I'd like to monitor the temperature (which I can readily do), but really want to turn the heat on the day before we come home. It takes about 18 hours to heat up 55,000 pounds on concrete...and that's just 10 degrees or so, let alone 30.

On the other hand, 50,000 pounds of concrete does have significant heat capacity...and I wonder if I just shut the system down to a slab minimum of say 45 when I left, how long it would take to cool? I could calculate this easily enough.

It's late, enough rambling. Is there an easy way to access my Tekmar system remotely? I see other "on/off" thermostats available for this. What about Tekmar's radiant stuff?

I should add....I live out in the boonies, middle of the woods, no neighbors to come over and help me out or watch the place. My biggest concern is oil consumption (and freezing). I burn wood primarily and only have a 500 gallon tank...which is plenty when I am home to feed the fire...and hence would like to drop the temp dramatically when I am gone. Yes, adding another fuel tank will have to happen soon.

Thanks,
Bruce

J.C.A._3

Check int...

A Tekmar tN4 system. They were talking about them speaking to and being programed by internet connections, but I don't know if they have completed it yet.

Honeywell also has a "Smart Home" system that is internet accessable, but a bit on the complicated side for the normal homeowner.(In My Opinion) Chris

Capt.Dan

REMOTE CONTROL

I use a cottage sitter to turn my heat up a day before I am to arrive at my home after being away. I also have a Tekmar and that has an away setting that can be connected to the cottage sitter. Works real fine.

Josh_10

The TN4 gateway won't be available until spring of 2007. And knowing Tekmar that meanse 3 days before the first day of summer.

A Viking relay will also work for any type of remote dialing either to dial up your heating system for enabling or to dial you in case of a fault.

bruce pirger

Thanks guys.

I took a closer look at the 363 controller and it appears it does have an "unoccupied" reset state...controlled by a single on/off switch effectively, so a simple remote access bit should work fine.

I still need to worry about getting more oil into my remote site...once winter sets in, no delivery until spring. If I had too, I thought I'd just haul in fuel, but I haven't even come close in the three winters here so far. Without wood, another story...

Thanks!
Bruce

adambuild

Sensaphone

The FGD-1104-CS by Sensaphone is capable of calling you at a low temp you set, you can call in and hear the current temp in human voice, and you can turn a system on and ogg via phone! About $300. at Graybar.

Unknown

You should be able to add a phone switch/freeze alarm if you are running a single RTU zone with a 363, to toggle between occupied/unoccupied.