Each heating system is a whole set of very different materials, devices, units and devices. In the complex, all these devices and materials represent a single working mechanism, a line of communications through which the coolant circulates, the blood of the heating system. Warm water floors refer to a type of heating equipment that not only needs to adjust the operation of each structural element, but is also considered the most convenient to control.
Technological parameters of water underfloor heating, the functionality of each unit and unit requires competent management of a water underfloor heating, the result of which should be a comfortable temperature inside the heated room. There are simple options for monitoring the health of the heating system. The most affordable and cheapest way is when the underfloor heating is controlled thanks to water pumps and safety valves. However, to increase the level of comfort and safety, it is better to equip such heating systems with automatic monitoring and control devices.
Let's consider in detail which control option is preferable, and what is the difference between manual and automatic control of warm floors.
How is the temperature of the underfloor heating water system regulated?
Water heating at home has several systems for each room, sometimes in one room there can be two or more circuits.
Underfloor heating contours
Each system and each circuit must be regulated autonomously. The process is carried out through the collector - a device to which the inputs and outputs of all circuits are connected.
Underfloor heating collector
A pump is installed to supply water, the amount of the supplied heat carrier is regulated by various valves. There are sensors to control temperature indicators, valves can be controlled by servo drives.
The system must have a pump
If the sensor shows a decrease in floor temperature, then the amount of warm water increases and vice versa, when the temperature rises above the set parameters, the consumption volume of water decreases. Servos must be mounted on each circuit separately and controlled by sensors. Thermostats for selecting heating indicators are installed in rooms or in a special common control panel (if there are many rooms and a single control panel is required).
Temperature controller and servo drive for water heating
To adjust the temperature, you need a manifold, a thermostat and a servo
The use of thermostats and servo drives in thermostats makes it possible to fully automate the operation of the system, heating is easy to maintain, thermostats are able not only to maintain the temperature values in the specified modes, but also to turn on / off the heating on their own in the event of a long absence of people. Automation saves up to 30% of energy resources without deteriorating the living conditions in the premises of people.
Uponor Base X25.
Uponor's modular radiant heating control systems are noteworthy - they are one of the options for the ideal underfloor heating control system.
Let's take a look at the simplest Uponor Base X25 wired controller with pump relay.
This device is worth more than 9400r.
Functionality:
- Rotary channel selector for convenient registration of actuators;
- Pump relay 2A;
- Overload protection;
- Power LED;
- 6 channels (thermostats);
- 12 actuators.
Uponor Base X25 passport in pdf: installation-manual-uponor-base-4.pdf.
Expensive, but the Uponor product line is worth exploring.
What thermostats can control
Thermostat for underfloor heating water
Depending on the type of heating, thermostats can regulate the following parameters:
- floor temperature. The sensors are installed in close proximity to the heating circuit and indicate the degree of heating of the finished floor covering. They are used in small long circuits and low-power water systems used only as additional heating;
- air temperature in the room. For these thermostats, the sensors are mounted directly in the thermostat housing. The parameters are set taking into account the comfortable room temperature. They are used on powerful systems and only in houses that have thermal insulation that meets the requirements of standards. Otherwise, large losses of coolants make its operation unprofitable;
- combined. Heating parameters are controlled taking into account the readings of two sensors: in the room and next to the heating system. They are rarely used only for the most modern systems. If desired, control can be performed based on the readings of one of the installed sensors.
Underfloor heating water - temperature distribution
The choice of a specific thermostat takes into account the maximum number of technical characteristics of the heating system, indicators of the heat saving of the building, the climatic zone of the location and the wishes of the customer.
Saswell SCU209 underfloor heating control center.
SCU209 on the manufacturer's website.
SCU209 on AliExpress.
The radio version for 5 zones costs 4700r.
The wired option should cost 3600 rub (at Amazon 44 euros).
Unfortunately, now on AliExpress, there is only an option with connecting room thermostats via radio.
How thermostats work
The operation of the devices is possible only in combination with additional equipment and sensors, each element performs its own functions. The equipment is installed on the wall or in a separate panel and on the switching center.
- Sensors. Installed next to the heating system or in the thermostat housing, they show the actual temperature at the installation sites. Signals are transmitted by wire or radio.
- Thermostats process the received information and send response signals to the servo drives.
- Pump control module. It only works when at least one heating system or an individual circuit is open.
- Servos open / close hot water supply taps, have direct connections with thermostats.
Principle of operation
To increase the safety of operation, safety valves and fittings are installed to protect electrical equipment from overheating and ultra-high short-circuit currents.
Controller concentrator Beok CCT-10 for 8 channels.
PS. In the end, I ordered this device for my task: Testing the Beok CCT-10 underfloor heating controller.
This device is from a store on AliExpress.
It costs 2117r.
There is also a similar concentrator in the assortment of the store, but with the ability to connect radio thermostats.
Twin models: the same device, but unnamed in the Side-To-Side store and TWC-08 for 1700r, but without reviews and orders.
Passport on Yandex disk CCT-10 Hub Controller.pdf.
Let's study the connection diagrams in the passport.
It is not entirely clear whether it is suitable for thermostats that issue 220V. But the price - cheaper than doing it yourself - encourages experimentation.
