netropolus: RCS HVAC 4-Zone Controller

Essential Information

Set different temperatures in different areas for comfort and energy savings
Thermal equalizer prevents overheating of top floor of 2-story homes
Works with up to 4 standard or smart thermostats
Works with a) any standard 1-stage heat & 1-stage cool heating system, and b) heat pumps (2-stage heat, 1-stage cooling)
Controls up to 2 Electronic Dampers/Zone. We recommend that you purchase the Whisper-Quiet series of N/O (normally open) electronic Dampers .

In most homes, heating and cooling account for a large part of the energy bill. Despite this, most homes waste a tremendous amount of heat and cool air through inefficient use. Efficiency can be significantly improved by heating or cooling only when occupants are present and by heating/cooling to the exact desired temperature.

Home automation and zoned HVAC (heating, ventilation, air-conditioning) can do this for you automatically. You can set different desired temperatures in each room, and by using motion detectors, you can automatically turn ON/OFF the heating/cooling to each zone as people enter and leave. The energy savings in the average home over just a few years will often pay for the entire home automation system.

To power the Zone Controller with 3 or less electronic Dampers attached, purchase the 24V AC 40VA Power Supply w/Auto-Resetting Fuse (sold separately). To power the Zone Controller with 4-8 electronic Dampers attached, purchase the 24V AC 180VA Power Supply (sold separately).

NOTE: you can optionally also connect together, in parallel, 2 or more of the 40VA transformers. So, if you connect 2 of them together, you can have 6 Dampers. Connect 3 and you can have 8 Dampers. (Just make sure that before wiring the transformers together, that that they will be connected in phase by observing polarity marks or terminal orientation on each transformer.)

Details & Specifications

How it Works: Convert a standard heating and cooling system into a system that provides independent temperature control of four zones within a home. Simply install a thermostat in each zone and then wire them to the HVAC 4-Zone Controller. Install electronic dampers in the ducts feeding the different zones and wire those back to the zone controller. Finally, connect the zone controller to your heating/cooling system. The zone controller will automatically coordinate damper and HVAC system control to maintain the temperatures set in each zone. The HVAC 4-Zone Controller includes a thermal equalizer feature that's ideal for two-story homes. It uses timed recirculating cycles during lower floor heat calls to prevent excessive heat build-up in upper floors. This also helps save energy by recycling heat back to the lower floor.

How This System Saves You Money: A simple common-sense analysis of unzoned systems will show you how much you can save. Imagine a two-zone home with the living room as one zone and the bedroom the other zone. An unzoned system always heats/cools both rooms simultaneously even if only one zone is occupied. This means that twice as much energy is being used as necessary. Add to that any periods when the system is accidentally left on when no one is home, and you can see how wasteful this system can be. An automated zoned system will only heat/cool the room that is being occupied. The occupied room will also be heated or cooled to the desired temperature much faster. This is because the energy that would otherwise be wasted on the unoccupied room is being directed to the occupied room.

HVAC and Home Automation System Compatibility: This controller will work with most standard electronic thermostats and gas/electric heating systems and A/C systems. Uses 24VAC normally open dampers, automatic heat/cool changeover, built-in short cycle protection for A/C compressor. Combine with any of our smart thermostats for additional zone control.

2-Zone System Available: A 2-Zone HVAC Controller is also available for smaller homes.

Specifications:
Manufacturer: Residential Control Systems, Manufacturer Product No.: 001-00250 ZC4, Shipping Dimensions: 9" x 7" x 2", Zones: 4, Power: 24V AC

Owner's Manual