http://www.venstar.com/Thermostats/
Well as soon as I got your reply I revisited looking at the Venstar Tstat and put aside the cosmetic features that are bland. I Compared the three models (T1700, T1800, T1900) followed with reading ALL 108 pages of the T1900 Manual.
I must say this baby packs so pretty bad a$$ features and fits my needs for function wise. Features that really caught my eye were as follows
http://www.venstar.com/Support/Manua...ManualRev1.pdf
1) Viewing the Outdoor Temperature ............................5.2
(can put the AUX temp sensor anywhere ie attic)
2) Viewing the Indoor Humidity....................................5.3
(monitor & use variable to control output analog signals)
3) Setting the Fan-Off Time Delay.................................7.4
(run Fan for up to 90 seconds after compressor shuts off)
4) Thermostat Output Jumper for Dehumid Operation......10.2
(I'm looking into adding an whole house dehumid system and would be able . to integrate it with HS using this feature I think)
5) Section 14 Contents: 14.2 thru 14.7 (controlling the compressor)
(able to reduce compressor cycling but not sure how it would work with . . multi stats on a zone controller)
6) SECTION 18 Energy Save Operation .......................18.1
(this feature would make life SO easy being that it would reduce the . . events and logic in HS)
A couple questions I have after reading this the stat manual as well your plugin are.
A) Seems the T1900 doesnt come with Insteon and would require the Thermostat Adapter INSTEON Item# 2441V. (Insteon is closed today so I couldn't call to confirm)
Being this connects through RJ11 connections do you think I could hide the INSTEON Thermostat Adapter inside the wall where the stat is and connect them with a patch cable? (just trying to keep the look clean & I think I have more then enough Dual band close by to communicate through the drywall)
B) You said in your post as well within your plugin that it can "sends updates when someone changes something at the thermostat directly" or ""Supports real-time updates of thermostat changes made at the physical thermostat. (Requires v2 of the 2441V or greater)". Also your plugin manual says "can track when the thermostat is actually calling for heat, cooling, or fan"
I understand this as when a person makes a change to the stat BUT what about when the stat it self makes a change like A/C On, Heater On, Dumid On, Fan On? (Looking to use these values to trigger events like turn ceiling fan on or something like that)
C) With your plugin, your support page says "Thermostat template provided to ease integration into HSTouch screens".
Are these templates pretty much turn key ready? I couldn't find the templates on your webpage and they didn't seem to be in the ZIP download)
D) What features, benefits, or extended functionality will this provide? "there are many other scripting APIs that allow for extended functionality and easier interface."
Over all, the more I look at this T1900 Venstar I think its superior and the cosmetics that I spoke of earlier are not much of a concern. Smaller might be better as its my intent for people within my home to use HST through Touch screens to interface with all other components such as the Tstat, Pool Equipment, Security etc...
I noticed that even you can get replacement Door Face plates which might allow me to try and paint the face-plate to blend in with the wall paint making these thermostats even more discrete as they already have a small foot print.
Well its been a long night and day of reading so I'll give my fingers a rest and listen for some input.
Again thanks everyone for the support.
Charlie
Well as soon as I got your reply I revisited looking at the Venstar Tstat and put aside the cosmetic features that are bland. I Compared the three models (T1700, T1800, T1900) followed with reading ALL 108 pages of the T1900 Manual.
I must say this baby packs so pretty bad a$$ features and fits my needs for function wise. Features that really caught my eye were as follows
http://www.venstar.com/Support/Manua...ManualRev1.pdf
1) Viewing the Outdoor Temperature ............................5.2
(can put the AUX temp sensor anywhere ie attic)
2) Viewing the Indoor Humidity....................................5.3
(monitor & use variable to control output analog signals)
3) Setting the Fan-Off Time Delay.................................7.4
(run Fan for up to 90 seconds after compressor shuts off)
4) Thermostat Output Jumper for Dehumid Operation......10.2
(I'm looking into adding an whole house dehumid system and would be able . to integrate it with HS using this feature I think)
5) Section 14 Contents: 14.2 thru 14.7 (controlling the compressor)
(able to reduce compressor cycling but not sure how it would work with . . multi stats on a zone controller)
6) SECTION 18 Energy Save Operation .......................18.1
(this feature would make life SO easy being that it would reduce the . . events and logic in HS)
A couple questions I have after reading this the stat manual as well your plugin are.
A) Seems the T1900 doesnt come with Insteon and would require the Thermostat Adapter INSTEON Item# 2441V. (Insteon is closed today so I couldn't call to confirm)
Being this connects through RJ11 connections do you think I could hide the INSTEON Thermostat Adapter inside the wall where the stat is and connect them with a patch cable? (just trying to keep the look clean & I think I have more then enough Dual band close by to communicate through the drywall)
B) You said in your post as well within your plugin that it can "sends updates when someone changes something at the thermostat directly" or ""Supports real-time updates of thermostat changes made at the physical thermostat. (Requires v2 of the 2441V or greater)". Also your plugin manual says "can track when the thermostat is actually calling for heat, cooling, or fan"
I understand this as when a person makes a change to the stat BUT what about when the stat it self makes a change like A/C On, Heater On, Dumid On, Fan On? (Looking to use these values to trigger events like turn ceiling fan on or something like that)
C) With your plugin, your support page says "Thermostat template provided to ease integration into HSTouch screens".
Are these templates pretty much turn key ready? I couldn't find the templates on your webpage and they didn't seem to be in the ZIP download)
D) What features, benefits, or extended functionality will this provide? "there are many other scripting APIs that allow for extended functionality and easier interface."
Over all, the more I look at this T1900 Venstar I think its superior and the cosmetics that I spoke of earlier are not much of a concern. Smaller might be better as its my intent for people within my home to use HST through Touch screens to interface with all other components such as the Tstat, Pool Equipment, Security etc...
I noticed that even you can get replacement Door Face plates which might allow me to try and paint the face-plate to blend in with the wall paint making these thermostats even more discrete as they already have a small foot print.
Well its been a long night and day of reading so I'll give my fingers a rest and listen for some input.
Again thanks everyone for the support.
Charlie
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