Tips for choosing thermostats
The choice of a specific model of a thermostat for a water floor depends on many conditions: the purpose and size of the room, the method of connecting the coolant, the materials of the finishing floor covering, the climatic zone of residence, the presence of basic or additional heating systems.
The choice of the thermostat
What are the criteria for selecting devices?
- Price. The cheapest mechanical ones.They are reliable and versatile. In addition, such devices are very reliable, it is almost impossible to disable them by negligence. Perfect for those users who have small children.
- Electronic. They have slightly advanced functionality, they can control the temperature at floor level or indoors. In terms of cost, refer to the middle segment of goods.
- Programmable. Expensive devices require careful attention and allow you to create the most favorable conditions for staying in rooms. They can have various modifications and technical capabilities, in terms of cost they belong to the highest category. Recommended for use during heating installation in luxury buildings. The price can go up to $ 500 or more.
At the place of installation, they are wall-mounted or panel-mounted. The first ones are installed in every room, they are used for small apartments. The latter are used in large buildings, they allow you to control the heating parameters in all rooms from one place. Installation and maintenance of such thermostats is expensive.
Panel Regulators
Which model is better
Control module Watts WFHC-BAS.
Watts WFHC-BAS 6 zones, 220V, normally closed servos costs 5650r.
Watts WFHC-BAS passport.
The module can be used as an independent device and as a component of an automation system. There are options for expanding and using radio modules.
If you use a module with a programming function and native thermostats, you can program all thermostats from one module.
Consider the connection diagrams from this passport.
It looks like this is exactly what I need. It is possible to connect 220V thermostats! In addition, the connection terminals are hidden and from the photo you can see that it is a quality product.
How to use a mechanical thermostat
Mechanical regulator
A separate mechanical device must be installed on each circuit; its technical parameters do not allow controlling the temperature of several rooms at the same time.
Thermocontroller for underfloor heating
In order to control the heating temperature depending on the room temperature, you need to purchase a room thermostat and set the required temperature by rotating the head. Some models can be connected to chronometers, which allows not only maintaining a comfortable temperature at different periods of time, but also saving substantial money.
An electric servo must be installed on the collector, based on the received signals, it will increase or decrease the amount of hot water supplied to the circuit. Before connecting the devices to the power supply, you need to study the circuit, it is located on the back of the housing cover.
Electric servo
Sectional servo
Important. Failure to comply with the recommended scheme will not only cause incorrect operation of the equipment, but can also completely disable it.
The servo has a two-way rotating motor. Depending on the phasing of the signal supplied by the thermostat, the rotor rotates clockwise or counterclockwise. Accordingly, the valve increases or decreases the nominal clearance of pipelines. All work must be performed in compliance with the PUE, the equipment operates on a voltage of 220 V.
Heat controller Teplocom TC-8Z.
I found this device in an unexpected place - from the manufacturer Bastion, who is known for backup power supplies for signaling.
Costs 3900r - the recommended price on the manufacturer's website.
It costs 3600r.
Passport teplocom-tz-8z.pdf.
We find out the connection diagrams from the passport.
How to understand the phrase "connect 220V thermostats"?
We will be helped by studying the thermostats recommended for use with this heat controller.
Some of these thermostats give out a voltage of 220V when turned on and there are no relay contacts.
This thermocontroller is suitable for my warm floors, and even the cheapest one from a familiar manufacturer.You can close your eyes to what has open terminals and you will have to purchase a standard box for it.
Controller for controlling servo drives of heating radiators SMART CHR-08.
It costs 7950r.
For some reason, there is no such 220V controller in the equipment line. Therefore, consider the SMART CHR-08 controller, which controls 24V servos.
It is not clear why this device is needed for that kind of money, because it is essentially a terminal block with light bulbs.
Valtec VT.ZC.
Junction box Valtec VT.ZC for 8 channels 220V costs 6000r.
Wasn't it possible to come up with something interesting? Or do they think that they have stuck "Made in Russia" and are eating it?
Passport in pdf.
A study of the passport showed that this controller has all sorts of different switches that allow you to group outputs and set up cascade control. Perhaps the presence of switches and influenced the price.
1500r price for him. And he only needs thermostats with contacts.
Relay logic.
Simple relay logic is fine with my thermostats. You can assemble the heating controller yourself, especially since it will be very simple.
For five directions, 6 relays are needed.
The coils of the 5 relays will be connected in parallel with the valve actuators. Their closing contacts will be connected in parallel to turn on the pump of the mixing unit, if at least one direction is switched on.
The sixth relay will control the boiler and is designed to remove high voltage from the contact group. The coil of this relay will be connected in parallel with the pump of the mixing unit.
The result will be a control system with additional outputs - there are several groups of contacts for the relay. You can use these contacts to build a remote monitoring system and collect statistics.
The cheapest relay with a socket will cost 200 rub.
AliExpress.com Product - Free shipping HH54P MY4NJ plug-in relay PYF14A 12v 24v 36v 48v 110v 220v DC / AC 5A silver contact 14pins 4PDT rele socket
Plus a box with a din rail 200 rub.
Total: 6 * 200 + 200 = 1400 rubles.
Well, what else is needed?
