Julián Medrano Silvestre
Sep 13, 2016, 4:37:08 AM9/13/16
to Loxone English
Hello people,
Most of my projects include the control of the heating system. I have implemented the functionality in several steps, according to my experience:
1) At the beginning, I "just" used a 0-10Vdc Temperature sensor (connected to analog imput). Therefore, my customers had to set the temperature using the Loxone App. It was ok with young people, but some older customers didn't like the idea of using a mobile phone every time they wanted to warm the house.
2) On the second approach I installed the 0-10Vdc Temperature Sensor (connected to analog imput) and a conventional thermostat (connected to a digital imput). The customer could choose between 2 modes:
- "Home Automation Heating System": The Heating system is directly controlled by the "climate controler" from Loxone Config, with all its functionality.
- "Manual Heating System": The Heating system is used in a conventional way, setting the comfort temperature in the thermostat (as if the Miniserver didn`t exist). Internally, the output that controls the heating system will change every time that the input that gets the thermostat state changes (by-passing the Miniserver).
As you will conclude, the main "problem" of this option is the visual effect of installing a Temperature Sensor and a Thermostat together on the wall.
3) My next AIM is to find a way to install a unique device to get the environment temperature (temp sensor) and to control the status temperature (thermostat). I consider several options:
- a) Using a conventional thermostat and install "inside" a 1-wire temperature sensor. It's an easy solution but it's only cost effective when I have more than 3 sensors at home, because I would have to add the 1-wire extension as an extra cost.
- b) Using a KNX room controller. This is the most versatil option but also the most expensive. I only consider this solution in project in wich cost is not a handicap.
- c) Finally, the best solution for me would be a device that works as thermostat and also as a 0-10Vdc temp sensor inside, but I have been surfing on the market but I can't find a device or solution for this :(
Can anyone provide me some help for the point c)?
"Cheap" suggests for the option b) will also be welcome :)
Thank you very much for your help!
Julián Medrano Silvestre
IT and Home Automation Engineer
Duncan
Sep 13, 2016, 10:43:29 AM9/13/16
to Loxone English
to a certain extent you are missing the point/advantages of the loxone home automation for heating control.
it has preset temparatures such as frost, economy (setback), comfort (normal) and cosy (warmer) which are supposed to be preset and set according to a schedule, movement etc without needing regular customer interaction via a wall 'thermostat'. trying to integrate a wall thermostat with loxone is quite difficult due to the issues of syncing the set temps in the thermostat/room controller with the loxone internal ones.
hidden cheap temperature sensors such as 1-wire behind/in light switches keeps the room free of electrical clutter, and occasional reaches for a tablet to change settings shouldnt happen too much once a house is set up for the occupants' needs
for additional user interaction, the simple way is to use an additional lightswitch to jump to the next temperature preset for a timed period or until the next scheduled change - so clicking the buttton might cycle through from economy to comfort, then cosy and switch back to the normal schedule after say 2 hours.
if you do this, its useful to have some kind of indicator at the switch to show the heating has been boosted - this is where some investment in light switches with feedback indicators such as the ones from ADS might save you money compared to a knx room controller.
i have used 1-wire hidden sensors in light switches in bathrooms and bedrooms where you tend to stick to a fixed schedule and not need boost, and used mdt glass knx switches in public rooms where you might want to boost the temperature such as kitchen, lounge etc (about £100 for 4 buttons) which have integrated temperature sensors and white and red leds - no need for 1-wire sensors, and one of the buttons selects the boost mode, and loxone illuminates the red leds of the switches to show which preset temperature the room controller is set to, giving the user some feedback
because its knx, the switch inputs, temperature sensors and led outputs do not use up any of the loxone input/output ports leaving them free for other tasks
it has preset temparatures such as frost, economy (setback), comfort (normal) and cosy (warmer) which are supposed to be preset and set according to a schedule, movement etc without needing regular customer interaction via a wall 'thermostat'. trying to integrate a wall thermostat with loxone is quite difficult due to the issues of syncing the set temps in the thermostat/room controller with the loxone internal ones.
hidden cheap temperature sensors such as 1-wire behind/in light switches keeps the room free of electrical clutter, and occasional reaches for a tablet to change settings shouldnt happen too much once a house is set up for the occupants' needs
for additional user interaction, the simple way is to use an additional lightswitch to jump to the next temperature preset for a timed period or until the next scheduled change - so clicking the buttton might cycle through from economy to comfort, then cosy and switch back to the normal schedule after say 2 hours.
if you do this, its useful to have some kind of indicator at the switch to show the heating has been boosted - this is where some investment in light switches with feedback indicators such as the ones from ADS might save you money compared to a knx room controller.
i have used 1-wire hidden sensors in light switches in bathrooms and bedrooms where you tend to stick to a fixed schedule and not need boost, and used mdt glass knx switches in public rooms where you might want to boost the temperature such as kitchen, lounge etc (about £100 for 4 buttons) which have integrated temperature sensors and white and red leds - no need for 1-wire sensors, and one of the buttons selects the boost mode, and loxone illuminates the red leds of the switches to show which preset temperature the room controller is set to, giving the user some feedback
because its knx, the switch inputs, temperature sensors and led outputs do not use up any of the loxone input/output ports leaving them free for other tasks
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