Is Zone Control really for everyone?

June 19, 2024Zone Control Info, HVAC Industryzoning supplyComment

Why Your Residential and Light Commercial Forced-Air Systems Need a Zone Control System

In today's world, energy efficiency and personalized comfort are top priorities for homeowners and business owners alike. One technology that can significantly improve both is a zone control system for your forced-air heating and cooling systems. At ZoningSupply.com, we believe that implementing a zone control system, such as the SmartZone from Ecojay, can transform how you experience comfort in your home or business. Here’s why.

Understanding Zone Control Systems

A zone control system divides your home or business into different zones, each of which can be heated or cooled independently. This is achieved through the use of dampers installed in the ductwork and controlled by a central system that responds to separate thermostats placed in each zone. This allows for precise temperature control in different areas, leading to numerous benefits.

Benefits of Zone Control Systems

1. Enhanced Comfort

With a zone control system, you can maintain different temperatures in different areas of your home or business. For example, you might prefer a cooler bedroom at night but a warmer living room during the day. Zoning allows you to set the perfect temperature for each zone, ensuring optimal comfort for everyone.

2. Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings

Heating or cooling your entire home or business uniformly can lead to wasted energy and higher utility bills. Zone control systems reduce energy consumption by only conditioning the areas that need it, rather than the entire building. This targeted approach can lead to significant cost savings over time.

3. Extended HVAC System Lifespan

By reducing the workload on your HVAC system, zone control can help extend its lifespan. Since the system isn’t working as hard to maintain a uniform temperature throughout the entire building, there’s less wear and tear on the equipment. This can result in fewer repairs and a longer life for your system.

4. Improved Indoor Air Quality

Zone control systems can improve indoor air quality by ensuring that the HVAC system is not overworking and potentially spreading dust, allergens, and other pollutants throughout the entire building. By focusing on specific zones, it’s easier to manage and maintain cleaner air.

5. Customization and Control

Modern zone control systems, like Ecojay's SmartZone, offer advanced customization and control options. You can easily set schedules, make adjustments remotely, and monitor system performance, all of which contribute to a more efficient and user-friendly experience.

Why Choose Ecojay's SmartZone?

Ecojay's SmartZone system stands out in the market for several reasons:

1. Advanced Technology

SmartZone utilizes advanced technology to ensure precise control and efficient operation. Its intelligent algorithms and user-friendly interface make it easy to customize settings for optimal performance.

2. Easy Integration

The SmartZone system is designed to integrate seamlessly with most residential and light commercial forced-air systems. Whether you’re retrofitting an existing system or installing a new one, SmartZone provides a straightforward and efficient solution.

3. Reliable Performance

Ecojay is known for its reliable and durable products. The SmartZone system is built to withstand the demands of regular use, ensuring consistent and dependable performance over time. All parts come with 5 year warranty.

4. Remote Access and Control

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With SmartZone connected to WiFi thermostats such as NEST, ECOBEE, VINE, etc, you can control your system from anywhere using a smartphone or tablet. This remote access capability allows you to make adjustments on the go, ensuring your comfort and efficiency needs are always met.

5. Energy Management Features

SmartZone includes features designed to optimize energy use, such as programmable limits and economizer capability. Additionally, using the Wifi Thermostats’ logging capabilities, can help you understand and manage your energy use more effectively.

Conclusion

Investing in a zone control system like Ecojay’s SmartZone is a smart move for anyone looking to enhance comfort, increase energy efficiency, and save on utility costs. At ZoningSupply.com, we’re committed to providing the best solutions for your heating and cooling needs. By implementing a zone control system, you can enjoy the benefits of personalized comfort, reduced energy consumption, and a longer-lasting HVAC system.

Revolutionize your home or business’s heating and cooling efficiency with SmartZone today!

If you have questions or comments, let us know!

Fresh Air for better Indoor Air Quality

September 15, 2021Other HVACzoning supply5 Comments

When people think about increasing the Indoor Air Quality of their homes, most probably think about pollutants like smoke/smog or allergens like pollen. Since these originate “outdoors”, the most logical thought is to close up your home as tight as possible and get an air cleaner of some sort. Although air cleaners like filters can and do help reduce the particles in the air to a varying degree, there is MORE to AIR quality than just “cleaning” the air.

The most critical and often overlooked aspect of having good indoor air quality is FRESH AIR. This, in it’s simplest form, is bringing outside air … inside. The first thought of objection might be that it seems counter-intuitive to bring air in that could have pollutants to try and “clean” the air, however, the EPA and other independant studies by AHRAE have shown that the pollutants like pollen can be 2 or 3x as high as outside air if a home is not properly ventilated. (see link below for sources and further explanation)

EPA recommendations for improving Indoor Air Quality: https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/improving-indoor-air-quality

A “properly ventilated” house includes both the intake of fresh air and the exhaust of inside air. Most homes come equipped with plenty of exhaust either in the bathrooms or kitchen vent hood but many do not have nearly enough intake of outside air. As a matter of fact, up until the 2000s, most homes were not equipped with any Fresh Air management at all which means that the only outside air that was coming inside was through cracks around doors and window. You might think this was an accident but it was actually “designed” this way because it has been know for 100 plus years that outside air is necessary for a healthy and clean air environment.

SmartZone-4X has a built-in FRESH AIR controller, that can be used to automatically (or manually) bring fresh air into the building. It was designed as a feature to meet the ASHRAE 62.2 standard but has many additional and useful features that make it more desirable than a standard “Fresh Air Control” like the Honeywell W8150.

