RCI TZ45 Thermostat Fan Cycle Mode

[Flex]

I'm not quite sure if this is the best place for this topic, since I am not sure where this will lead. But I put here since this is a z-wave device but in actuality either the "Rest" or "Network Resources" sections may be better, but I couldn't decide which of those two to choose.

I have a Residential Control Systems 001-01773 TZ45 Z-Wave Communicating Thermostat that is configured with my ISY. There is no computer normally at this location, which is a summer cabin. what I would like to know how to set the fan to the cycle mode from the ISY.  Neither the Admin console nor MobiLinc supports "Cycle" mode for the fan, as many, if not most, thermostats do not have this function.

To quote from another thread "Thermostat Cycle Fan Mode" under "Product Requests" it was stated;
"When the thermostat is set to Cycle Fan mode the ISY Admin Console displays the Fan Mode as Auto High. The command http://ISYADDR/rest/nodes/ZW###_1/set/CLIFS/2will set the thermostat to Cycle Fan mode."

Now this is for the Trane version which I believe to be the same as or very similar to my RCI TZ45.

This command looks like it is meant to be sent from a browser to the ISY then on to the z-wave thermostat. What I would like to know is, how do you, if possible, send a rest command to this Z wave device (since it does not have its own IP address) from the ISY. The network module is installed on this ISY. I am thinking that "ISYADDR", mentioned above, is the IP address of the ISY, is this correct? And If so, will it work to send a rest command from and to the same IP address?


Aside from something like this, the only way I know to get this functionality is to write a program in the ISY and have it set the fan to "on" and then back to "auto" periodically via z-wave.

[danbutter]

I'm interested to know the answer to this also since I'm looking at the same family of thermostats.

From what I understand RCS is the company that makes all the others for rebranding.

I've seen the auto high thing before...I believe @ the vera forum.

 

I asked about one of these thermostats a couple weeks ago and someone here responded...

forum.universal-devices.com/topic/16594-evolve-t100r-thermostat/

Maybe he can help with this question also.

[Jimbo.Automates]

When you send that rest command to the ISY then it will send appropriate Z-Wave command to the tstat.

[Flex]

Yes, understood, and know this would work if I had another device (even a second ISY) to send the rest command to the cabin ISY.

 

What I want to do is to be able to (if possible) send that same rest command but from within the same ISY.

To clarify, can you send a rest command from (CABINISYADDR) and to (CABINISYADDR) the same IP address? Like this (http://CABINISYADDR/rest/nodes/ZW###_1/set/CLIFS/2).

 

Please keep in mind that I do not currently have access to the this ISY nor the thermostat, as they are located at my summer cabin, I am trying to learn about this before I get there the next time since my time there is limited.

It is easy to set the fan to "auto" or to "On". You can access those functions from the admin console just like any other "On","Off, "Dim" and etc. The issue is that the fan "cycle" mode is not supported directly in the admin console for this particular thermostat.
 

[MWareman]

You can indeed send a REST command from an ISY to the same ISY. Just use the IP address of the ISY as the destination. Make sure you have either a static IP address or use a DHCP reservation. You'll need the network module on the ISY and don't use the loopback address (127.0.0.1) as this is known to hang ISY under certain conditions.

 

I do this already of 4.3.10 to set some variables to the values from some current device states.

[paulbates]

I have a different brand thermostat that has an auto cycle function. While that function works ok, I found it wasn't optimal and in general ran more than I needed it to. 

 

I use an ISY program as you indicated at the end of your initial thread. It allows me to tweak the air circulation behavior and also address specific behaviors when the house is occupied or the outside temperature is above a certain point. 

 

Its fully automated at this point, I don't have to do anything for occupied / not occupied.  The program for this is fairly simple.

 

Paul

[Flex]

Thanks MWareman, this is the info I was looking for. I will plan to try this out the next time I arrive down there.

As to using a program in the ISY, I plan to do this as well. The RCI thermostat uses a timed based cycle which is configurable by the installer. I don't believe the Honeywell Z-Wave thermostat is, which is one reason I chose the RCI

I plan to write a program to turn the cycle mode on via rest when the cabin is occupied and the AC or heat mode is selected to reduce the temperature difference between the upstairs and downstairs. Then when the cabin is not occupied or the "Cool" or "Heat" mode is off then the ISY program will send a command to turn the fan mode to "Auto" mode (which effectively turns the fan off unless a call for cooling or heating is made) without using a rest command, since this mode is supported in the ISY admin console and is directly accessible when you write the program.

This way it minimizes the z-wave traffic that needs to take place to start and stop the hvac fan twice every 1/2 hour. I know I am being obsessive as this really wouldn't tax the abilities of the ISY nor z-wave to just simply use an ISY program to do all the work for this task.

In addition if I can make it work, I plan to try to use a CAI WebControl WC8 board to bring the outside, upstairs, and downstairs (might just use the temperature from the thermostat) tempertures along with some other I/O into the ISY and have a program start or stop the "Cycle" mode based on the temperature differential and/or other factors. I will have to figure out a way to get one wire sensors in the proper places.