Ecobee's new lower-cost WiFi thermostat is great for zoning

So, you like the idea of zone control to maximize the comfort control and minimize the energy usage in your home... AND you like the idea of being able to control all of your zones from your smartphone, tablet or computer.  This has been possible for many years now but cost prohibitive... until now.  Let's face it, $250 to $300 for a thermostat is pretty steep, even if it does have WiFi.  Plus, for a zoning system, you will need 2, 3, 4 or even more of these expensive thermostats.  It is unfortunate that the cost has been out of reach for many home owners that have (or want) zone controls because WiFi thermostats are a perfect match to a zoned system.  Instead of having to go around to each thermostat in your home, you could control all zones with a smartphone or tablet.

We are very excited about the recently (2 days ago) released Ecobee3 Lite thermostat.  Why?  Because it may be the best WiFi thermostat yet released for zone control applications.

First, its price tag of $169 beats most of the alternatives by $80 or more... this means for a 4 zone system you could save at least $320 over using the original Ecobee3, the Nest or Honeywell's Lyric.

Second, the ecobee app is stellar and handles multiple thermostats as well or better than the competition.  This is a must for zone controls and many of the less expensive alternative thermostats just don't measure up.

Third, it looks great!  They didn't try to dumb down the interface or aesthetics to create this "LITE" version.  You can be proud to have it hanging on your wall... in every zone.

Check back in a couple of weeks we we have received our pre-ordered Ecobee3 Lite thermostats for use with SmartZone for an in-depth analysis.

More unbiased Zone control discusson on homeenergy

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QUESSTION by Adam Zielinski

Homeowners with forced air duct systems always want to close the registers in rooms they aren't using, and close the doors to those rooms, in the belief that doing so will save energy and money.
I always thought doing this was over-rated and unlikely to save a significant amount of energy or money.  I could see doing it for one or two rooms perhaps, but sometimes homeowners close off half of their house or more.
This creates unbalanced air flow in the duct system and likely results in over heating the furnace heat exchanger, and or short cycling the furnace.  So the furnace spends a lot of time in start up mode and less time at peak efficiency.
I have not seen any real studies done on this however.  I'd like to see some data or research on this.

Reply by dale conner
Adam, most furnaces will move the proper amount of air through the blower and heat exchanger if the furnace cabinet pressure doesnt exceed .5 IWC and the furnace capacity was chosen based on a manual J calculation. This information can be found in the furnace installation manual or IOM (installation,operation,maintenance) that comes with a new furnace. However, this does not mean we are getting adequate air delivery to all of the rooms in the house due to excessive air leakage in the ducts and/or incorrect duct lengths or diameters routed to each room.

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QUESTION by Judi Lyall

How about using a motorized damper ?

Reply by dale conner
A single motorized damper can be used to control a zoned area but you also have to install a barometric by-pass damper to prevent over pressurization www.zoningsupply.com

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See full discussion: http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/group/hvac/forum/topic/show?id=6069565%3ATopic%3A7207

Honest discussion on homeenergypros about zoning advantages.

Are Zoned Heating/Cooling Systems a Good or Bad Idea?

Excerpt from homeenergypros discussion about HVAC Zone controls.

QUESTION by Jon LaMonte

For starters, I live in Atlanta, Ga and I am not an HVAC pro so this is a serious question that I would like answered for one of my clients.  I understand the premise of a zoned system and on the surface, it sounds like a good idea. Then I considered the fact that I have always told my customers that it is a bad idea to close off vents in rooms they are not in because of duct leakage.  Also, the second law of thermodynamics simply states the hot goes to cold, so now the unheated areas are doing their best to rob warm air from the heated areas.  Finally, if your zoning a single system, aren't you creating on oversizing issue because the unit (that was probably oversized in the first place) is now servicing a smaller area than what it was designed for?

