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HVAC zone contols

cloudbuster | Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on July 31, 2007 04:41am

Hello:  How reliable are zone controllers and do they work as advertised.  Also who  has the most reliable units?.

 

I will be installing a 5ton and 4 ton Trane units. 19 SEER, split system, with 120,000 BTU 90% 2-stage variable speed gas furnaces.  The main floor will have 17 supplies and three returns.  The second floor will have 13 supplies and 3 returns.

You comments as ususal are welcome.

thanks

Cloudbuster

 

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  1. DanH | Jul 31, 2007 04:53pm | #1

    There's nothing magical or mystical. The zone control is a box that contains a small computer, but it could be done with just relays (and maybe a timer or two). The electric control dampers are a very old, stable technology. The interface with the furnace/AC just fakes out a thermostat connection.

    Short of lightning damage or some such there's no reason why a setup shouldn't last 25 years at least, and maybe 50.

    The one thing you need to pay attention to, since this is apparently a new installation, is the proper partitioning of the supply ductwork, so that the dampers can be easily installed to control the zones. (With an existing installation you just do the best you can.)

    But you say you're installing two furnaces and two ACs? I'm assuming this is a pretty big house -- 8K sq ft or so? So you're planning to have an AC and furnace for each floor and have both floors zoned?

    So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
    1. cloudbuster | Jul 31, 2007 05:07pm | #2

      Thanks for the reply>  Yes we plan to have seperate units for each level.  The house will be approx. 5K sq ft.

      Clousbuster

      1. DanH | Jul 31, 2007 05:17pm | #3

        Just FYI: The standard zone controller can handle 3 zones. The cost of going from 2 zones to 3 is just the cost of another damper and another thermostat, so it makes sense to do 3 zones per unit if there's that much stuff to be zoned. If you go to more than 3 zones per floor it's apt to get more complicated/expensive.The zones should take into account both habitation patterns and daily sun/heat transfer patterns. Eg, a large "great room" or whatever with lots of windows should have its own zone if possible, since it will be subject to solar heating when the sun shines in and considerable heat loss when a cold wind blows against the windows. But you also want to be able to turn down heating/cooling in an unused "mother-in-law's" wing, etc.
        So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin

        Edited 7/31/2007 10:18 am by DanH

        1. cloudbuster | Aug 01, 2007 02:49am | #7

          Thanks for the info.  I'll be meeting with the HVAC person on Monday.

           

          Cloudbuster

  2. nustad | Jul 31, 2007 05:29pm | #4

    Some feedback just from my experience.

    We have a 15 year old system with 4 zones in a 5000 square foot house.  It is the Honeywell "Zone-a-Trol" system.  4 Thermostats, a simple relay based control board, and 4 rectangular regulators/actuators.  It is operating in Wisconsin for both heating and cooling.  The system fan is set up to always be running (low speed when the heat or ac is not on) to support an energy recovery ventilator.

    The zoning system been very reliable. I have replaced one actuator motor that did not open reliably a couple years ago.  No other issues.  They zone  system came with very clear / simple troubleshooting procedures in the manual.

     

     

     

    1. Virginbuild | Jul 31, 2007 08:41pm | #5

      I have two heating (forced air) systems in my house with multiple zones. Two things come to mind, one, use only double vane control dampers, and two, make sure that the dampers are installed without warping the frame otherwise there will be binding with resultant improper actuation of the vanes and probable early actuator failure.

      Virginbuild

      1. cloudbuster | Aug 01, 2007 02:50am | #9

        thank you for the reply

    2. cloudbuster | Aug 01, 2007 02:49am | #8

      Thanks for the info.

  3. Virginbuild | Jul 31, 2007 08:47pm | #6

    Cloudbuster

    Check out my coment to Nustad. Sorry I punched in the wrong person for reply. I intended it for you.

    Virginbuild

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