Teken Posted December 6, 2011 Posted December 6, 2011 Can multiple T1800 with the Insteon RF adapter be deployed as remote sensors in a ISY set up? If so what are some of the basics that need to be followed to make these devices work in a stand alone mode? I would think simply wiring in a 24 VAC transformer to power the T1800, along with enrolling the Insteon RF adapter into the ISY-99 would be all that is required? Any feed back and insight with respect to this task is greatly appreciated! Teken . . .
andyf0 Posted December 6, 2011 Posted December 6, 2011 This is something I have been mulling over for a while now. I used to use the Totalline(?) Wireless thermostat. At night when I went to bed I would take it with me in the bedroom so the heating system would run based on the temperature in the bedroom and not the living room. Once the door is closed the bedroom warms up really quickly and so the heating is on much less. Using a remote Venstar would be a little tricky but not impossible. Let's just talk about heat for simplicity. Time based program at 10pm turn off the Main thermostat. Turns on the remote thermostat. Assume the set points on the remote thermostat are how you want them. Program runs such that when Heat Control on the remote turns on causes Main thermostat turned on with a high heat set point. When Heat Control on the remote turns off, the Main thermostat is turned off. Time based program at 7am to turn off the remote thermostat and turn Main thermostat back on with desired set points. This is the first time I've thought about the details so it may be a little rough.
Teken Posted December 6, 2011 Author Posted December 6, 2011 Hello Andyf0, My intent and use for the remote sensors may be a lot different than yours. My primary goal is to have six of these Venstar RF enabled devices in place. They will be placed in key areas of the home to determine the local temperature / humidity. Once the remote thermostat detects a defined temperature / humidity. What ever linked Insteon device I have programmed will turn on to accomplish their stated goal. Whether it be to move air flow from one zone to another either with fans, or ceiling fans, exhaust the immediate air through the over head range, vent the entire home using the central exhaust, or lastly to turn on the central AC in the home to meet the stated temperature / humidity. All of this will be linked to the window shades to produce the desired temperatures. I already have six of these thermostats along with the RF adapter so the only thing I need to purchase is the 24 VAC transformer. Ideally, I would have preferred using the Energy Display but that would have been at a added costs. These six TSTATS along with the RF adapters were pretty much free so I don't have a lot invested so far in this test. Insight Teken . . .
andyf0 Posted December 6, 2011 Posted December 6, 2011 My needs seem so humble compared to yours. However, your post prompted me to think out the details of what I want to do and how it could be done. Thanks for that! I also would have preferred to use a $40 Energy display unit rather than $200 Venstar thermostat. Guess I'll have to start saving up.
Teken Posted December 7, 2011 Author Posted December 7, 2011 All of this will be done one at a time and slowly integrated into the primary system once it has been validated as 100%. So, nothing wrong starting from humble beginnings! My first objective is to purchase several 24 VAC transformers and link them to the system and test whether or not these TSTATS will operate as I hope for. If they do produce the desired results I will roll them out in full deployment within the primary Insteon network. One of the things I will have to decide upon is where these box's will reside? I am not sure the WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) will be there with respect to hanging up 6 white box's all over the house . . . This is why I considered the Energy Display instead as they simply look like a small white clock. Another problem going this route is that I will need to place each device with in a 120 AC outlet which will reduce my options for placement along with hiding the ugly wire coming down the wall . . . I dunno . . . Will have to sleep on this and consider my options. Teken . . .
andyf0 Posted December 7, 2011 Posted December 7, 2011 Another problem going this route is that I will need to place each device with in a 120 AC outlet which will reduce my options for placement along with hiding the ugly wire coming down the wall . . . Teken . . . You do realize the Energy Display units are battery powered, right?
Teken Posted December 8, 2011 Author Posted December 8, 2011 Another problem going this route is that I will need to place each device with in a 120 AC outlet which will reduce my options for placement along with hiding the ugly wire coming down the wall . . . Teken . . . You do realize the Energy Display units are battery powered, right? Sorry if I was not clear. I have 6 Insteon thermostats along with the RF adapters. My plan is to use these devices along with a 24 VAC transformer and place them through out the home. This is instead of the Energy Monitor.
andyf0 Posted December 8, 2011 Posted December 8, 2011 I have today ordered my second Venstar thermostat (they were on sale). I've written some programs already so that when I go to bed the main thermostat is turned off and the one in the bedroom is turned on. When the heat or cool control is received I turn on the main thermostat in heat or cool mode. In the morning when I get up I turn off the thermostat in the bedroom and turn on the main thermostat. There's some additional ceiling fan controls also. I should know if it's going to work tomorrow.
