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    Adding heating controls to my automation system

    Hi

    Currently planning/installing an automation system to control lights/audio etc, but I also want to control my central heating and need some advice please:-

    I live in the UK and have oil central heating which heats the radiators and the water

    I currently have a honeywell st6400c programmer which has 2 x 7 day timers - one for heating and one for water - I don't have a separate room thermostat, just thermostat valves on each radiator

    I see from reading up that the honeywell st6400c fits to an "industry standard backplate" so can be easily replaced, but the question is replaced with what - can I get a direct replacement for this that supports z-wave or x10 or similar? it is now an obsolete model and honeywell website say a direct replacement would be the st9400 or s9420c (links below), one of which talks wireless to its own themostat but its how I link into my HA that is confusing me

    http://www.honeywelluk.com/products/...Wired/ST9400C/

    http://www.honeywelluk.com/products/...al-RF2-Pack-2/

    Any suggestions please!!?

    Thanks in advance

    #2
    As far as I know there is only one Euro Z-Wave thermostat at the moment. Have a look at the Horstmann HRT4-ZW. I am not sure but it may be something you could use (although you may need two in your situation). It is not yet fully supported by Homeseer, but it is looked into:
    http://board.homeseer.com/showthread...ight=horstmann

    John

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      #3
      Originally posted by johnz View Post
      As far as I know there is only one Euro Z-Wave thermostat at the moment. Have a look at the Horstmann HRT4-ZW. I am not sure but it may be something you could use (although you may need two in your situation). It is not yet fully supported by Homeseer, but it is looked into:
      http://board.homeseer.com/showthread...ight=horstmann

      John
      Thanks John, looks like this may not be as simple as I was hoping!!! shame no one does a product in the UK/Euro that directly replaces most timers/controllers to give required features

      Comment


        #4
        wingers,

        i have solved this problem for a Mitsubishi heat pump i have by using zwave wall switches mounted in a box, it means you can always override them if you need too and they have indicators on so you can see whats happening. I use 3 in total, 1 for hot water demand, 1 for central heating demand and another for call for heat, this triggered by comparing the time of day and setpoints set on some hstouch screens and then compared to the lounge temperature as measured by a oregon scientific room sensor or zwave room stat.

        we have RFID in the cars that allows the house to use a set back temperature if both are cars are not home.

        Pete

        Comment


          #5
          Take a look here http://www.automatedhome.co.uk/Insta...croModule.html and http://www.automatedhome.co.uk/Conte...l-Heating.html for some info aswell - whilst the latter is aimed for HomeVision it has some principles you may be able to transfer to other technologies, or even run HW/CH from two X10 universal modules.

          I'll try and find pictures of my hack-a-job version I made to replace my HoneyWell CH timer, it was hidden in a cupboard so in my defence it was not pretty. It's since been replaced with a single X10 DIN rail module, my Immersion Heater is running off a X10 WS10U that I took the socket off, put a 20A DP switch on it and then connected the heater to it.

          Comment


            #6
            Did you ever find your pictures Adam?

            Im trying (and failing) to get my CH controlled.

            I think i need a relay to close the various curcuits to get the CH & Heating on - but I cant seem to find a x10 module that is up to the job!

            Any suggestions?!

            Cheers!

            Mike

            Comment


              #7
              i've got some photos of my current install but I think my house insurance company would end up ringing me asking what I was playing at, I don't know why I took the WS10 out and replaced it with a DIN module really...I intend to put it back in. Here is what I set up with the WS10U, one of the switches was an on/off control and the next was a X10/manual over ride switch in case of any HA failure. But mine is a very simple setup and has no independent HW/CH control which is what you probably have...



              For you perhaps a DIN rail relay holder and a relay with a mains powered coil, then you can power the coil from an X10 appliance module and as long as you have mains rated contacts then you can control the CH/HW via X10?

              Comment


                #8
                Doesnt look too bad

                I was thinking the mains relay route myself - but as you say - the CH has also got a 3 way valve for the HW, and whoever orignally installed it, made a right mess of the wiring - with no labeling at all!!

                I might have to bite the bullet, and just leave it on a timer! But put a programmable thermostat in at the very least!

                Have fun

                Mike

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by manaesh View Post
                  Doesnt look too bad

                  I was thinking the mains relay route myself - but as you say - the CH has also got a 3 way valve for the HW, and whoever orignally installed it, made a right mess of the wiring - with no labeling at all!!

                  I might have to bite the bullet, and just leave it on a timer! But put a programmable thermostat in at the very least!

                  Have fun

                  Mike
                  The LD11 in at the minute is just hanging around on the floor with cables coming off it, I need to put it in a box or put the WS10U back in...

                  I replaced my parents CH/HW programmer a few months ago and when looking at the manual it showed you some of the wiring details. http://www.horstmann.co.uk/downloads...allerGuide.pdf . You may be able to go backwards from the programmer rather than start at the valves...

                  If you have the same backplate (which I think is sort of universal) then you might be able to trace the wiring back to where there is a junction box. The way I understand that is a few SDDT relays with the NC contacts wired to Terminal 1 and the NC to Terminal 3 for the HW and then NC to 2 and NO to 4 for the CH would acheive the same thing and you could then power these relays from X10 modules.

                  If you were feeling adventurous then buy a cheap programmer one from ebay with the backplate, gut the insides and get one of the 2 load micro modules (http://www.x10-hk.com/store/manual/2268E.pdf) and two small relays, that way you could build it inside of a programmer, mount it to the wall and there would be no alterations to the wiring so you could go back to the old one at a later time...

                  Comment


                    #10
                    I have used outputs from a maxibee to drive two separate relays which replace the heating timer. I used to have X10 modules but after the heating staying on all day a few times I removed them.

                    Another thing I do is I put temp sensors on top and bottom of hot water tank and now can heat enough water for shower bath etc and can tell if there is enough water.

                    Cabbage

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