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Reply1 by Chris Heenan

Zoning has benefits beyond temp control. Most often the home does not require the full 2 stage heat or cooling as the system only needs to satisfy a portion of the home. So, then if 1/2 the heated air goes through a properly sized and balance bypass, the return air (from home) will mix with warm supply (from bypass) before going thru the system again. You may not need to go beyond 1stage heat (or cool) except in extremes. This is most beneficial in raising supply temps from heat pumps when in winter mode. Most supply vents feel 'cool' to homeowner. Not so when zoned and not call on all zones.

Flip it to cool, and the bypass send dehumidified cooler air across the coil. Decreasing high side pressures and amp draw of compressor. Then the air gets more heat extracted and further dehumidified. Pulling out additional condensate and running less. Remember systems have to be careful not to oversize as dehumidification is crucial to comfort. Dry and cool temps out supply vent. Not too shabby.

Reply2 by dale conner

Zone sytems are rarely installed properly but can be efficient if properly designed. The goal is to be able to set back the temperature a few degrees in a zone that isnt being utilized while keeping another zone comfortable that is being utilized.  A single unit with a zone system will have a by-pass duct sytem to dump the air thats been cut off from one zone back into the duct system to be used in the zone that is being used.

*Reply3 by James Jackson on

Have you ever been driving down the interstate hwy and come up on an exit ramp that has traffic backed up? As the traffic backs up and eventually fills the exit with cars you end up with a slight back up on the entire highway. this is the closest scenario i have been able to come up to help people understand why closing doors and vents is a bad idea. if you have a run off of a main trunk and you close the outlet or register you will cause the air to back up into the trunk causing turbulence in the trunk line resulting in a decrease in air flow in other areas on the system. this can also cause multiple other problems like pulsing and excessive noise from the increase in pressure.

another thing to remember when you shut doors in a home with no return air you cause a difference in pressure in the home. The room you have closed is now significantly positively pressurized and the house is now under a negative pressure. This why some homes have the doors undercut by 3-4 inches trying to allow the air to get back to the return.

Ok as far as the zone system goes... There is so much more thought involved in properly setting up a quality zone system that i see very few done correctly. If you want to do one correctly you first need to make sure you are using a multi-stage HVAC unit so the unit can run on low speed if it is only conditioning one zone. A bypass or crossover duct with a barometric damper is needed if you are conditioning a small zone and the air handler is still supplying too much air, but if you are going the zone route don’t use contractor grade units and piece it together with a simple zone controller. Get a high efficiency v speed unit that is designed for this application.

But what happens when you change the temps in a zone in the house 4-5 degrees?? Energy moves from hot to cold so you end up indirectly heating or cooling the entire space regardless. This brings us to another scenario. The return air in the zone that is off. My experience with working on correcting issues with homes using zone systems has been the returns are never dampered so if the zone is completely shut off you have just installed a permanent blower door. if the zone is off one you are returning hotter or colder air to the system and two you are causing that zone to have a negative pressure.

Just some things to think about !!

Learn more at www.zoningsupply.com

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BETTER with Zoning done right!

Single thermostat can have issues

My editorial conclusion:
Zoning CAN be effective if and ONLY if it's designed and installed properly.  This means ducts, dampers, equipment size (tons).  It also means the right zone panel setup with energy saving features like SmartZone.  Finally, to make zoning work best and comfort control and energy savings, the home owner must properly control the thermostats.  Zoning isn't a "set-it-and-forget-it" system, it must be managed to be effective.  More articles about zoning

See full discussion: http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/group/hvac/forum/topic/show?id=6069565%3ATopic%3A7207

Honeywell TrueZone ARD Dampers wiring to SmartZone

The latest form Honeywell ARD dampers is a nice looking product and works nicely with ecojay SmartZone.  Wire as shown below.  Other damper wiring at www.zoningsupply.com/blog

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PRO-Grade Power Zone Damper (Round)

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SmartZone has the simplest setup and best features of any zone control. Find out more about SmartZone and why it's the smart choice: www.zoningsupply.com/buy-smartzone/

Wireless or Wifi Thermostats... What's the difference?

