KenN
Member
Hey all,
Now that I've got the Elk/Insteon install well on its way (we all know it's never actually done, there's always another thing to do, idea to test ...), I'm looking to bring my thermostats into the fold. My research so far yields results for various thermostats that are enabled with any number of the usual HA communication method. But, since they aren't exactly cheap, I'd like some input before running out and buying ... so, what I have now;
- House is heated with in-floor hydronic radiant heating. There are six zones, two on each of three floors.
- Each zone is controlled independently by a dead simple thermostat - just the basic pointer that moves to the temp setting, bi-metal switch inside opens/closes a contact to actuate a solenoid that allows the hot water to flow (simple, typical stuff)
- Two conductor wire only to each thermostat, 24 VAC fed along one conductor, contact closes, the other conductor goes to the solenoid, solenoid connected to the other leg of the 24VAC xfmr to complete the circuit.
- There is no central AC or AC of any kind. In Vancouver, we have 1-2 weeks per year that get hot enough where AC would be nice. Not nearly enough to justify the thousands it would cost to put all the ducting and wiring needed for cooling control! Fans do the job nicely.
So ... I'm finding lots of full-function thermostats that do heating, cooling, multi-day scheduling, cook your breakfast and call your wife on your anniversary. I really don't need/want all this and these thermostats run about $150 and up. By the time I've paid tax and shipping on six units I'm looking at a grand to do the house! Seems excessive when all I want to do is set thermostats via automation protocol/programming and view temperature at each zone.
Any suggestions for a much less pricey thermostat that just does the basics? As I said, I'm set up with Insteon for now. I have some interest in adding Z-wave to the system (once UD releases their z-wave module for the ISY) so would consider that as well. The zigbee thermostats I found were super expensive, like $260 and up, so that's off my list.
Thanks in advance,
ken.
Now that I've got the Elk/Insteon install well on its way (we all know it's never actually done, there's always another thing to do, idea to test ...), I'm looking to bring my thermostats into the fold. My research so far yields results for various thermostats that are enabled with any number of the usual HA communication method. But, since they aren't exactly cheap, I'd like some input before running out and buying ... so, what I have now;
- House is heated with in-floor hydronic radiant heating. There are six zones, two on each of three floors.
- Each zone is controlled independently by a dead simple thermostat - just the basic pointer that moves to the temp setting, bi-metal switch inside opens/closes a contact to actuate a solenoid that allows the hot water to flow (simple, typical stuff)
- Two conductor wire only to each thermostat, 24 VAC fed along one conductor, contact closes, the other conductor goes to the solenoid, solenoid connected to the other leg of the 24VAC xfmr to complete the circuit.
- There is no central AC or AC of any kind. In Vancouver, we have 1-2 weeks per year that get hot enough where AC would be nice. Not nearly enough to justify the thousands it would cost to put all the ducting and wiring needed for cooling control! Fans do the job nicely.
So ... I'm finding lots of full-function thermostats that do heating, cooling, multi-day scheduling, cook your breakfast and call your wife on your anniversary. I really don't need/want all this and these thermostats run about $150 and up. By the time I've paid tax and shipping on six units I'm looking at a grand to do the house! Seems excessive when all I want to do is set thermostats via automation protocol/programming and view temperature at each zone.
Any suggestions for a much less pricey thermostat that just does the basics? As I said, I'm set up with Insteon for now. I have some interest in adding Z-wave to the system (once UD releases their z-wave module for the ISY) so would consider that as well. The zigbee thermostats I found were super expensive, like $260 and up, so that's off my list.
Thanks in advance,
ken.