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Multi Zone Heating System with PC Win-7 Control

AncientMariner
I think that I may have been here before, but I am trying to source a multi-zone heating control system suitable for a village hall.


There are 3 heating zones - gas fired wet system, No Hot Water control required as separate.  Motorised valves for each zone. Existing control is via three domestic programmers which are in a small cabinet and get poked and fiddled with on an almost daily basis.  This results in gas being consumed overnight or Sundays when no one is there and worse. The boiler consumes about 60 kWh of gas in the first 30 minutes.  So far this month 3.7 MWh of gas used. Worst day being 2nd Dec - 587 kWh when it was on 24/7 from the afternoon before.


My preference would be control from the Manager's Win-7 pc which is located in a normally locked office.


So far, two systems have been suggested. One a purpose built system with remote access as well for circa £4.5K /£5K installed. The alternative being as off the shelf Siemens system which can only be controlled by either an Android or Apple phone. This would be circa £1,500/£2K installed.


In both cases wi-fi would be used as well as remote access via internet. The hall has BT Business Internet with wi-fi, plus 2 Ubiquiti UniFi Access Points.


So, are there any Android emulators which would be up to this. The thoughts of 3 zones on a weekly calendar may be a bit fiddly, but without seeing the controlling APP, does start to take me out of my comfort zone.  (I do not want to be the only person who can program it etc to the point where I have too much ownership...)

Thanks.

Clive


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  • 0
    Thanks for the replies.  I will have to do some reading up on the options.

    Simon - Just looked at the price of an Android Tablet, looks promising…

    Mike - I had thought of timers, one push gives an hour and then give another push an hour later say. Problem there is that the heating is using large diameter pipes, those in the cellar actually caulked rather than threaded. And therefore takes an age to warm up to the set point. So was looking for some onboard intelligence to take into account room and outside temperatures.

    Keylevel - Yes Win 7 is out of support, which does give a boost to the Android Tablet. I will have a look at the link. I fitted a Honeywell programmable thermostat in our conservatory about 16 years ago. It lacked intuitive operation, and where was the instruction book when I wanted it.  Luckily the three zone valves are already there. Motor Open, Motor Close type.

    David - Raspberry-Pi sounds interesting, but I would end up with me having responsibility for maintenance etc.* I was phoned one night by someone who could not unlock the door. They were turning the key the wrong way! (It’s a funny lock with an internal fire escape type push bar) I had my telephone number taken of the notice on the door the next day!

    I've never played with a Raspberry-Pi, but remember some years ago when I was asked if I could put together a dosing and mixing system. It's a while back, the software to program the PLC came on a 5.25 inch floppy!

    * I learnt the hard way with a chapel CH programmer (domestic type) which failed, as did the new replacement and the replacement for that. I was convinced that the fact that the pump - another large bore system - was a bit toooo much for the contacts - it was a large induction motor mounted atop of the pump. Turned out to be a loose connection in the cut-out. Found by flickering lights when I was not there of course!

    You mentioned booking database. The higher cost option I have been quoted for, did include such.

    One essential item is a thermostat mounted on the wall. It does not need to be connected, but lets the village hall users think that they have control… (One is already there!)


    Cheers!

    Clive




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  • 0
    Thanks for the replies.  I will have to do some reading up on the options.

    Simon - Just looked at the price of an Android Tablet, looks promising…

    Mike - I had thought of timers, one push gives an hour and then give another push an hour later say. Problem there is that the heating is using large diameter pipes, those in the cellar actually caulked rather than threaded. And therefore takes an age to warm up to the set point. So was looking for some onboard intelligence to take into account room and outside temperatures.

    Keylevel - Yes Win 7 is out of support, which does give a boost to the Android Tablet. I will have a look at the link. I fitted a Honeywell programmable thermostat in our conservatory about 16 years ago. It lacked intuitive operation, and where was the instruction book when I wanted it.  Luckily the three zone valves are already there. Motor Open, Motor Close type.

    David - Raspberry-Pi sounds interesting, but I would end up with me having responsibility for maintenance etc.* I was phoned one night by someone who could not unlock the door. They were turning the key the wrong way! (It’s a funny lock with an internal fire escape type push bar) I had my telephone number taken of the notice on the door the next day!

    I've never played with a Raspberry-Pi, but remember some years ago when I was asked if I could put together a dosing and mixing system. It's a while back, the software to program the PLC came on a 5.25 inch floppy!

    * I learnt the hard way with a chapel CH programmer (domestic type) which failed, as did the new replacement and the replacement for that. I was convinced that the fact that the pump - another large bore system - was a bit toooo much for the contacts - it was a large induction motor mounted atop of the pump. Turned out to be a loose connection in the cut-out. Found by flickering lights when I was not there of course!

    You mentioned booking database. The higher cost option I have been quoted for, did include such.

    One essential item is a thermostat mounted on the wall. It does not need to be connected, but lets the village hall users think that they have control… (One is already there!)


    Cheers!

    Clive




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