Despite often being used interchangeably, wifi and wireless thermostats refer to 2 very different types of devices.

Wifi stats (like the Nest or Ecobee) have surged in popularity over the last few years. Wireless stats have actually been around for a quite a while but are not quite as popular. Both types of devices perform the same basic function of controlling your heating and cooling unit as the room’s temperature changes. Both can be programmable and have touch-screens. Both can help you reduce energy consumption, especially when paired with a zoning system like SmartZone.

Key Differences:

Wireless thermostats can essentially be placed anywhere in your home. Think of it like a remote control for your HVAC. They do not need to be WIRED to the wall or to the HVAC unit.

WiFi thermostats are not wireless and are generally wall-mounted. They enable users to control the thermostat remotely from a phone, computer, or tablet. In some areas, even the local energy companies can request access to your wifi stat.

The differences are as simple as their names imply. Wireless stats operate without being wired to the wall or system. Wifi stats are stationary, but can be controlled from peripheral devices.

Benefits:

A person in the market for a wireless thermostat is looking for a device that can be placed anywhere in the home and not necessarily on a wall.

A person in the market for a wifi thermostat is looking for the ability to control their thermostat from anywhere. They might also be looking for the benefits that come with having your stat connected to the internet. Some top of the line wifi thermostats can display weather info, news headlines and more. They can also integrate with various home-automation systems.

After looking at the benefits of the 2 types of devices, it’s easy to see why wifi thermostats have out-paced wireless thermostats in popularity. However, both inventions are remarkable examples of how the HVAC industry is racing forward to meet the comfort and convenience requirements of 21st century homes and buildings. 

For more information about innovative thermostats and HVAC energy-efficiency, visit:

www.zoningsupply.com

http://www.gadgetreview.com/6-of-the-best-wifi-thermostats

www.ecobee.com

www.nest.com

Replace ANY zone pannel with SmartZone

No more need to track down a replacement zone panel... SmartZone is the only one you need.

SmartZone is the simple solution to any zone control system replacement or new install.  It has all the features to control any equipment type: Heat Pump, Dual Fuel, Gas, Electric, Single Stage, Multistage... even Fresh Air vent integration.  We have customer after customer tell us that once they use SmartZone for the first time, they are hooked.  Contractors love the features and homeowners love the simplicity and reliability... not to mention, SmartZone has the best cost and value available.

Here is a short list of just a few of the zone controllers that can be replaced by SmartZone:

• Honeywell TrueZone (HZ221, HZ311, HZ322, HZ432)
• EWC UltraZone
• Jackson Systems
• Carrier ComfortZone
• Zonefirst
• Durozone
• Zonex
• Many more
  Find out more

Best damper motor (actuator) on the market... we tested them all.

Well, maybe not technically ALL of them but dozens and even more than in this photo.

We narrowed down by specs that would work for us first.  Between 30 and 60 second travel time, 90 deg rotation, at least 1.5nM torque, lower than 3.5VA power consumption, 24Vac operation, clutch free movement, minimum open/close, range of 3/8" to 1/2" shaft and more.  Once we narrowed down to here we still had about 6 or 8 motors and we tested the top 5 for full 10 year accelerated life and field testing.  Some we even used in production for a while.  We are now confident when we proclaim that the Belimo motor that is made for ecojay and we sell with SmartZone wins in all categories... reliability, noise & installation/setup.

PRO-Grade Power Zone Damper (Round)

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SmartZone system-overview diagram

This basic diagram shows how SmartZone is connected to all of the pieces of the zoning system including thermostats and zone dampers.

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For more details about wiring, installation & configuration of Zone Control systems, check out the installation information on the SmartZone Install Guide

2, 3, or 4 Zone KITS

from $599.00

- Zone Controller (SmartZone)
- Pro-Grade Round Zone Supply Dampers*
- Bypass Damper (Round Barometric)
- 40VA 24VAC Power Transformer

* Select each size when "Adding to Cart"
NOTE: All dampers subject to a 10% restocking fee.