Shown below, the SmartZone can be used as a “stand-alone” fresh air controller even without the need for any zoning.

Find out more and learn about the Adavanced Fresh Air control features: FRESH AIR - Enthalpy Control

Buy SmartZone-4X for your Fresh Air control

WiFi Zoning using Wyze Thermostat with SmartZone?

August 10, 2021thermostatszoning supplyComment

Is this finally an inexpensive, but quality WiFi thermostat to pair with SmartZone for the perfect affordable WiFi HVAC Zoning solution? Short answer… yes, if your biggest driving factor is cost. These, if you can get them from Wyze.com*, are only $79 each. And when you need two or three or four or more for a SmartZone system, this low cost seems quite appealing.

I received a pre-order version (two actually) and have been testing them on the workbench and at home for a few months. Although there were a couple of hiccups when I installed the first one, I haven’t had any issues since installation and have subsequently installed 2 more (in a different location).

Although, they might lack a few of the finer aspects of the nest or some of the flexibility of the ecobee, the Wyze does work and is almost half the cost.

For either Heat Pump or Gas/Electric, etc equipment types, the Wyze works great. It is basic, but everything you need for 90% of customers (including my on personal system).

(Note: there is no remote sensor at the time of writing of this but they (Wyze) do say one is in the works for the future)

*as of this writing August 2021, they are out of stock from Wyze and most re-sellers on ebay or amazon want more for them than retail. When the price goes up, this becomes less appealing because there are good options available at the $150 price range already.

Buy here: https://wyze.com/wyze-thermostat.html

When NOT to use a Wyze…

1. If you need a remote sensor. ecobee or honeywell or nest all have them.
2. If you use the APP all the time. I’m not going to say the app is buggy, but it isn’t quite as robust yet as some of the others like ecobee or nest.

The app works great for me, but we only use the app once or twice per month or so. We mostly interact with the thermostat and only use the app occasionally for remote changing of temperature or to check if it is off while we are out of town. If I used the APP every day as a part of my temperature management, I would probably go with the ecobee or nest.

Also as a brief aside, I DO recommend the Wyze cameras also, but I don’t have much frame of reference because they are the only Wifi cameras I have ever had but I have used them for about 4 years and, for the price, can’t be beat. https://wyze.com/wyze-cam-black.html

With thermostats, however, I do have extensive experience and have tested (or at least played with) most all Wifi thermostats on the market. The Wyze fits the bill as an excellent “budget” WiFi thermostats which makes it a perfect upgrade to a SmartZone system.

COST:

At ZoningSupply.com you can purchase a 4-zone kit (including everything you need except thermostats) starting at $750 ($500 for 2 zones) and $320 for thermostats (4X $79ea). This means for about $1000 you can get everything you need for a full 4-Zone WiFi Zoning System and about $660 for a full Wifi 2-zone SmartZone system.

Check out SmartZone Kits here: https://zoningsupply.com/buy/2-3-or-4-zone-kits

We are not affiliated in any way with Wyze, however, we have reached out to them to see if we could be an authorized reseller to bring WiFi kits to our customers but have not yet heard back… probably because they are always out of stock.

Where's your Comfort Zone? - SmartZone can help!

March 21, 2018homeowners, Zone Control Infozoning supplyComment

De-humidification and SmartZone - Zone 1 Thermostat Control

September 20, 2017HVAC Contractors, Other HVAC, Supportzoning supply1 Comment

Although SmartZone does not have any built-in capabilities for controlling DE-humidification (DH) or Humidification, some applications are possible by using a thermostat on ZONE 1 that does have the capability to control DH.

“DE-humidification, in most residential systems, is simply running the equipment in COOLING with LOW speed fan instead of HI speed fan.”

Before we get to zoning, the equipment being used must have the capability to control humidity. This usually means it has a terminal (DH/BK/DS) that is energized or DE-energized by a thermostat to control fan speed of the equipment. Controlling fan speed allows the equipment to DE-humidify the air when the fan is running in low speed.

Back to zoning, using zone 1 thermostat to control DH is not as simple as wiring directly from the thermostat to the equipment. PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS. The equipment and the zone thermostats are running on different transformers and this will case problems and potentially damage to some components. You could isolate the output from the thermostat with a relay to get around this issue of different transformers but you would still have an issue with this method of wiring "around" the zone controller. The issue can arise when zone 1 calls for DH but the equipment is already running in heat, this mixed signal might just be ignored by the equipment but we cannot take that for granted... all equipment works differently.

ecojay smartzone de-hum using y2 -BASIC.JPG

The best way to control DH using SmartZone on single stage equipment is by using the method below. It may seem a little UN-orthidoxed but it is a valid APP note from the engineer at Ecojay (It's intended to work this way).

Select a DH enabled thermostat of your choice
Connect Y2/ECO on SmartZone Zone 1 to Zone 1 Thermostat DH/DS/BK
Connect Y2 on SmartZone Equipment toEquipment DH/DS/BK
Set Zone 1 "STAT TYPE" to G2
Set DIP switch #4 to "LOCKOUT"

Zone 1 thermostat will now enable and disable DE-humidification any time the equipment is running in the cooling mode.
NOTE: When starting cooling from OFF state, 90 second delay will occur before HIGH speed fan will energize.

