RCS tz45 and Trane TZEMT400BB3N same unit?

[frijoli]

Does anyone know if these are the same Tstat? The Trane has some extra features, but it's obviously made by RCS. I want to use them with a ZC4 controller so I want them to be compatible, but I like the features of the Trane.

Just curious before I drop the cash.

Clay

 

[frijoli]

Spoke with RCS, they would not confirm, but said the do make thermostats for OEMs. So I'm pretty sure it is with some extra features. Either way I ordered one.

 

[tmbrown97]

The ZC4 is a "dumb" controller - meaning it works with any standard thermostat. This combination won't be automation friendly at all... As long as the Trane thermostat is just that - a standalone thermostat, there's no reason it shouldn't work as long as you're not hoping to get any automation of your HVAC out of the deal.

 

[frijoli]

The ZC4 is a "dumb" controller - meaning it works with any standard thermostat. This combination won't be automation friendly at all... As long as the Trane thermostat is just that - a standalone thermostat, there's no reason it shouldn't work as long as you're not hoping to get any automation of your HVAC out of the deal.

The fact that the thermostats are zwave should help with the automation part I think. I really want the controller to handle the HVAC alone, and just monitor it with the ELK,or possibly use the ELK for set backs and such.

 

[tmbrown97]

Ok - I was having trouble finding that exact tstat model so I didn't see that it was Z-Wave.

I'm not sure what you're connecting to, but I'll just throw this out there... When I bought this current house, it has a ZC2 with a couple generic honeywell thermostats. When looking at the option of going to smarter communicating thermostats or going to a communicating controller, I decided to go with the communicating zone controller instead. Here's a couple reasons:

1. Simplified wiring - only need 4 wires to the Wall Display Unit (WDU), so for retrofits this is much easier. Also for the communication wire, I only had to run a single Cat5 from my Elk panel to the ZCV, which was directly above in the attic.
2. Biggest reason - everything is very cohesive. When the system is on or off, or won't kick on when I adjust the temperature, etc - there's never any question as to what's going on. All WDU's show the status of the HVAC (Minimum Run Time; Minimum Off Time, etc). So if I crank the temperature downstairs and it doesn't kick on, I don't have to wonder - I see that it's in MOT from the upstairs recently cycling. You can also see at a glance from any unit which stage it's in, and I believe if Hold is on (Hold is always on for me; I don't do any programming in the thermostat).
3. Automation control is easier - I have some rules that grab the outside temperature from Weather Underground and send it to be displayed as the Outside Temperature on all the WDU's. I also have a Whole House Fan to cut down on A/C usage, so as soon as the temperature outside drops below the temperature upstairs, a "Message" is sent to all the WDU's which causes the red Message light to flash on them - we don't read the messages, but that's our queue to kill the A/C, open some windows, and kick on the WHF - and it's viewable from across the room. When the temperature outside rises, I just send a Clear All Messages command which turns off the light. This is very simple, and I only have to send a single command to either update individual displays or update them all at once.
4. There's really one set of installer options so it's easier to get it initially configured. From there you have separate set-back settings, etc.

Again, I don't know what you're hooking up to, if cabling is an option, or what special features the Trane has - but I am very happy that I went with the cohesive system where everything is nicely tied together in a single system; not a couple of separate thermostats acting totally independently with a controller hiding in the background making sense of everything but with no way to communicate back what's really happening in the system. Just trying to offer some perspective.

 

[JayH]

Work2Play,

I'm 100% with you on using the communicating zoning controller. All the resasons you listed plus very fine control over purge times, outside ventilation and numerous other features. I used RCS for 10 years.

Until the ZCV dies and you find out they stopped making them 2 years ago. 4 wire runs to 4 tstats and there is nothing you can "swap in" to make it work. A lot of the HA supply chain still showed them "in stock" but they were ordering when needed and I had 3 orders get cancelled days later when they found out the products were discontinued (ZCV2, 4 and 6). I did some serious wire pulling and am still limping by because I don't have the features anymore that were done based on this ZCV units.

They will repair them on time & materials, no fixed repair amount. This happened 6 months ago and I am still giving Aprilaire a try as a replacement since I did not get any encouraging feedback from several of the major distributors I talked to regarding their support/repair process.

If anybody has a ZCV4 or 6 they want to sell, PM me!

Jay

 

[tmbrown97]

Wow - that's really good info! I was concerned when I ordered mine and found that they were moving to a new web-site that had no mention of the products... I tried asking if that meant anything, and they just directed me back to the old site. Luckily I did buy an extra thermostat and remote sensors at the time that I ordered the zone controller, and I ordered a 4-zone controller even though I only needed a 2 right now.

I know they're still doing well as a business as they OEM for a lot of people - I'm not sure why they went this route. Luckily they're located about 30 minutes from me, so if there's every a problem I can drive straight to them and see what they'll say.

Thanks for the update - I'll definitely stop bothering to recommend this solution. Very unfortunate.