Elk M1 Thermostat in remote location

[mikei-ma]

I'm looking for a solution to install a thermostat in a third floor location that has it's own dedicated furnace in the attic. I want to be able to address it with my M1 which is in the basement. Short of running cable outside I'm stumped as to how to get it to communicate with the M1. I have 2 RCS TR40's with RS485 that work great, but I don't know what to purchase for the third floor. I was considering another TR60 - RS485 with a wireless modem search gridconnect.com atc863 as my only solution at this time.

I'm guessing that the ZWave or insteon version of a tstat doesn't talk to the M1 yet, the wifi version is not out.


Thoughts?

 

[Spanky]

The M1 Zwave interface supports up to 4 Zwave thermostats.

 

[fcwilt]

There is something to be said to have all of your thermostats the same from a end user point of view - they only have to "learn" one user interface.

Running on the outside is common. Do you have a place where you could run some conduit that would not be too noticeable - keeping in mind that you can paint it to help hide it. I have several places on my home where I needed to do that - due to lack of pre-wiring for this sort of thing. I ran the conduit along side downspouts, painted the same color - hardly can be seen if you don't know what you are looking for.

 

[Del91574]

You can get really creative using Black box media converters, such as a webserver feeding the 485 upstairs, as long as there's some sort of infrastructure.

 

[mikei-ma]

The thought of running conduit to the 3rd level is a bit daunting but probably the best solution - now to find a 40' ladder! If I were to use the zwave version of the TR60 would the M1 see it "normally" as a thermostat on the system?

It also appears that any way I slice it it's going to be expensive to add that third thermostat.

TR60 485 (275) +Zwave (86)+ M1 Zwave (135) = 496
TR60 485 (275)+ two 485 modems (160) = 435
Tr60 485 (275) + conduit (50) + fear of heights = priceless

 

[fcwilt]

The thought of running conduit to the 3rd level is a bit daunting but probably the best solution - now to find a 40' ladder! If I were to use the zwave version of the TR60 would the M1 see it "normally" as a thermostat on the system?

TR60 485 (275)+ two 485 modems (160) = 435

I have a buddy who is an electrician - I get him to run conduit - I'm too old for 40' ladders.

What do you mean by "485 modems"?

 

[mikei-ma]

I'm too much of a noob to allow links in my posts so got to gridconnect.com and search for the atc863 they are rs485 modems

 

[fcwilt]

Well most folks wouldn't use the term modem but I get it. They would work but I still think you should check out running conduit.

 

[Del91574]

Z and J channel with vinyl siding also works quite well.

 

[gatchel]

Well most folks wouldn't use the term modem but I get it. They would work but I still think you should check out running conduit.

I guess it depends. I have heard the term modem, short haul modem, line driver, black box(not the brand), 485 converter, etc

 

[mikei-ma]

Well most folks wouldn't use the term modem but I get it. They would work but I still think you should check out running conduit.

Well.. It is a MOdulator DEModulator isn't it?

 

[fcwilt]

Well.. It is a MOdulator DEModulator isn't it?

Well I suppose in a sense that any Tx/Rx system based on FSK could be termed that but I would guess (could be wrong) that modem would more likely bring to mind the type of gear used to send data across phone lines.