Using this method we are assuming that the equipment is expecting DS/BK/DH input terminal to be ENERGIZED for high speed fan and DE-ENERGIZED for low speed fan. This method should not be used for more than 3 zones or with multi-stage compressor equipment.

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This application will work with Ecojay's SmartZone-2X and SmartZone-4X. Learn more

SmartZone 2X install guide

WiFi Thermostat Roundup 2017

September 6, 2017homeowners, Other HVAC, thermostatszoning supplyComment

Just a few short years ago, WiFi thermostats were only made by a very few companies starting with Ecobee and RadioThermostat, followed by Nest. A couple of years pass and big names in the HVAC industry (Honeywell, Emerson, Venstar, etc) join the WiFi thermostat party. In 2017 we have more to chose from than can easily be kept up with. Note: All prices as of this article publish date.

All of the WiFi thermostats listed below will work with any SmartZone

I am sure there will be even more on the market in 2018, we will keep watching the WiFi thermostat bubble grow! More than 15 are listed here (and I know they are not all listed). If you know of any more, comment or tweet to us @zoning_supply

Bosch - $ 170, 4-Heat, 2-Cool, GE/HP, Hum, deHum, Color: White
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073XHD8BB

Ecobee Si - $ 145, 2-Heat, 2-Cool, Color: White
https://www.amazon.com/ecobee-Thermostat-Heat-2-NON-Touch-Screen/dp/B008F40R4C/

TOP PICK

*Ecobee 3 - $ 169, 3-Heat, 2-Cool, Best for zoning in our opinion.
https://www.amazon.com/ecobee3-Smart-Thermostat-Works-Amazon/dp/B06W56TBLN/

PREMIUM CHOICE

Ecobee 4 - $ 247, 3-Heat, 2-Cool, Alexa-Enabled
https://www.amazon.com/ecobee4-Alexa-Enabled-Thermostat-Sensor-Amazon/dp/B06W2LQY6L/

Emerson Sensi Color Touch - $ 169, 2 Heat, 2 Cool, GE/HP
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N3CEUDH?psc=1

Emerson Sensi - $ 99, 1 Heat, 1 Cool, GE/HP
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HHE6CW2?psc=1

Nest - $ 249, 3-Heat, 2-Cool
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0131RG6VK/

Honeywell Color Touch - $ 190
https://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-TH9320WF5003-Touchscreen-Thermostat-Amazon/dp/B00G4CIG7M/

Honeywell Lyric T5 - $ 110
https://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-RCHT8610WF2006-Programmable-Touchscreen-Thermostat/dp/B01LTHM8LG/

Honeywell Lyric Round - $ 170, Geofencing
https://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-Thermostat-Contractor-Version-Amazon/dp/B00KX3M1LA/

Honeywell Basic 7-day - $ 90, 1-Heat, 1-Cool, GE, Color: White (Yes this is WiFi--even though it doesn't look like anything other than an inexpensive thermostat)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Y6M2OUC/

wifi stat -Honeywell black and white Touch.JPG

Honeywell B&W Touch - $ 118
https://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-Wi-Fi-Programmable-Touchscreen-Thermostat/dp/B00EP6C8UA/

iDevices Thermostat - $ 112
https://www.amazon.com/iDevices-Thermostat-Wi-Fi-Works-Amazon/dp/B019GQM6LY/

VALUE CHOICE #1

Lux PRO GEO - $ 115, Geofencing, Mount Vertical or Horizontal, Color: Black or White
https://www.amazon.com/Lux-Products-GEO-WH-Thermostat-Amazon/dp/B010PTKWW6/

RadioThermostat - $ 99, 2-Heat, 2-Cool, GE/HP, Modules for Zigbee & Z-Wave
https://www.amazon.com/Radio-Thermostat-Programmable-Enabled-Controls/dp/B00KQS35XA/

VALUE CHOICE #2

*Vine - $ 99, Settings Knob, Color Screen & Night-Light
https://www.amazon.com/Vine-Programmable-Thermostat-Touchscreen-Nightlight/dp/B01JU1DZN8/

Vine Touch - $ 129 Color Touch Screen,
https://www.amazon.com/Vine-Smart-Wi-Fi-Thermostat-TJ-919/dp/B01N7UNSAP/

Any information in this article should be verified with the manufacturer of each product listed. Specifications, prices & availability are all subject to change and will not be kept current on this post. Please email us if you have any questions.

ALSO NOTE: We (I) have not been paid or compensated in any way for this article by any of the manufacturers of these products. I have not even received any free product... anything reviewed has been purchased through retail outlets and tested with SmartZone zone control products for the use of ZoningSupply.com customers. This information is not intended to be exhaustive or claim expert knowledge about all of these thermostats. Thank you.

New & Improved Rectangle Dampers available at ZoningSupply.com

July 28, 2017Products, HVAC Contractors, ZoningSupplyzoning supplyComment

Zoning for comfort and / or economy... basics of HVAC Zoning

June 13, 2017homeownerszoning supplyComment

We have explained in other posts on ZoningSupply.com, when it comes to HVAC zoning, each application must be evaluated individually. Situations vary widely from building to building, but, in all cases HVAC Zone Control puts the user (homeowner, building manager, etc) in control of comfort.