# of Zones:

Select # of Zones 2 Zone3 Zone4 Zone

2 Zone 3 Zone 4 Zone

Damper Sizes:

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4" - 10" 12" - 16"

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In a nutshell - SmartZone benefits

ECOJAY SmartZone residential & light commercial zoning Controllers are easily configurable to satisfy a wide range of application and equipment requirements. Simple installation and setup make smartzone perfect for CHANGE-OUT, RETRO-FIT, NEW-INSTALL and UPGRADES.  brightly-lit LED display shows system mode & status information as well as, temperature readout from included supply sensor.  Color-coded LED's on all wiring connectors simplify troubleshooting by showing all inputs and outputs without using a voltmeter. SmartZone maximizes equipment efficiency & protection with exclusive built-in ‘Time & temp’ staging controls.  Universal compatibility means smartzone works with all equipment types (Heat Pump, Dual Fuel, Gas, Electric, etc), thermostats & 24V dampers.  Time-saving and exclusive features like Fresh-Air, SmartLINK for up to 20 zones & push-in terminals make SmartZone the smart choice.

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SmartZone-2L

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Why SmartZone is the best zone controller.

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BUY SmartZone Now

• Screwless wiring (push-in) – No screwdriver required
• Color coded leds show inputs and outputs on every terminal – no voltmeter required
• EASY pushbutton & dip switch setup makes configuration a snap and confirmation of settings in just a glance – NO manual needed
• Temperature sensor included & supply temp displayed on the bright led display, visible even in the dark – NO flashlight needed
• MODES SHOWN ON DISPLAY tell you what the board is doing at all times in plain english – NO guessing what codes mean
• SmartZone can be used with any equipment – Heat Pump, Gas, Electric, radiant, geothermal, etc. as long as it is controlled by 24v.
• Single-stage & Multi-Stage equipment can be used (3 heat & 2 cooling stages)
• Heat pump equipment can be used with auxiliary & emergency heat – both electric and dual fuel -  flawlessly with SmartZone (requires heat pump thermostat connected to Zone 1)
• SmartZone can be paired with any thermostat from the most expensive WiFi stat to the cheapest mechanical thermostat.
• Any 24v damper (Spring or power) can be controlled by SmartZone
• Smartzone has exclusive advanced features:
  •     - Economy Mode allows setback of all zones with the     flip of a switch.  When in eco mode, the system will only     energize if zone 1 makes a call.  This feature is great for vacations or if some of the zones are rarely used.
  •     - Fresh air control allows control of an outside air damper and the system fan on a schedule to bring in fresh air in a prescribed amount.  If fresh air control is required, smartzone-4x has it covered with no additional controls required.  Save $
  • - Smartlink: expand to 20 zones by simply connecting multiple 4X boards together with the smartlink bus. Easiest & most cost effective system for more than 5 zones!
• Smart staging & limit protection – by using a sophisticated time and temperature algorithm perfected over decades of programming, smartzone stages up and down in the most effective and efficient manner possible.
• 2nd stage lockout – by setting this dip switch, smartzone will only allow 2nd stage if more than one zone is calling
• Stage from zone 1 thermostat – allows for a multi-stage thermostat to be connected to zone 1 and control zoning instead of SmartZone (not recommended in typical circumstances)

Damper Wiring: Yet another 5-terminal damper style wired to SmartZone

We confirmed today, thanks to a helpful customer, how another DuroZone damper wires using 3 wires (even though it has 5 terminals).

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If your damper motors look like the one shown, wire to SmartZone as shown.

Another DuroZone model… on this model it is reported that some versions TERMINAL 4 (the blue wire shown) goes to CLOSE instead of OPEN.

