Hi, today I released a new version of my Zoned Heating/Cooling smartapps with additional checks to ensure that the setLevel command is processed by the Vent DTH and some clear obstruction attempts if not.
The new versions of the smartapps are available at my store:
Regards.
Hi,
Today I released a new version of my Zoned Heating/Cooling smartapps (ecobeeSetZoneWithSchedule v7.2.6) & ScheduleTstatZones v7.2.3) with a new settings in the General Setup Page.
The thermostatâs setpoints can now be adjusted based on a choice of calculation methods
using all the temps collected at the indoor temp sensors:
The new versions of the smartapps are available at my store:
For more details on the smartapps, refer to the ST community wiki:
http://thingsthataresmart.wiki/index.php?title=EcobeeSetZoneWithSchedule
http://thingsthataresmart.wiki/index.php?title=ScheduleTstatZones
Regards.
Hi
Quick question and sorry in advance if I missed it somewhere â does your app have a configuration to disable the bright blue led. I have the vent installed in our nursery and the light freightens our little one when the vents adjust.
Thanks,
Derek
Hi, sorry I donât have any control over the blue led (firmware only). You can put a tape over it.
Regards.
Okay, will tape over it with electrical tape. Thanks for your prompt reply!
Derek
Hi,
Today I released new versions of my Zoned Heating/Cooling smartapps (ecobeeSetZoneWithSchedule & ScheduleTstatZones v7.3, ScheduleRoomTempControl v3.3) with new HVAC Pressure checks.
The new versions of the smartapps are available at my store:
For more details on the smartapps, refer to the ST community wiki:
http://thingsthataresmart.wiki/index.php?title=EcobeeSetZoneWithSchedule
http://thingsthataresmart.wiki/index.php?title=ScheduleTstatZones
http://thingsthataresmart.wiki/index.php?title=ScheduleRoomTempControl
P.S. The new versions have been distributed to all my active contributors.
yvesracine - this is really a great app and well worth every penny in my opinion. Iâm using it with 28 keen vents, 2 ecobee3âs with 12 remote sensors and itâs done a fantastic job at zoning and keeping each room at very similar temps. Thanks!
I recently started using your Smartthings App - zoned heating/cooling with 6 Keen Smart Vents and 2 Samsung Motion/Temperature Sensors for a recently finished basement. My Furnace Thermostat is on the first floor and does a great job of keeping that floor at 70 degrees, however; my basement temperature would fluctuate. With your app and the 2 Samsung Motion/Temperature Sensors, I can keep the basement from becoming over-heated (I set the temperature for heating to 70 degrees for the 2 zones I created and use the Samsung sensors to read that temperature.)
I am thinking of purchasing an Ecobee 3 Thermostat to put in the basement (mainly as a way to allow people to think they are setting the basement thermostat.) This would replace me setting a threshold temperature in the Smart Things app you developed (I assume it would read the value from the Ecobee 3 thermostat setting)?
I have a 24VAC wall plug to power the Ecobee 3 and will pair it to Smart things along with the remote sensor it comes with. I will uses this along with your app to control the Keen Smart Vents in my basement. Since I have a Carrier Infinity furnace, I am stuck with their controller (communicating system) so I canât directly use the Ecobee 3 to remotely trigger the furnace (probably would not want to either). I can have the Ecobee 3 trigger the G-terminal to turn on the fan of my system (my Infinity Thermostat Controller has a setting that will trigger the furnace fan when R-G is energized - thus I can make the Ecobee think it is activating my furnace even though it will only be activating the fan which will circulate air between the floors).
Your app was easy to configure and very intuitive. It works great for my purposes. I also have an oil-filled heater with a digital thermostat in the basement for days like yesterday when it hit 80 degrees outside (it is 20 degrees today) and the furnace is not throwing heat into the basement.
I tried the Keen app (with their bridge) but prefer your App with the Samsung Smart Things Hub.
Thanks!
Mark
I have recently purchased ecobeeSetZoneWithSchedule however although very powerful I feel itâs still lacking in few areas.
Contact sensor - I gather if I enable this option then when sensor = open, app wont consider readings for that room where this sensor is earmarked. However, the only option available is 1 sensor. In my room, I have +3 windows so instead of radio buttons if check boxes are given, I feel itâll be more useful.
