Question: I have three heating thermostats for my baseboard heat in my house (simple on/off) and one AC for my house also simple on/off. I just ordered VeraEdge controller. Can I connect more than one z-wave thermostat? What thermostat’s you guys recommend for my VeraEdge controller and how many I can connect?
As far as z-wave thermostats, you can connect as many as you want. I have three of the Honeywell Z-wave thermostats, and you can find them on Amazon.
As far as “best”, well, there are a lot of opinions…
There aren’t really baseboard options in the US as it’s line voltage and everyone tends to stick in the 24v market. You can get a 24v and use a relay if you’re up for it. They do sell them in other countries (Canada, Europe). There might be a kickstarter floating about for one?
Thanks for respond. I don’t believe voltage will be any issue, I have a hot water baseboard heat; all my thermostats are 24VDC, and only two wires (close loop type) for Taco Switching Relay Zone with priority (Hot water circulation pumps). My controller is on the way so I was not aware that I can run multiple thermostats on program. I’m coming from PLC area working on AB and Siemens S7 for living so this Home Automation project should be fun!
If you’re 24v then you should be fine. I’ve got tacos in my system in Texas, use hotwater in my forced air system. No zwave there but I do use regular stats. I’ve been looking at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008CQ4V3Q/ref=pe_62860_138435240_em_1p_0_ti but I’ve got radiant heat in my other house and not sure how well this would handle the slow response time. I’m with Emerson and design/implement DeltaV systems for a living.
Thanks strohlde. I had already ordered that tstat. Just one for now. I’m thinking to install this for my central AC and see what I can do with it. I don’t have zoning for AC but there is someone on this forum that’s looking in to z-wave AC vents and gets me thinking about it.
Be careful on how many vents you use this on. Zoning is much different then just closing off a vent or two.
See pressures change as you open and close rooms. Variable speed or multi speed air handlers can be slowed when only one or two rooms are active. Not only that they have pressure bypass vents that dumps the pressure from the exit plenum back into the return or intake plenum. So if pressure gets to high it just re runs it back threw again.
When pressure builds up you not only end up with alot of noise and flow out of vents but flex duct problems.
These z-wave vents I see no problem on a house where you close one or 2 vents like in an unused bedroom. But unlike a zoned system when at night you can only heat or cool 1 or 2 bedrooms vs. the kitchen, living rooms, and rest of the house.
A zoned system costs a few K (DIY cost me around 1k) vs. a few hundered for the vents.
Zoned system major components:
Zone Controller Kit (4 zones):
http://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-HZ432K-Truezone-Zone-Panel/dp/B003IQVKDO
Bypass Damper:
Amazon.com?
s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1431024427&sr=1-1&keywords=bypass+damper
Each room Damper:
Amazon.com
Z-wave Thermostat for each room:
Amazon.com
I paid a bit cheaper then these prices but I posted all Amazon since its popular. I figure around 200 atleast per room for the damper and thermostat. Plus maybe 500.00 in controller kit and bypass damper. Original thermostat wire is cut and zoned controller is placed inline, then all new thermostats are wired to the controller. The controller determines on which zones to do what with and how many are calling for single stage or 2nd stage heat and/or cool. Controller can be configured to purge ducts out, delay switch over times or what ever else is needed.
Thanks for nice write-up. I agree that closing vents fully is not a good idea I was thinking like have those vents more “modulate” mode, mean like make them partially change position. I will look to see how I can upgrade to multizone AC system but so far I’m coming to the conclusion that in my situation installing z-wave vents or modified my AC to zones will be more overkill and not much beneficial for me. House is small, split level more open concept plus I live in North East where heating have more usage than cooling. If I will decide to use zoning it will be more for night type scenario only when almost all house occupants are in bedrooms.