If your motors looks different than this, see our other posts about damper wiring:
4-Terminal and 8-Terminal Damper Wiring

If the motors you have are not compatible with SmartZone, you still don't have to replace the whole damper.  You can replace just the motor (actuator) on just about any standard residential damper with the SmartZone / Belimo motor.

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Retro thermostat... 1982 Electronics Guide review of Magic-Stat

Published in Playboy's Electronic Entertainment guide in Fall 1982. 

This is off of our normal subject but I came across this old magazine that includes other articles like "There's more to life than Pac-Man: How to beat Donkey Kong" and "What computers can do for you" which says that "VisiCalc is the most popular program of all time with 250,000 copies sold".  And it included a scathing review of this Magic-Stat product.  Sold for $79 mail order.  At first glance, I thought it was just another ugly thermostats in a long history that still goes on today.  Then i read the article which explains a "LEARN" mode that makes it easier to set much like the nest would do decades later.  Also, it claims to have what is now reffered to as "adaptive recovery".  This is where the thermostat starts the equipment before the set time so it can get the home to temperature at a specified time instead of just starting to get to temperature at the time of setpoint.  I haven't done any fact-checking, but it says they are the first thermostat to do this... too bad it took 20 years for this to become a more standard feature.

Here are a few more pics I took of the magazine...i claim no rights or ownership of any of this material.

SmartZone - The only zone control you'll need

The only Zone Control you will need!  Over ten years to perfect the latest version of SmartZone design.  Attention to detail during engineering SmartZone make it the ultimate combination of simplicity, features & compatibility.  Contractors install our board every day with confidence and you can too.  Most contractors that use SmartZone one time, never want to use anything else again on HVAC zoning applications because it is so easy to install and use.

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SmartZone-2L Display - Makes Zoning simpler than ever!

SmartZone 2L, sometimes we call it SmartZone-LITE, not because it has less capability but because it is so SIMPLE.  It is the simplest even for a novice to understand.  The display shows exactly what the zone control is doing (even the temperature)

Zoning System Troubleshooting

Because a zone control system interacts with so many different parts (thermostats, transformers, heating/cooling equipment, dampers & temperature sensor), a zoning system can be daunting to troubleshoot when there is a problem.  However, we have realized that there are really just a few common issues are the cause most all of the issues. With a combined 20+ years of zoning questions and technical support calls, we have tried here to boil down to the top 5 reason 99% of zoning systems have a problem.  These do not include a potential problem with the configuration of the Zone Control itself.  The troubleshooting of the zone control configuration is covered well in most Installation Guides.

1. Equipment
   Refrigerant charge, fan speed, wiring, power, etc.
   Always verify that the equipment is working properly first!
2. Thermostats
  a. Incompatible with zone panel
  b. Defective thermostat
  c. Wiring defect
3. Zone Dampers
  a. Actuator failure
  b. Mechanical failure
  c. DUCT Sizing (not enough or too much CFM)
  d. Wiring defect
4. Bypass/Relief
  a. Actuator failure
  b. Sensor (Static Pressure sensor defect)
  c. Mechanical failure
  d. Setup (Modulating calibration or weight arm setting)
  e. Orientation of installation (SPC or barometric bypass)
  f. Improper sizing (not enough CFM capacity)
  g. Wiring defect
5. Power
  a. Transformer fuse
  b. Wiring defect
  c. Primary circuit problem (shared/capacity, breaker)
  d. Improperly sized transformer (not enough VA)

For help troubleshooting your system contact the experts at zoningsupply.com directly via email or phone.

EASIEST TO TROUBLESHOOT ZONE CONTROL ON THE MARKET:

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HVAC Zoning Bypass Explanation Animation

This simple animation shows as the dampers close to each zone, one at a time, the bypass should gradually open until... when only one zone is left open, the bypass is open all the way.  Airflow can be seen going back through the system to relieve the pressure in the duct.  The purpose of bypass (pressure relief) is to minimize air noise at the register (air vent in the home) and to prevent over pressuring the duct system which can have many negative implications including not enough airflow.