Let's rewind, what is zoning? Homes and buildings that have "central" heating and air conditioning typically have 1 thermostat that controls the whole house temperature. With zoning, multiple thermostats can be placed throughout the house to better control temperature throughout. SmartZone connects to all of the thermostats & automatically controls dampers (air valves) installed in the air ducts. These air ducts direct air from the heating & cooling equipment to the different areas or "zones" of the home/building. The dampers allow SmartZone to direct air only where needed.

Once a SmartZone has been installed, you will have the ability to set each of the zone thermostats to whatever temperature or settings you desire. SmartZone will, within reason, keep each zone at the correct temperature by running the equipment and directing hot or cold air into the zones only when necessary. This achieves the purpose of comfort control to manage hot or cold areas of your home.

As for energy savings, if some of the zones are rarely used and can stay off for a sufficient amount of time, the equipment will run for a shorter time to heat or cool the rest of the building. This and other applications that allow the user to turn off or set-back one or more of the zones can, in some cases, result in energy savings. Some sources have published % energy savings possible with zoning, however, this is too arbitrary to have any real meaning. Like stated at the beginning, every application is different & the real possibility of energy savings is in the hands of the user and how the thermostats are set.

Zoning is an amazing solution to comfort issues and gives the user ultimate control over comfort throughout the home or building. However, zone control is NOT a magic bullet for energy savings. HVAC Zoning only puts more control in the hands of the user & it is ultimately the thermostats and how they are set that determines potential energy savings.

Use Wifi thermostats with SmartZone for ultimate control over comfort and energy use.

The reality is that in a normal home with one thermostat, the only way to get more "comfort" is to spend more energy (ie run the AC or heat). With zoning, you can stay more comfortable in some areas while reducing run-time by not heating/cooling other areas.

SmartZone is the best hvac zone control for upgrades or new-installs. Order today and install yourself of call any HVAC contractor in your area for installation.

Spring is HVAC maintenance season... think about Zone Control.

April 5, 2017homeownerszoning supply1 Comment

With warmer weather approaching, upstairs or certain areas of your home can become uncomfortably warm without SmartZone. HVAC zone control can make the entire home more comfortable in the hottest Summer months.

Most homes with a single thermostat have some issues with keeping everyone, everywhere in the house comfortable. With SmartZone, thermostats are places throughout the home to achieve comfort everywhere... and if you choose to turn off some of the areas (zones), you can even save energy. Most importantly, however, SmartZone can make your home more comfortable than it is now. See the slides below for how it works.

How it works...

SmartZone is connected to several Thermostats placed in "zones" throughout the home or building.
SmartZone is connected to the Air Conditioning (AC) and Heating equipment.
Dampers (air valves) are installed in the existing ducts that connect to room vents in the "zones."
SmartZone controls the AC & Heating equipment AND opens/closes dampers to control air to the zones based on the thermostats.

There is obviously a lot more to HVAC Zone control than the above bullet points. Bypass & static pressure, duct sizing & damper leakage, thermostat & equipment types, equipment modes & changeover, compressor staging, emergency & auxiliary heat... and much more. The good news is that SmartZone takes the guess work out of the potential complications of zoning. Check out more about why SmartZone is the best choice here.

SmartZone is great for fireplace season... no more cold areas.

December 19, 2016homeowners, Other HVACzoning supplyComment

Most people enjoy a good crackling fireplace when it's cold and snowy during the winter months even it isn't the primary source of heat for our homes these days... at least for most of us. One problem that is common with homes that only have a single thermostat (no zoning) is that when a fire is burning, areas away from the fire get colder than the rest of the house. Zone control can be the perfect solution...

2016 USER QUESTIONS - SmartZone Advanced

December 16, 2016Support, homeownerszoning supplyComment

Photo by BackyardProduction/iStock / Getty Images

QUESTION: I have two 9580 thermostats one in the office, the other in the main hangar bay (two zones). When heating both zones or only the hangar, I need the furnace to go full blower with normal scheduling through stages 1 and 2. When servicing only the small office area, I don't want the system to advance from stage 1. Unfortunately, the office is so small and the modulating schedule of the furnace is still too much airflow for the office (the zone bypass when servicing the office is the main hangar modulating damper that is controlled via SPC (excess dumps into hangar)). This damper will be wide open during call for hangar heat. The main damper control logic is managed through a 3PDT 24 Vac relay. So, I need to block out stage 2 from only 1 zone (office). The zone ramping schedule of the 9580 works well with the 100k modulating furnace control board, and would like to keep that capability.

ANSWER: Configure the zone 1 thermostat connector STAT TYPE to G2 (conventional gas/electric) or H2 (heat pump) to allow the thermostat to control staging and use the hangar thermostat on zone 1. Wire only the stage 1 circuits (Y1 and W1) on the office thermostat to the zone 2 thermostat connector (Also connect R, C and G wires). Set dipswitch 4 to the LOCKOUT position. This will configure the zone controller to allow 2nd stage only when the hangar thermostat calls for 2nd stage regardless of whether the office thermostat is calling. When the office thermostat is calling and the hangar thermostat is not, SmartZone will not allow 2nd stage to operate.

“I called last week to inquire about using this zone controller in a hangar that had a small office area and a large bay. I advised the call taker that I had Honeywell 9580. I also asked about the capability of the zone controller to handle the smaller office area’s lower CFM requirement and whether or not I could defeat the step-up from W1/Y1 to W2/Y2. I was told that the controller can be set up to defeat the stage step-ups.