Alternative Heating option (on top of alternative cooling option already available): This is a PRIORITY item for me. I have set up a zone with 3 rooms. 1 room however has a big difference with other 2 effectively skewing out the average. What I really hoped for is an ability of this smart app to trigger a secondary heat source to bring up the temperature of this room, only. IF CULPRIT_ROOM_TEMP_SENSOR < âSET_VALUEâ THEN SWITCH:ON DEVICE # A smart plug - which is connected to a stand-alone heating device having itâs own thermostat ELSE IF CULPRIT_ROOM_TEMP_SENSOR > âSET_VALUEâ THEN SWITCH OFF DEVICE # A smart plug - which is connected to a stand-alone heating device having itâs own thermostat. This SET_VALUE is somewhere in the range of the average of the other 2 rooms. So, if my ecobee set point is set to 70, room #1 is currently 68, room #2 is: 72 but room #3 (culprit room) is 62, I can set this SET_VALUE to (say) 67. In this way, after XX minutes, on next run when averaging across rooms 1,2,3 are done the effective set-point determined by this smart app will be very near to ecobeeâs 70! Whatâs happening now is this smart app is causing ecobee to set a considerable high value, eating away my energy costs and HVAC run time (which is substantially higher capital cost than a $15 heater, for example).
I am not sure of the functionality of the set point - max/min values. I have, at ecobee a set temp of 70F. This smart app does averaging and comes up with (say) 75. Question I have is if I had set a setpoint max of 2F, then will this smart app override itâs own calculations and set the hold in ecobee to be 70 + 2 OR whatever the smart app finds as average; in this case 75 will bypass it and instead set ecobee to 75 - 2 = 73F. Reason I ask this - no matter what value I set here I still find this smart app going away over whatâs indicated in ecobee.
Funny irritating bug - in schedule page and assume I am on schedule #2 and then into Fan settings ; which post completion I revert back and want to go back to the main page listing schedule #2 options the GUI defaults to schedule #1! I didnât realize it and thought I am still in schedule #2 page and made further changes only to realize this problem later.
Finally I canât seem to find out any details on how to interact with Amazonâs Alexa app! I have all the AskAlexa settings enabled but then what? Is there a guide anywhere?
Hi,
Here are my short answers (as I have already responded to you via email to some of your questions):
The latest version (v7.3.2) can handle multiple contact sensors per room. To get the latest version, please refer to the terms of services at my store (scroll down to the bottom of the page).
Alternative heating option is already available in the smartapp, but you need to use the thermostat input for any zone/room thermostats (in Rooms Setup). If you current heater is not compatible with the thermostat capability, donât worry, I will soon release a new DTH that will enable some ST thermostat integration with most portable heaters, window/split units out in the market. The certification testing with the manufacturer will start very soon. In the meantime, you can use a rule engine like Core or SmartRules for your custom requirements (and exclude the room from the avg temp calculation in the corresponding zone).
Iâve sent you the calculation used for averaging out the temps collected at the room sensors and your rationale is not totally in sync with my calculation methods. Please refer to the ST community wiki for more explanations on how the setpoint adjustment is done. The max temp adjustment will always override whatever calculation is done if the offset is above the max temp adjustment.
http://thingsthataresmart.wiki/index.php?title=EcobeeSetZoneWithSchedule#Supported_Features
4⊠Yes, I already responded to you about this âfeatureâ. Youâd need to use the links within the smartapp to navigate from one page to the next; otherwise, if you use the âbackâ button, you may end up in the wrong page. There is nothing I can do in my code except telling you to use the right links.
5.Please refer to the ST community wiki under the configuration section (item 13):
http://thingsthataresmart.wiki/index.php?title=EcobeeSetZoneWithSchedule#Configuration
Regards.
Point #4 ONLY: This is nothing to do with âBackâ button. Hereâs the scenario:
In Schedule setup page I have (say) 3 schedules. Schedule 1 (home), Schedule 2 (Away), Schedule 3 (Sleep).
Letâs say I am configuring Schedule #2 or Schedule #3
Then letâs say, I am in FAN settings of either of these schedules. I configure everything.
Below thereâs a link saying go back to main schedule setup or something like that.
When I click on it, I go back indeed but into schedule #1âs setup page.
