Subject: From: Date:

HVAC, Thermostats, etc. Michael David Wed, 25 Aug 1999 01:11:16 -0400

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Hi folks!

A while back I mentioned that we need to put a new HVAC system in the house,
and was looking for suggestions for thermostats.  At the time, I may have
mentioned that the impetus behind this project was a dying air conditioner,
and REALLY high electric bills.

Well, the big project starts tomorrow, and consists of:

A two stage high efficiency heat pump with variable speed high efficiency
gas furnace (this is called "dual fuel");

A seperate dedicated single stage heat-pump for our "sun room" (lots of
glass...);

A whole house HEPA filter, with an outside air inlet (with electronic
damper) to filter fresh air before it enters the house.

Some new ducts and vents;

Duct cleaning on the existing ducts.

A gas hot water heater to replace our existing electric unit.


After much discussion with the HVAC contractor, we went with the second heat
pump, rather than try to do a a seperate zone off the main system.


For thermostats, I went with the Enerzone products.  Here's why:

The Dual Fuel system requires monitoring outdoor temperature (to switch over
to gas when the temp drops too low for the heat pump to be effective).  This
sensor can wire directly to one of the thermostats;

I wanted to interface an exterior humidistat to one of the thermostats.
This will be used to determine when it's too humid outside to allow fresh
air into the HEPA filter.  ECS will then close the damper on the fresh air
feed.

I wanted to interface an interior humidistat to the other thermostat so ECS
will know when to switch on the interior humidifier.

I wanted to mount the thermostats in the ECS closet; not in the rooms where
the terperature needs to be monitored. So, I'll be using multiple remote
temp sensors throughout the house for "temperature averaging". These will
also interface to the thermostat for the main system.  No doubt it will take
me months to actually get around to wiring all these sensors.  :)


I'll let you all know how it turns out.


Cheers!

Michael David
michael@michaeldavid.com

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