After reading the manual, I found that there are no multi-stage inputs on the controller board from thermostats. So, basically, the capabilities of the Honeywell 9580 are wasted. Also, the stage defeat is for the whole system, not zone-specific as I need. It would be pointless to defeat stage increases while heating/cooling a large hangar space”

ANSWER: The SmartZone controller typically controls staging based on the total system conditions which is the most efficient way to operate a multi-zoned multi-staged hvac system. However, the zone1 thermostat connector on SmartZone can be configured to allow the thermostat to control staging (refer to the top of page 10 of the installation manual). When the zone1 thermostat is configured for staging the ability to lockout 2nd stage with only 1 zone calling is disabled. With the thermostat controlling staging your ability to limit staging will be determined by the features of your Honeywell 9580 instead of the SmartZone control.

“I have a honeywell mastertrol2 mm2, i wanted to update my thermostats but my zone controller has separate b and o wires going to thermostats . Will updating my zone controller to a smart zone 2 help this problem?”

ANSWER: Updating your zone controller to a SmartZone 2 zone controller will allow you to use any 24VAC thermostat. SmartZone controls are designed to be universally compatible with 24VAC thermostats including WI-FI models used to control your thermostat remotely through the internet on your smart phone or tablet. You should be able to connect any 24VAC thermostat to a SmartZone control without any problems.

“Do you have a digital thermostat that you recommend or sell to go with SmartZone?”

ANSWER: ZoningSupply does not carry thermostats, however, SmartZone controllers are compatible with any 24VAC powered 5 or 6 wire thermostat. Popular brands our customers install with SmartZone include Honeywell, ICM, Braeburn, Nest, Ecobee, Aprilaire, Lux, Lyric, and MANY others. We suggest you avoid using low priced 'power stealing' thermostats as they may cause intermittent issues if your utility power fluctuates. Power stealing thermostats are typically low priced and can be identified by the lack of a C (common) terminal on the thermostat wall mounting plate.
If you are looking for a WiFi thermostat check out this other article:
http://zoningsupply.com/blog/best-wifi-thermostat-for-zoning

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2016: QUESTIONS from ONLINE CUSTOMERS

December 12, 2016Support, homeownerszoning supplyComment

QUESTION: Will SmartZone replace Honeywell Trol-a-temp?

ANSWER: The SmartZone-4X is a "drop-in" replacement for all of the Honeywell boards.

QUESTION: I live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Are there any qualified installers for the Smart Zone dampers?

ANSWER: Although we have customers in other parts of Canada, we do not have any specific HVAC contractor customers in Toronto. Any reputable HVAC contractor with previous experience installing zoning should be able to install the Ecojay SmartZone controls or dampers. Many do-it-yourself folks have also successfully installed Ecojay's controls/dampers without difficulty. If your contractor is not specifically familiar with SmartZone controls they can reach our technical support line, 844-ZONE-123, for assistance if needed. Feel free to contact us with additional questions.

QUESTION: I have an old DuroZone system (model SMZ-SW) that has stopped working and am looking for a replacement solution and have been researching the Smartzone option. I have a few questions and wanted to see if you could help me.

I'm not sure what has failed with the DuroZone system, but I wanted to first see if I replaced the controller with the Smartzone controller if it would work. Will the Smartzone controller work with the DuroZone dampers ?
Would you be able to put me in touch with an installer who could do the installation and testing of the smartzone controller ? I'm not overly handy and would prefer a knowledgeable installer to do the install and tests.

ANSWER:

Ecojay's SmartZone products are compatible with your current DuroZone controller. Your existing thermostats and dampers are normally compatible with SmartZone.as well. Wiring the dampers into SmartZone may be different depending on the model dampers you have. We can provide damper wiring instructions when you or your installer inform us the damper models you have.
The change out of your existing Durozone controller should be simple for any competent hvac contractor even if they haven't used Smartzone before. Zoning Supply can also be contacted for technical support toll free if you or the installer need technical assistance.

QUESTION: I have a Honeywell Chronotherm 111 system with one main panel and three mercury thermostat controllers. I have been informed that my control panel is inoperative and three dampers have failed. I would like to upgrade the system with out
losing the capability/control of the temperature in each room. I am in dire need to correct/improve my system with the Honeywell product.

ANSWER: The Honeywell Chronotherm III thermostat (models T8600, T8601 & T8603) are 24VAC powered according to Honeywell's spec sheet and should be compatible with any Ecojay SmartZone controller.

QUESTION: My customer has a Carrier/Parker zone system, not sure what version. I want to replace the complete system minus the dampers. Currently there is a main controller, bypass controller and six zones. The bypass could be converted to a dump zone. Wireless is also an option. What do you think?

ANSWER: From our knowledge of the Carrier-Parker controls, it is VVT control system and Carrier released two generations of the product line that we know of. One or both generations used dampers that had DC powered, multi-position actuators. Carrier has also tended to use a more proprietary control flow using a pulsed or multi-position damper actuator which do not have an internal stop switch. SmartZone outputs 24VAC continuously on either the OPEN damper circuit or CLOSE damper circuit with the actuator using an internal stop switch to switch off power when it reaches stop in either open or close position. This is typical of most conventional residential/light commercial zone control brands and product-lines today. If your customer's current system does not match this specification you will need to change out the damper actuators if installing Ecojay SmartZone or any other major 24VAC brand control product. Ecojay's damper actuators have a torque rating of 18 in-lb/2 Nm and can work with a round or square shaft of 1/4" to 5/8" diameter.
SmartZone is expandable up to 20 zones, capable of 2C/3H stages and is compatible with any conventional 24VAC controlled equipment including heat pump or heat pump with dual fuel. SmartZone is also compatible with all off the shelf 24VAC thermostats. If you are able to supply the specific product model your customer is using I can probably be more specific about the compatibility issues.