The setpoints adjustment is based on the following formula:
Offset to be applied to setpoint = (avg Temp at your sensors) - (temperature at your thermostat)
Ex. offset = 72F (avg at your sensors) - 75F (temp at your thermostat)
offset = -3
new setpoint = scheduled baseline - offset
new setpoint = 74 - (-3)
new setpoint = 77
Question: So, the new setpoint calculated = 77. I have also have max set to 3; then based on the Wiki, ST will try to set Ecobeeâs temp. to 77 as âScheduled baselineâ (74)+ âMax Allowedâ (3) < = New Setpoint (77), correct?
However, if my max adjustment was set to 2, then will ecobee retain 74 or it will go up to 76?
Final question: Assume in the above case my max setpoint = 3. However, I have also set less heating to 78. Then whatâll happen?
Sorry ⊠I am just trying to understand this a bit better.
Hi,
Some of my contributors pay for support so that they can have the latest version installed for them anytime I send an upgrade. So, I closely monitor many customer sites all over North America.
I can assure you that if you press the right link at the bottom of any secondary page (fan settings, vent settings, alternative cooling setup. zone/room settings, etc) in Schedule setup, youâll return to the right page.
Now, as youâve said to me previously by email, youâve used the back button to setup your rooms/zones/schedules⊠This could be a side effect.
Iâd suggest then to restart your configuration from scratch if itâs a big issue for you.
Regards.
It will go to 76F as your max temp adjustment is 2F.
The less heating will apply only if the outdoor temperature is 78F. This is another smartapp feature based on some outdoor temp thresholds, not the indoor temp sensors.
Now, I have answered many questions from you either by email or in this forum, so if you have additional questions, please subscribe to one of my support packages. I donât mind answering few questions, but a lot of answers can be found in the ST community wiki at:
http://thingsthataresmart.wiki/index.php?title=Category:Unpublished_SmartApps
Most of my smartapps have been documented, especially the zoned heating/cooling solutions. Few developers have documented their smartapps the way I did it.
My development time is limited as I have a full time job and a family. On top of it, Iâm currently working on another big project with a manufacturer.
As a result, my support time is even more limited. After contributing to support, please send your questions by email to services@maisonsecomatiq.com as itâs easier for me to answer through gmail conversations (as I have the previous user context).
Thnx for your patronage.
Hello and thank you - yes you have been exceptionally proactive and in fact your responses are always to the point. Much appreciated. For the benefit of this community I am copy pasting an email I had sent to you below:
Racine,
The more I play with the app the more I realize what a great programmer you are. Itâs not that you took +2 yrs to complete this and the code involved may be complex, etc. but what many wonât realize it: the thought process that went into it.
As I see it, when starting this project you must have have multiple options but selecting the current approach whereby from general -> room -> zone -> schedule is the best workflow possible. Hats off you to on your design skills. Very well executed. I played out the picture as if I have to do it but really couldnât have come up with a better workflow.
A job - well done!!
Really appreciate the enhanced integration!
Excellent SmartApp and a great example of real integration using ST. I replaced all my vents with Keen, have a nest thermostat and ST with ScheduleTstatZones SmartApp from @yvesracine ruling them all. The Smartapp has soooo many features that you will definitely find the combination of settings that works for your house. The app is being improved constantly through updates and the developer is always available to answers questions quickly.
Hi,
To whom it may concern,
Iâm about to release a new release (v7.4) of my zoned Heating/Cooling solutions with new contact Sensor Logic
Allows you to invert the default logic of the contact Sensor(s): when contact is left open=> keep the vent open instead of closing it (default behavior, useful for windows or entry doors ).
The new contact logic uses event handlers for immediate action when the door/window contacts are open/closed.
For all contributors, make sure to follow the update procedure in order to get the new release.
The updated version is also available now at my store.
Regards
Hi there - new user of this solution - thank you. Would it be possible to adapt this to a deployment where there are eTRVs and heating rather than vents - but in a way use the eTRVs in a similar way to vents to control individual radiators to modify heat distribution based upon various temperature sensors and ambient conditions / forecast?
My setup - 1 Hive central heating and four controllable radiators - each with a eTRV. to control individual radiator behavior. Then numerous other temp sensors distributed and an external ambient weather station
Happy to provide further details as needed for input and consideration
cheers,
Andrew
Hi,
If your eTRVs are connected to Smarttings and their corresponding DTH has implemented the âDimmer Switchâ capability, they should work fine within my zoned heating/cooling smartapps. I donât care if the connected device is an eTRV or a smart vent, the smartapp can control it as long as it has implemented the required capability.
Regards.