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

["Lighthouse" <gruntledlark@xxxxxxxxx>]

thanks, marc. i'll look at that more closely.


Marc_F_Hult wrote:
> You might get the thermostats to implement the practical solution I suggested
> in an earlier post for as little as about $35.
>
> See
> http://home.listings.ebay.com/Heating-Cooling-Air_Thermostats_W0QQfc
> lZ3QQfromZR11QQsacatZ115947QQsocmdZListingItemList
>
> in general and specifically:
> http://cgi.ebay.com/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250060361945#ShippingPayment
>
> This solution recognizes that your only actual control choice is ON or OFF.
>
> Consider adding a way to sense the position of the relays and 1) log them so
> that you know what is 'normal' and what is extreme and 2) send you email/other
> notification if one or more of the TooHot or TooCold conditions is triggered.
>
> ... Marc
> Marc_F_Hult
> www.ECOntrol.org
>
> On 18 Dec 2006 08:36:20 -0800, "Lighthouse" <gruntledlark@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in
> message  <1166459779.843638.234070@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:
>
> >you forget that 2 out of 3 tenants currently have no control over the
> >temp at all. they rely on one tenant who has the thermostat in his unit
> >to set it at a reasonable temp. My thought was to really have temp
> >monitors in all the units and have a central thermostat (available to
> >me) to keep the units warmer than say 68, but no hotter than 72.
> >
> >
> >Jim Baber wrote:
> >> Jim Baber wrote:
> >> Your tenants will undoubtedly complain when their adjustments to the
> >> thermostats within their unit don't have the effect they wanted
> >> because some other thermostat overrode their changes....
> >>
> >> I can't even get my wife to agree how to set the thermostat....
> >>
> >> And if there was ever a fire and your non standard HVAC controls were
> >> found, even if they were not at fault themselves, I am sure the
> >> insurance company would consider that as sufficient reason to disallow
> >> ALL claims against them for any damages.  The insurance companies do
> >> love to find any reason to avoid paying any claims.
> >>
> >> Lighthouse wrote:
> >> > don't know how this would be "tormenting" my tenants. it's not like i'm
> >> > going to have them wear panties on their heads while i install this.
> >> > i'm not installing high voltage security fencing in the living units.
> >> > i'm looking to replace an existing thermostat. i won't do anything
> >> > unless i understand it completely. that's why i asked for some
> >> > additional clarification. i used to build, test, and operate nuclear
> >> > power plants so i'm pretty confident that i can wire up a few
> >> > thermostats w/o blowing anything up.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Bill Kearney wrote:
> >> >
> >> >>>i could possibly camo the therms
> >> >>>inside the casing of a smoke alarm unit.
> >> >>
> >> >>Realizing the problems with the electrical code and possible insurance
> >> >>risks, right?
> >> >>
> >> >>Honestly, for rental units you're asking for trouble with dumb ideas like
> >> >>that.  Likewise, cobbling together some sort of hack, and tormenting your
> >> >>tenants in the process, really doesn't seem like a good idea.
> >> >>
> >> >>When I suggested a contractor it was intended to avoid various problems
> like
> >> >>that.  Installations that follow code, professional time spent in/out of
> the
> >> >>tenant space, avoiding risks to existing boiler gear, etc.
> >> >>
> >> >>-Bill Kearney
> >> >
> >> >