Smart Heating, Cooling, & Environment Monitoring, Control, and Notification:

  Click on the HVAC & Environment Control category Images to display the products

HVAC (heating, cooling, AC) Categories
	Electronic Duct Dampers, In-line Duct Booster Fans (round, regular)		Wireless & Wired Thermostats, Remote Controllers		2-4 Zone Controllers, Accessories

HVAC and Environment Monitoring, Control & Notification Categories
	Electronic Duct Dampers (round, WhisperQuiet)		Environment Monitoring, Control, & Notification		Remote - via Phone Thermostat Monitoring & Control

Environment Monitoring, Control & Notification Categories
	Washing Machine Valve Shutoff Kit Automatically shuts off water		Water Heater Shutoff Kit, 3/4 Inch Valve Automatically shuts off water		Sensaphone Environment Monitoring, Control & Notification

Multi-Zone HVAC Management & Installation: 2-Zone System Example

HVAC automation has progressed rapidly in the last few years. It is now relatively straightforward to RETROFIT an existing construction single-zone heating and cooling system with a high-tech, energy saving multi-zone system. The main elements of a multi-zone system are: HVAC Controller, Smart Themostats (wireless & wired), and electronically controlled Dampers. You will also likely to need to install a Barometric Pressure Relief Bypass Duct.

For serious DIY-ers -- with medium electronic/electrical skills -- it is possible to do most of the installation, wiring, and Thermostat programming that is required. However, the mechanical work of installing the sheet-metal dampers is only for the mechanically adept and so motivated.

At any rate, we recommend that -- before undertaking a retrofit -- you consult with a local HVAC professional about the retrofit, in order to make sure that you'll have a good plan and that you'll follow local building codes and inspection requirements.

Please also NOTE, that Netropolus does NOT help you plan, install, nor provide consultation services for your installation. Netropolus only sells products and only provides relevant website resources.

Please click on Disclaimer to read our entire DISCLAIMER.

Here are the installation steps we've performed when we upgraded OUR single-zone forced air, oil HVAC system to a 2-zone system with 2 smart Thermostats. We've replaced our original thermostat (Room 1) with a wired 7-day Programmable remote-control (via the Internet) thermostat. We've also added a Wireless Thermostat system (Room 2), that now controls the temperature in our upstairs master bedroom.

We've added a 2-Zone HVAC controller, and installed 2 whisper-quiet Electronic Dampers.

The following steps are for ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY.

• Disconnect the power to your heating system by turning its circuit breaker OFF.
• Mount the HVAC 2-Zone Controller close to the Heater/AC system. Disconnect the 18 - 22 GA Thermostat wires from the Heater/AC and reconnect these wires to Zone 1 of the HVAC Zone Controller. Make sure that you have a C (common) wire if you are replacing your current thermostat with our 7-day Programmable Thermostat (most often you'll have an extra wire in your thermostat cable -- if not you'll have to run one. If you want to use the thermostat's humidity control module you'll another wire (that connects to the whole-house Humidifier unit.)
• If you have a 2 story home, Thermostat 1, replaces (in Room 1), your current hard-wired Thermostat. This thermostat can be controlled from at-home, as well as away-from-home. Note: replacement of your existing Thermostat is not necessary if you're hapy with it.
• Upstairs (Room 2), mount on a wall the Thermostat part of the wireless Thermostat System. Mount the Receiver part of the wireless Thermostat System next to the HVAC Zone Controller. Connect, via 18 - 22 GA Thermostat wire, the Receiver terminals to the corresponding Zone 2 terminals of the HVAC 2-Zone Controller. Connect, via 18 - 22 GA Thermostat wire, the HVAC Zone Controller's "HVAC System" terminals to the Thermostat terminals of your Heater/AC system.
• Program your Thermostats for the proper heating and cooling temps. Turn Thermostats OFF.
• Connect the Red & Black terminal wires of the Low-Voltage 24V Power supply to the corresponding Red & Black terminals of the HVAC Zone Controller. Double check ALL of your connections. Plug 24 V Power supply into a 110V outlet. Turn your heating system's circuit breaker ON.
• Turn on the Zone 1 Thermostat and check your Heating/AC system for proper functioning. Repeat with the Zone 2 Thermostat.
• When everything works so far, install the electronic Duct Dampers into the appropriate Zone 1 and Zone 2 branch feeds. Our Zone 1 Thermostat is located in the Living room, thus we've put a Damper into its branch pipe. We've also put a second Damper into the Upstairs bedroom (Zone 2) branch feed.
• Disconnect the 24V Power supply from the HVAC Zone Controller. Run 18 - 24 GA wires from each Damper to the HVAC Controller. Connect the living room damper wires to the Zone 1 Damper terminals of the Zone Controller. Connect the bedroom damper wires to the Zone 2 Damper terminals of the Zone Controller. Plug back the 24V Power supply. Run thru Zone 1 and Zone 2 Thermostat controlled heating and cooling cycles to verify proper damper operation.

NOTE: In a multi-zone system, you'll also need to install a Barometric Pressure Relief Bypass Duct duct to prevent over pressure buildup that may damage the system. This duct is installed just ahead of the blower. It opens and redirects some of the airflow back into the blower intake when pressure builds up due to many dampers being closed. This mechanical bypass duct is continuously variable, and the pressure relief level is easily adjustable. Consult a HVAC professional for the proper sizing of the Barometric Pressure Relief Bypass Duct.

About Sun-tunnel control: Did you know?

An interesting application for Dampers and Timers is Sun-tunnel control. For example, a 10-inch Normally Open (N/O) 24-VAC Damper, controlled by a Leviton Timer, can be used to close a sun tunnel during the early morning. Here is how to wire it up:

• Purchase a N/O Damper, a Leviton timer, and a 24V Power supply (all available from Netropolus.)
• Install a double-gang electrical box, in the vicinity of the sun tunnel.
• Install into the electrical box the Timer and a Receptacle. (the Timer will occupy one side of the electrical box, the receptacle will occupy the other side.) Disconnect the power to the circuit that you are going to extend by turning its circuit breaker OFF. Connect unswitched line voltage to the Timer; connect the Timer to the Receptacle. Turn the circuit breaker ON.
• Wire the 24V leads of the power supply to the Damper. Plug the 24V power supply into the receptacle. Program the Timer.

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