Need Thermostat recommendation for HS

[tshephard]

I currently use a RCS TR-15 RS485 thermostat on on my Homeseer system via my JDS Stargate and the plugin.

I'm replacing my HVAC with a furnace that needs two-stage heating thermostat, I'm told the TR-15 can not do two-stage. I'd like to move to a thermostat that is controlled directly from HS instead of having to pass it through the Stargate.

I don't have z-wave, I know a lot of the HS thermostats use it. I'm a UPB guy so I could go with that or more preferable a serial connection.

I'd like reliable option, and something that looks cool. I'm liking the Omnistat2 RC-2000 but I don't know if it works with HS or anything else about it really besides it looks nice.

Looking for recommendations.

Thanks

-Tim

 

[tmbrown97]

A google search says it's supported - here's some good info:
http://forums.homeseer.com/showthread.php?t=134397

I've used the Omnistat in my last house and was happy with it (I had multi-stage heat too)... I'm about to order an RCS system any day for this house though more because of the split-zone capabilities for this house.

I was very happy with the flexibility of the multi-stage controls; being able to have control over the degree variances was great - and if you do use the built-in schedules too, it can optimize how it runs so it avoids using the 2nd stage by learning how your house heats up and how far ahead of the set time to start easing the house up, rather than cramming the heat on full-blast at the last minute. I'm not sure what your second stage is, but mine was pure electric heat which was quite costly.

For the wiring - both RCS and HAI will do serial which is a great option... if you can get the serial wire to the thermostat, then HAI is great... but if you can't get new wiring to the tstat, then going RCS may be better because it's a two-part system... At the furnace you'd put the controller brains - where the serial connection hooks up, then it only uses 4 wires back to the thermostat location - which you should already have in place.

 

[RAM]

I currently use a RCS TR-15 RS485 thermostat on on my Homeseer system via my JDS Stargate and the plugin.

I'm replacing my HVAC with a furnace that needs two-stage heating thermostat, I'm told the TR-15 can not do two-stage. I'd like to move to a thermostat that is controlled directly from HS instead of having to pass it through the Stargate.
- snip -
-Tim

I got around the need for a 2 stage thermostat but using a universal to kick in the second stage on my furnace. I checked the furnace wiring diagram and found the all the thermostat did to activate the second stage was to short between to contacts, so I do that with a universal module. I have set up an algorithm to monitor inside and outside temps and thermostat set point to determine when the second stage kicks in. This has been working fine for about 7 years now with my existing RCS thermostat.

 

[sic0048]

I currently use a RCS TR-15 RS485 thermostat on on my Homeseer system via my JDS Stargate and the plugin.

Looking for recommendations.

Thanks

-Tim

While the TR-15 model is older, I believe it does support a two stage system. Here is the manual and it says that two stage is supported. Look at page 10 for specific wiring instructions.

 

[tshephard]

While the TR-15 model is older, I believe it does support a two stage system. Here is the manual and it says that two stage is supported. Look at page 10 for specific wiring instructions.

Thanks Brian.
When I look that page over it talks about for use with heatpumps. Will that work with two-stage conventional heating?

That would be great and save me some cash.

-Tim

 

[tmbrown97]

Idle curiosity - what type of heat are you using? and is it a high/low, or is there a secondary type of heat that kicks in?

I'm not sure if you're familiar with heat pumps - but for them, secondary heat is kicking on electric heating elements too; this is done typically if you're calling for more than 2 degrees of heat at once (with heat pumps, it's generally better to just not set back your temperature - if you do, don't bring it up more than 2 degrees at a time or you'll get a hell of a surprise electric bill). My last house had that - and those 10,000 watt elements were expensive to run!

 

[tshephard]

I don't know much about it other than it's a two-stage conventional hearing. The tstat needs to have W1 and W2 terminals and Y1, Y2 terminals.

Incidentally I emailed RCS and they said the TR15 is for single stage heating while the TR16 is two-stage.

I have pretty much narrowed it down to the HAI Omnistat2 RC-2000. From what I can see is although not all the features are implemented in the plugin the main ones are. I'd like to hear from someone using it to see what it can really do. I called HS to talk with someone about it and they were pretty useless.

Tim

 

[sic0048]

Thanks Brian.
When I look that page over it talks about for use with heatpumps. Will that work with two-stage conventional heating?

That would be great and save me some cash.

-Tim

I guess I didn't read your first post close enough. I was assuming it was a heat pump (although you did clearly say furnance). Obviously I would defer to the manufacturer - since they said it won't work, I would be inclined to believe them.