Purpose of heating controllers
Universal controller
The main purpose of this electronic device is to change the parameters of control devices connected to it to correct their operation. The simplest example of an elementary control element of this kind can be considered an automatic control protection system in gas boilers. But controllers for heating and hot water supply have wide functionality.
They are an electronic unit with the ability to control the main elements of the heating system. To do this, it provides the ability to program parameters depending on the data received, from external temperature and pressure sensors. Thus, a controller for a heating boiler can regulate the operation of a heated floor collector or individual thermostats on radiators.
The general characteristics of electronic control units include the following:
- System flexibility. To connect to heating components, you do not need to reprogram the device. In most cases, manufacturers provide several operating modes for one connection terminal;
- Possibility to choose a convenient location for installing the control panel. The Honeywell heating controller can be mounted at a distance of up to 100 m from the control element;
- Monitoring the functioning of not only heating systems, but also hot water supply;
- If you have a GPS unit, you can receive data online about the state of the heating and send commands to change its parameters.
The function of connecting the device to a computer is also important. A similar additional module is installed on the Aries heating controller. It is noteworthy that it is not included in the required package.
The controller can be installed on an old gas boiler. To do this, just change the heating pad to a new modular one.
How is connection and operation carried out?
It is possible to control gas, diesel and electric heating boilers. No special knowledge is required for setup and installation, and control after initial setup is performed with just a few simple commands. To connect the device, you need to connect the module to the boiler input for room thermostats, install a SIM card in the device and send a command to bind the device to your phone number. After this, the controller is ready for use.
To buy GSM for heating boilers in Moscow and St. Petersburg, call or write to us at the Telemetrics online store: our products can be purchased in different regions of Russia, including through pick-up points.
Selecting a heating controller
Example of a controller connection diagram
In what cases is it necessary to install a heating control controller? First of all, this device is necessary when residents are often absent from the house or apartment. By connecting the electronic unit to external temperature sensors (outside and indoors) and the boiler control terminals, you can use the built-in software to set up an automatic change in the intensity of the burner operation.
How to choose the optimal controllers for heating systems? The easiest option is to consult with specialists. But nowadays it is difficult to find one, since this product is relatively new. Therefore, it is recommended that you first study the basic selection parameters yourself:
- When comparing a controller for a heating boiler, you should make sure that the installed equipment has the ability to connect to the control unit. Most often, the boiler is characterized by one-stage or two-stage external control. This applies only to gas models - coordination with solid fuel models is impossible;
- Number of managed components. For a Honeywell heating controller, this value can reach 15 depending on the specific model;
- Availability of GPS unit. As mentioned above, this function makes it possible to remotely control the heating;
- Software update frequency. The modern controller of heating and hot water systems TRM 32 can be connected directly to a computer. You can always find the latest software version on the manufacturer's website.
An additional function is to adjust the operation of the components according to the configured heating schedule. This feature is provided in the Aries heating controller. You should also pay attention to the accuracy of measurements. In professional models, this indicator should not exceed ±0.01 scale.
Repair of heating controllers is rare. But it is still recommended to choose a manufacturer that has service centers in the region where you live.
What is automation for a solid fuel boiler?
Automation of a solid fuel boiler allows you to save almost a third of the fuel burned, be it coal, firewood, briquettes or pellets, maintaining a comfortable temperature in a residential or industrial premises.
Unlike a mechanical thermostat or draft regulator, which react to the temperature of the coolant, electronic automation for a TT boiler is guided by the temperature in the living room.
Data from the temperature sensor enters the boiler control unit and, based on it, the microprocessor controls the combustion chamber damper drive, the exhaust or blower fan, and the circulation pump for the coolant. It is possible to control the hot water supply circuit of the house or additionally control the boiler.
Automation for the boiler will allow you to save up to 30% of fuel. A customized boiler control system will increase its efficiency even when loading raw firewood, coal, pellets and other fuels.
Review of popular controller models
Having decided on the required parameters of controllers for heating and hot water supply, you can begin to analyze the products offered. Despite the large assortment, the market is oversaturated with low-quality models. Their actual parameters do not correspond to the declared ones, which subsequently leads to incorrect operation of the heating. Let's look at truly popular and reliable examples of heating control controllers.
Honeywell
Honeywell controller
Among the entire product range of the company, the Smile SDC7-21N model occupies a special place. In addition to an affordable price, it is characterized by optimal functionality, which is important for heating system controllers.
It is important for the consumer to know the characteristics of an electronic device. It should be immediately noted that for optimal operation of the Honeywell controller in the heating system, you will need to purchase additional modules - terminal blocks for connecting system components, a set of temperature sensors, a 3-way mixing valve and actuators. After assembling the controller, it will be possible to control heating and hot water according to the following parameters:
- The ability to regulate the operation of the boiler burner with two-stage control;
- Simultaneous control of 2 cascade type boilers. But for this you will need to install an additional temperature sensor at the output of the second one;
- The controller for the heating system can regulate the direct and mixing circuit depending on the street and room temperature;
- DHW pump control;
- Possibility of setting a 7-day heating control program.
In its minimum configuration it will only work as a controller for a heating boiler. But this will not prevent you from purchasing additional modules and upgrading the system over time. The cost of a complete set is about 45 thousand rubles.
It is best to purchase a complete set of equipment, since all its components are guaranteed to work normally when connected to each other.