Teken Posted December 9, 2011 Author Posted December 9, 2011 I have today ordered my second Venstar thermostat (they were on sale). I've written some programs already so that when I go to bed the main thermostat is turned off and the one in the bedroom is turned on. When the heat or cool control is received I turn on the main thermostat in heat or cool mode. In the morning when I get up I turn off the thermostat in the bedroom and turn on the main thermostat. There's some additional ceiling fan controls also. I should know if it's going to work tomorrow. Andy, Would you mind sharing your programs with me? I would like to compare how your set up is relative to mine.
matapan Posted December 14, 2011 Posted December 14, 2011 What are the amperage requirements for the Venstar thermostat? I found a 24VAC AC adapter supplying 1.25 amps. Is this a suitable supply?
Brian H Posted December 14, 2011 Posted December 14, 2011 The Venstar adapter that supplies power to the unit when connecting to a two wire heat only system. Is 24 volts 200mA {0.2 Amps}. I would think 24 volts 1.25 amps would be plenty.
andyf0 Posted December 14, 2011 Posted December 14, 2011 I have today ordered my second Venstar thermostat (they were on sale). I've written some programs already so that when I go to bed the main thermostat is turned off and the one in the bedroom is turned on. When the heat or cool control is received I turn on the main thermostat in heat or cool mode. In the morning when I get up I turn off the thermostat in the bedroom and turn on the main thermostat. There's some additional ceiling fan controls also. I should know if it's going to work tomorrow. Andy, Would you mind sharing your programs with me? I would like to compare how your set up is relative to mine. No problem. The first program is what gets executed when I press the button before going to sleep. Sorry I gave up trying to line up the comments. It works great by the way. If Control 'DEVICES / REMOTELINCS / MASTER BEDROOM / RL2 MB (h)' is switched On Or Control 'DEVICES / REMOTELINCS / MASTER BEDROOM / RL2 MB (h)' is switched Off Then Run Program 'GD Close' (If) ; Close the Garage Door Disable Program 'PM08:45' ; Disable the program at runs at 8:45 in case I sleep early Set Scene 'MULTI ROOM / ALL' Off ; Turn everything off Set Scene 'HALLWAY UPSTAIRS / HU TS (OFF)' On ; Turn the main thermostat OFF Wait 5 minutes ; Wait for Heating or Cooling to turn off and compressor lockout to expire $iMBFanAuto = 1 ; Flag to use Master Bedroom Ceiling Fan while heating - Turn it ON $iMBFanAuto Init To $iMBFanAuto $iLRFanAuto = 0 ; Flag to use Living Room Ceiling Fan while heating - Turn it OFF $iLRFanAuto Init To $iLRFanAuto Set Scene 'MASTER BEDROOM / MB TS (80_72)' On ; Turn on the Master Bedroom Thermostat Else - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action') Then in the morning If Time is 5:00:00AM And On Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu Time is 5:00:00AM Then Set Scene 'MULTI ROOM / Floor Lamps' On ; Turn on some lights Set 'DEVICES / OUTLETS / LR (Christmas Tree)' On ; Xmas Tree - Temporary Enable Program 'PM08:45' ; Re-enable my program that runs at 8:45 Set Scene 'MASTER BEDROOM / MB TS (OFF)' On ; Turn off the Master Bedroom thermostat Wait 5 minutes ; Wait for Heating or Cooling to turn off and Compressor Lockout to expire $iLRFanAuto = 1 ; Set Living Room Fan to run during heating $iLRFanAuto Init To $iLRFanAuto Set Scene 'HALLWAY UPSTAIRS / HU TS (82_74)' On ; Turn ON main thermostat. Else Set 'DEVICES / OUTLETS / LR (Christmas Tree)' On Enable Program 'PM08:45' Set Scene 'MASTER BEDROOM / MB TS (OFF)' On Wait 5 minutes $iLRFanAuto = 1 $iLRFanAuto Init To $iLRFanAuto Set Scene 'HALLWAY UPSTAIRS / HU TS (82_74)' On The other programs that react to Heat or Cool On/Off all look like this If Control 'DEVICES / THERMOSTATS / MB TS (Cool Control)' is switched On And Control 'DEVICES / THERMOSTATS / MB TS (Cool Control)' is not switched Off Then Wait 3 seconds Set Scene 'HALLWAY UPSTAIRS / HU TS (70)' On Else Wait 3 seconds Set Scene 'HALLWAY UPSTAIRS / HU TS (OFF)' On I don't know if it's all RF based devices or just the thermostats but I've found reliability increases substantially if you don't try to talk to the thermostats when other Insteon traffic is going OR try to talk to another Insteon device immediately after talking to the thermostat. In the program above I just received a Cool On/Off from the thermostat so I wait for 3 seconds before reacting to it. The only downside to all of this is when you get up and leave the bedroom, the house is really cold in comparison to the toasty bedroom. This extra thermostat I bought was the Integrated INSTEON 1 day programmable. Apparantly it doesn't have the adjustable backlight feature the 7 day has. It is stuck in Auto, which means the backlight comes on at 6pm and goes off at 6am. It is very bright in a dark room. No worries, I just set the thermostats clock back 12 hours.
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