Furnace Humidify Controller

[scott basilius]

Looking to get a humidity controller for my furnace, to allow setting the humidity level with my Openweathermap plug-in for Eisy.  I want to replace my current mechanical switch with a programmable device.  Would want to control device by zwave.  Is anyone familiar with a controller that would replace a current furnace mechanical humidify controller?

[Guy Lavoie]

Well it's not zwave (it communicates by wifi) but the Venstar T7900 Colortouch thermostat can control a humdifier, and also has a cool to dehumidify (with optional reheat) function, so you can do both. It has a plugin for eisy. I have one of these thermostats, though I'm not using it for humidity control functions.

[paulbates]

1- This is typically done with smart thermostat, I've done that with the venstar colortouch and ecobee.

2- The alternative is to get a zwave on/off outlet or on/of plug-in module and plug 12 volt ac plug-in transformer (hardware store) to it, and wire that to the humidifier's water control actuator.

Based on humidity levels from openweathermap, turn the zwave outlet/module on or off. I'd be careful with that as the sole source of data, I'd want a zwave humidity sensor (assuming that it exists) to confirm the actual building humidity.. have some iox watchdog programs to not let it humidity levels get "outside the box'

Edited November 30 by paulbates

[hart2hart]

I also use Venstar Colortouch thermostat to control humidifier. I have programs that monitor outside temp (also on thermostat if you install remote sensor) and set optimal humidity levels to prevent too much humidity that will fog windows and can cause mold.

[paulbates]

1 hour ago, hart2hart said:

I have programs that monitor outside temp (also on thermostat if you install remote sensor) and set optimal humidity levels to prevent too much humidity that will fog windows and can cause mold

I did the same after Nodelink stopped being developed. Nodelink actually had that humidex feature/capability built in for Venstar years ago and it worked great.

[hart2hart]

I did the same after Nodelink stopped being developed. Nodelink actually had that humidex feature/capability built in for Venstar years ago and it worked great.

It sure did and I did same with Nodelink. It’s where I became acquainted with optimal humidity levels based on temperature.

[JeffR]

The Ecobee Thermostat can do this with the node server and a program.  I have the T-stat set to directly control the Aprilaire humidifier.  I typically manually tweak the percent in UD Mobile.

  

[mmb]

I use a z-wave relay and an ESP DHT thermometer sensor with mqtt.

The DHT updates very quickly.  I have an Aeotec Multisensor but found updates to be way too slow to be useful. I have 4 DHTs around the house.

The combo regulates humidity perfectly and with forecast temperatures ensures very minimal frosting on the windows during the winter.

I built it a few years ago and, at the time, finding a good z-wave/zigbee thermostat that worked with eisy/polisy was a pain.  So went with esp which made the build more complicated but very reliable.

Let me know if you find a a good z-wave/zigbee thermostat.