INDIVIDUAL SETTING OF OPERATING MODES
Comfortable temperature is different for everyone. Some people love tropical heat, others believe that 20–22 degrees is more than enough. We have provided several home heating modes so that you can select the one you need at the moment in one move. In addition, you can easily create a weekly operating schedule for your heating boiler for the most optimal consumption of electricity or gas.
CHARACTERISTICS OF TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS
| Economy | Why heat the house when everyone is at work? Use this mode and save up to 15% energy daily by setting the minimum temperature to keep the room warm (for example, +15 degrees) |
| Comfort | Set a temperature that is comfortable for you and use this mode when you are at home (when the temperature drops a couple of degrees, the boiler will turn on to heat to the specified value) |
| Anti-freeze | If you move to a city apartment in winter, set this mode and don’t worry about the heating system at home - it is under reliable protection. |
| Schedule | Make a weekly heating schedule for your home and it will be cozy and warm every day (you can set the minimum temperature during the hours you are not in the room, and also set it to warm up to a comfortable temperature by the time you arrive). |
EASY INSTALLATION, NO SPECIAL SKILLS REQUIRED
ZONT SMART easily connects to an electric or gas boiler instead of a room thermostat. A SIM card of any operator that provides stable reception is inserted into it, supply voltage is supplied and a temperature sensor is connected. The controller automatically controls the operation of the boiler and informs the owner in all available ways.
| TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ZONT SMART THERMOSTAT | |
| Supply voltage | 24V |
| Maximum current consumption | 1000 mA |
| Number of analog inputs | 1 |
| Output dry contact (make/open) | 1 |
| Type of connected wired temperature sensors | DS18S20, DS18B20 |
| Type of connected radio thermal sensors | ML-740, ML-711, ML-719 |
| Total number of simultaneously connected temperature sensors | 10 pieces. |
| Maximum permissible length of cable with temperature sensors | 100 m |
| Maximum current through relay contacts | 1000 mA |
| Maximum voltage of switched relay contacts | ~ 120 V, = 24 V |
| Voice interface | There is |
| WEB interface | There is |
| 1-Wire interface | There is |
| Operating temperature range | from -30 to +55 °C |
| GSM modem frequency ranges | 800, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz |
| Data link | GPRS |
| GSM antenna | external |
| Internal non-volatile memory | There is |
| Built-in battery backup | Li-ion / 1000 mA*N |
| Time to reach operating mode | no more than 50 sec |
| Average service life | 7 years |
| dimensions | 150 x 130 x 30 mm |
| Weight, no more | 0.300 kg |
| Housing material | ABC plastic |
| TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION FOR THE ZONT SMART MODULE | |
| Operating instructions ZONT SMART (PDF, 1.1Mb) | |
Monitoring the condition and controlling the operation of the boiler via a web service and the ZONT mobile application
- Attention! When powered by a backup battery, the thermostat does not control the boiler!
- Display of the current state of the boiler;
- Display of current and target room temperature (coolant);
- Creation of individual boiler operating modes (up to 10 different modes);
- Monitoring of measured temperatures (air, coolant, hot water);
- Programming the boiler operation according to a weekly schedule;
- Monitoring the status of additional sensors (leakage, pressure, gas leakage, security).
Boiler owner notification
- when the current temperature deviates from the threshold values set by the operating mode;
- in case of an accident or malfunction of the boiler;
- if the connected temperature sensors are faulty;
- in case of loss and restoration of the main supply voltage (mains);
- when additional security sensors are triggered (the “Security Alarm” function).
Recording and storing event history (for the last 3 months)
- boiler operating time and monitoring of measured temperatures;
- time of occurrence of accidents and errors in the operation of the boiler;
- time of loss and restoration of the main supply voltage;
- time of incoming calls and text of incoming SMS messages;
- software update date and current software version number.
The most common breakdowns in the control unit
Since the control unit is a whole system, a failure can occur from any deviation of a component of this system. The most common malfunctions and their causes :
- the burner went out - air got into the gas pipeline;
- heating problems - poor gas supply, lack of oxygen;
- boiler overheating - closed contacts, prolonged operation at high temperatures, factory defective sensors;
- breakdown of the pneumatic relay (draft sensor) - incorrect connection, fan breakdown, incorrect smoke exhaust system;
- breakdown of the temperature sensor - incorrect connection of contacts, short circuit, overheating of the board;
- breakdown of the pressure switch - low water pressure in the pipes, defective contacts in the circuit board.
Most of these problems are easily fixed, even described in the instructions, but some require the intervention of a specialist.
You should not replace sensors or other parts yourself - this can be dangerous.
Advantages of control units
The main advantage is the optimally adjusted operating mode of the boiler, gas flow adjustment and the function of programming the desired mode. This is convenient when residents are often absent.
Modern controllers completely control the operation of the heating device and regulate the heating mode, taking into account weather conditions.
…
Almost all gas boilers are equipped with an external gas boiler control unit - a microcontroller, if it is not included in the package. This block allows you to set the operating mode for a specific period, for example, a week.
The control unit distributes heat flows to several water systems, which simplifies heating in houses and apartments. For example, adjusting the operation of a floor heating collector.
Having set all the necessary parameters with an accuracy of a degree, the user can eliminate himself; all errors and problems in the operation of the control unit are displayed on the display.