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SmartZone-4X

$229.99 $299.00

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QUESTION: I have a Honeywell Trol-a-temp Model MABS-2 422041-2 with a Mastertrol Add-a-zone model MAZ-1 TAT422027. This is a 4 zone electric system, heat pump with Emergency heat. I have the Master which control s the Emergency heat plus e thermostats. I would like to upgrade the Panel so that I can put a digital thermostat as the master.

ANSWER: SmartZone-4X will work for you.
http://zoningsupply.com/buy/smartzone-4x

QUESTION: I am looking to use this product with a 2 zone system that has 2 wire dampers. I have to power 4 dampers per zone. Will this produced do so? I am using 8" round dampers and there are 4 per floor.

ANSWER: All Ecojay SmartZone controls are compatible with 2 and 3 wire dampers. They can even be mixed on the same zone. SmartZone can support up to four 2 wire dampers (up to ten 3 wire dampers) on each zone. Dampers and thermostats are powered from the SmartZone controller. It is important to determine the VA capacity of the transformer needed to power SmartZone as the number of devices powered from the controller increase. In your installation, the transformer used to power the SmartZone controller will need to support the power demand of the zone controller (12VA), 8 dampers (2-wire dampers at 7-10VA each), and 2 thermostats (2VA each). Total potential transformer VA demand from these components collectively total 96VA (12+80+4). However, assuming your 2 wire dampers are power close/spring open, power demand from the dampers will occur only when the dampers are closed. With a 2 zone system, you will never see both zones closed at the same time (all dampers default to open when no zones are calling) so your maximum power demand will be only from 4 dampers. This changes the maximum potential power demand to 62VA (12+40+4). A 75VA - 24VAC transformer will be capable of providing adequate power for your system. This size transformer is readily available on Ebay and many other web stores. If your 2 wire dampers are power open/spring close (this type is typically used only for fresh air ventilation) then you will need a transformer with a VA capacity of 100VA minimum. Visit our zoningsupply.com website and review the ZS2X/4X installation guide for more information on installation. Thank you for contacting Zoning Supply with your question. We appreciate your interest in our SmartZone products.

QUESTION: The 9580 thermostat uses delta T (difference between actual room and called for temps) as part of the staging calculation. If the staging function of the thermostat is replaced by the zone controller, how does the controller get delta T, or is is not used? If not, ow does it determine staging...is it rate of temp change sensed by the probe?

ANSWER: SmartZone uses algorithms based on time and supply air temperature (as measured at the supply air plenum) to control staging. Each time the equipment is started SmartZone will require a minimum run time in stage 1 before it will consider staging. This initial run time allows for the equipment to achieve a stable temperature in heat or cool before determining if staging up is necessary. After the initial run time requirement is achieved SmartZone compares supply air temperature to the cut-in temperature settings and will stage up if conditions are met. When the equipment is running stage 2 SmartZone will compare supply air temperature to the cut-out temperature and will return to stage 1 if conditions are met. SmartZone staging algorithms will vary the time and temperature elements based on equipment type (gas/electric or heat pump) and mode of operation (cool or heat). The SmartZone Installation manual included with your product provides detailed information about the sequence of operations for adjusting staging settings including the specific algorithms used for each equipment type and their modes of operation.

HVAC Contractors: Out-Perform the Competition with ZoningSupply.com

November 7, 2016Other HVAC, HVAC Contractors, HVAC Industry, ZoningSupplyWhitney PitzerComment

Contractors nowadays are finding that homeowners and business-owners are looking for all the bells and whistles they can reasonably afford and install. Among features like energy-efficient fixtures and home-automation, HVAC zoning is usually near the top of this list. Of course, zoning offers multiple benefits to homes and buildings as it can save energy and provide a custom level of comfort.

As HVAC zoning rises in popularity, homeowners and business-owners are beginning to ask for it by name.

How can contractors make the most of this movement?
It starts with choices. Many contractors have unfortunately limited themselves to zone control systems that sit at the top of the market (as well as the top of the price-range.) This would be great if these “name-brand” zoning systems offered quality, reliability and features that justified the price. This is simply not the case. Contractors who have worked with zoning for a while can attest to this. The good news is that there are now many choices when it comes to zone controls, dampers, and equipment. Contractors and suppliers can now sift through the choices and figure out which systems are the simplest to install, the most reliable, and provide the best customer support.

This is where ZoningSupply.com comes in. ZoningSupply guarantees their products to be the most reliable, the easiest to install, and the most affordable in the marketplace. Hundreds of contractor and homeowner testimonials over the past 10+ years sing praises of the top-notch products they offer.
Here’s why . . .

Contractor-Friendly
The engineers behind ZoningSupply products will tell you that their systems were designed with the contractor in mind. In other words, full-color install guides, screwless wiring, and color-coded LEDs are only the start. If a contractor picks up the phone and talks to Jeff or one of our other tech-support specialists, they’ll be sure to have all of their questions answered quickly but thoroughly.

Easy-to-follow instructions and simple design make for a lightning-fast install.

