Re: zoned or not zoned?? thermostatic control of multiple spaces

["Lighthouse" <gruntledlark@xxxxxxxxx>]

you're probably right Bill, but there's this part of me that loves to
cobble stuff together that works just as well or better than a
commercial product. thanks but i hope to gather more "tinkerer's"
advice here.


Bill Kearney wrote:
> If it's hot water heated how about you call a local HVAC contractor?
>
> It might be better to spend a little more money and setup actual zones.
> That way if you put different thermostats in different units you'll have a
> chance to actually control how each one is heated.  It's rather pointless to
> have multiple temperature sensors if there's not actually a way to control
> zones.
>
> That and an HVAC contractor might also be able to help with the specifics of
> a rented dwelling.  There may be some ways to have the central controller be
> able to limit things (like tenant's cranking it up to 85, etc).
>
> It shouldn't be all that expensive to have someone look at the setup and
> suggest how to put zones on it.
>
> -Bill Kearney
>
> "Lighthouse" <gruntledlark@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:1165366626.401890.76070@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > I really wasn't sure how to title this msg. i have a building w/ 3 apts
> > heated by a single boiler. currently there is one unit which maintains
> > the thermostat.
> >
> > i would like to monitor the temp in each unit, but control the boiler
> > from the utility room. oh yeah, and i don't want to pay for some fancy
> > overpriced zoning system.
> >
> > it would be nice if i could do this w/ some type of wireless sensors--i
> > see wireless thermometers always available for about $20 or so. it
> > seems like there should be some way to modify these to do what i want.
> > i don't know enough to be able to do this on my own, but i'm smart
> > enough to follow instructions if anyone has some ideas.
> >
> > hard-wired isn't necessarily out of the question, but i have no idea
> > how i might use 3 living area thermostats and set a control temp that
> > may not match any of them.
> >
> > what i'm trying to avoid is having a single tenant freeze out or sweat
> > out the other two. at the other extreme, i don't want the boiler
> > responding to all three tenants setting their therms to 85 degrees.
> >
> > i'm hoping that by having temps reported from the 3 living areas to a
> > "master" thermostat i can create some reasonable control. IOW, i need
> > actual temp readings from the remote locations (rather than just on/off
> > signals) so that a thermostat in an unheated basement can control the
> > boiler. i hope that makes sense.
> >
> > any ideas? TIA.