Ship Direct for Free
Furthermore, ZoningSupply.com can ship anywhere in the U.S. for free. Individual components or entire systems can be purchased on the website and delivered straight to your office or job site,

Affordable
ZoningSupply’s featured SmartZone 2x, 4x, and 2L systems are among the most affordable in the marketplace. This puts money in your pocket and provides savings that can be passed along to homeowners.

Universally Compatible
If a contractor uses ZoningSupply, they can confidently offer retrofit options for virtually any existing HVAC system on the market. This means not having to learn and re-learn various installation procedures. This also means that nearly every home or building in your area can be retrofitted for zoning . . . Think of the opportunities!

With zone control systems, as with any product, there are the good, the bad, and the ugly. In the end, they all must answer to the contractors and ultimately the homeowners. When bidding on projects or marketing their services, contractors should equip themselves with the confidence and reliability that ZoningSupply.com products provide.

More unbiased Zone control discusson on homeenergy

November 2, 2016Other HVACzoning supplyComment

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QUESSTION by Adam Zielinski

Homeowners with forced air duct systems always want to close the registers in rooms they aren't using, and close the doors to those rooms, in the belief that doing so will save energy and money.
I always thought doing this was over-rated and unlikely to save a significant amount of energy or money. I could see doing it for one or two rooms perhaps, but sometimes homeowners close off half of their house or more.
This creates unbalanced air flow in the duct system and likely results in over heating the furnace heat exchanger, and or short cycling the furnace. So the furnace spends a lot of time in start up mode and less time at peak efficiency.
I have not seen any real studies done on this however. I'd like to see some data or research on this.

Reply by dale conner
Adam, most furnaces will move the proper amount of air through the blower and heat exchanger if the furnace cabinet pressure doesnt exceed .5 IWC and the furnace capacity was chosen based on a manual J calculation. This information can be found in the furnace installation manual or IOM (installation,operation,maintenance) that comes with a new furnace. However, this does not mean we are getting adequate air delivery to all of the rooms in the house due to excessive air leakage in the ducts and/or incorrect duct lengths or diameters routed to each room.

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QUESTION by Judi Lyall

How about using a motorized damper ?

Reply by dale conner
A single motorized damper can be used to control a zoned area but you also have to install a barometric by-pass damper to prevent over pressurization www.zoningsupply.com

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See full discussion: http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/group/hvac/forum/topic/show?id=6069565%3ATopic%3A7207

Honest discussion on homeenergypros about zoning advantages.

October 25, 2016Other HVACzoning supplyComment

Are Zoned Heating/Cooling Systems a Good or Bad Idea?

Excerpt from homeenergypros discussion about HVAC Zone controls.

QUESTION by Jon LaMonte

For starters, I live in Atlanta, Ga and I am not an HVAC pro so this is a serious question that I would like answered for one of my clients. I understand the premise of a zoned system and on the surface, it sounds like a good idea. Then I considered the fact that I have always told my customers that it is a bad idea to close off vents in rooms they are not in because of duct leakage. Also, the second law of thermodynamics simply states the hot goes to cold, so now the unheated areas are doing their best to rob warm air from the heated areas. Finally, if your zoning a single system, aren't you creating on oversizing issue because the unit (that was probably oversized in the first place) is now servicing a smaller area than what it was designed for?

Reply1 by Chris Heenan

Zoning has benefits beyond temp control. Most often the home does not require the full 2 stage heat or cooling as the system only needs to satisfy a portion of the home. So, then if 1/2 the heated air goes through a properly sized and balance bypass, the return air (from home) will mix with warm supply (from bypass) before going thru the system again. You may not need to go beyond 1stage heat (or cool) except in extremes. This is most beneficial in raising supply temps from heat pumps when in winter mode. Most supply vents feel 'cool' to homeowner. Not so when zoned and not call on all zones.

Flip it to cool, and the bypass send dehumidified cooler air across the coil. Decreasing high side pressures and amp draw of compressor. Then the air gets more heat extracted and further dehumidified. Pulling out additional condensate and running less. Remember systems have to be careful not to oversize as dehumidification is crucial to comfort. Dry and cool temps out supply vent. Not too shabby.

Reply2 by dale conner

Zone sytems are rarely installed properly but can be efficient if properly designed. The goal is to be able to set back the temperature a few degrees in a zone that isnt being utilized while keeping another zone comfortable that is being utilized. A single unit with a zone system will have a by-pass duct sytem to dump the air thats been cut off from one zone back into the duct system to be used in the zone that is being used.

*Reply3 by James Jackson on

Have you ever been driving down the interstate hwy and come up on an exit ramp that has traffic backed up? As the traffic backs up and eventually fills the exit with cars you end up with a slight back up on the entire highway. this is the closest scenario i have been able to come up to help people understand why closing doors and vents is a bad idea. if you have a run off of a main trunk and you close the outlet or register you will cause the air to back up into the trunk causing turbulence in the trunk line resulting in a decrease in air flow in other areas on the system. this can also cause multiple other problems like pulsing and excessive noise from the increase in pressure.

another thing to remember when you shut doors in a home with no return air you cause a difference in pressure in the home. The room you have closed is now significantly positively pressurized and the house is now under a negative pressure. This why some homes have the doors undercut by 3-4 inches trying to allow the air to get back to the return.

Ok as far as the zone system goes... There is so much more thought involved in properly setting up a quality zone system that i see very few done correctly. If you want to do one correctly you first need to make sure you are using a multi-stage HVAC unit so the unit can run on low speed if it is only conditioning one zone. A bypass or crossover duct with a barometric damper is needed if you are conditioning a small zone and the air handler is still supplying too much air, but if you are going the zone route don’t use contractor grade units and piece it together with a simple zone controller. Get a high efficiency v speed unit that is designed for this application.

But what happens when you change the temps in a zone in the house 4-5 degrees?? Energy moves from hot to cold so you end up indirectly heating or cooling the entire space regardless. This brings us to another scenario. The return air in the zone that is off. My experience with working on correcting issues with homes using zone systems has been the returns are never dampered so if the zone is completely shut off you have just installed a permanent blower door. if the zone is off one you are returning hotter or colder air to the system and two you are causing that zone to have a negative pressure.

Just some things to think about !!

Learn more at www.zoningsupply.com

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My editorial conclusion:
Zoning CAN be effective if and ONLY if it's designed and installed properly. This means ducts, dampers, equipment size (tons). It also means the right zone panel setup with energy saving features like SmartZone. Finally, to make zoning work best and comfort control and energy savings, the home owner must properly control the thermostats. Zoning isn't a "set-it-and-forget-it" system, it must be managed to be effective. More articles about zoning

See full discussion: http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/group/hvac/forum/topic/show?id=6069565%3ATopic%3A7207

Every HVAC contractor should have a SmartZone on the truck!

September 5, 2016Zone Control Infozoning supply1 Comment

SmartZone is universal and can replace almost any zone system you come across in the field... Also, the 4X can act as a fresh air controller when needed. With built in temp sensor and flexible controls, SmartZone works almost anywhere.

Zoning System Troubleshooting

July 8, 2016Supportzoning supplyComment

Because a zone control system interacts with so many different parts (thermostats, transformers, heating/cooling equipment, dampers & temperature sensor), a zoning system can be daunting to troubleshoot when there is a problem. However, we have realized that there are really just a few common issues are the cause most all of the issues. With a combined 20+ years of zoning questions and technical support calls, we have tried here to boil down to the top 5 reason 99% of zoning systems have a problem. These do not include a potential problem with the configuration of the Zone Control itself. The troubleshooting of the zone control configuration is covered well in most Installation Guides.

1. Equipment
Refrigerant charge, fan speed, wiring, power, etc.
Always verify that the equipment is working properly first!
2. Thermostats
a. Incompatible with zone panel
b. Defective thermostat
c. Wiring defect
3. Zone Dampers
a. Actuator failure
b. Mechanical failure
c. DUCT Sizing (not enough or too much CFM)
d. Wiring defect
4. Bypass/Relief
a. Actuator failure
b. Sensor (Static Pressure sensor defect)
c. Mechanical failure
d. Setup (Modulating calibration or weight arm setting)
e. Orientation of installation (SPC or barometric bypass)
f. Improper sizing (not enough CFM capacity)
g. Wiring defect
5. Power
a. Transformer fuse
b. Wiring defect
c. Primary circuit problem (shared/capacity, breaker)
d. Improperly sized transformer (not enough VA)

For help troubleshooting your system contact the experts at zoningsupply.com directly via email or phone.

EASIEST TO TROUBLESHOOT ZONE CONTROL ON THE MARKET:

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SmartZone-4X

$229.99 $299.00

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SmartZone can be used with any 24V Damper

May 11, 2016Supportzoning supplyComment

Zoned climate control in your car… why not your home?

May 3, 2016Zone Control Infozoning supplyComment

For many years, lots of car manufacturers have been putting separate passenger/driver/rear climate controls in cars. In such a small space, this could be seen a “silly” feature because the passenger & driver are in very close quarters. In most homes, however, heating and air conditioning systems still tend to have only ONE climate zone (one thermostat). Dual or multiple climate zones for a home makes much more since than in a car but is not nearly as often implemented. With SmartZone most existing heating & air conditioning equipment can be upgraded to have multiple climate controls (thermostats) in different areas. You could have a thermostat in the kitchen, bedroom and living room… comfort everywhere. Additionally, with SmartZone, areas that are not being used can be turned OFF to save energy. All the parts you need shipped for free from ZoningSupply.com Zoning experts standing by to answer any questions you have or help with system design.

multiple climate control in home smartzone

Learn More

Why Your Residential and Light Commercial Forced-Air Systems Need a Zone Control System

Understanding Zone Control Systems

Benefits of Zone Control Systems

1. Enhanced Comfort

2. Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings

3. Extended HVAC System Lifespan

4. Improved Indoor Air Quality

5. Customization and Control

Why Choose Ecojay's SmartZone?

1. Advanced Technology

2. Easy Integration

3. Reliable Performance

4. Remote Access and Control

5. Energy Management Features

Conclusion

TOP PICK

PREMIUM CHOICE

VALUE CHOICE #1

VALUE CHOICE #2

ATTENTION:

SHIPPING TIME: UP TO 3 or 4 Weeks

Are Zoned Heating/Cooling Systems a Good or Bad Idea?

EASIEST TO TROUBLESHOOT ZONE CONTROL ON THE MARKET:

CALL: 844-ZONE123 (844-966-3123)EMAIL: moreinfo@zoningsupply.com

CALL: 844-ZONE123 (844-966-3123)
EMAIL: moreinfo@zoningsupply.com