Difference between revisions of "Thermostat Controller"

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In many circumstances a properly located thermostat will work well to maintain comfortable temperatures. However, the performance of a heating and cooling system may suffer when the thermostat is not in the right location, or there is significant heat gain or loss in parts of the your home. Some thermostats also lack an '''Auto''' mode, which may result in difficulties during conditions that require both heating and cooling. Thermostat Controller allows more control of your connected thermostat by creating a virtual thermostat device to manipulate the set-points of the ''controlled'' thermostat, thus taking over most of its functionality and becoming the '''Controller''' thermostat for establishing set-points of your heating and cooling system.
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In many circumstances a properly located thermostat will work well to maintain comfortable temperatures. However, the performance of a heating and cooling system may suffer when the thermostat is not in the right location, or there is significant heat gain or loss in parts of the your home. Some thermostats also lack an '''Auto''' mode, which may result in difficulties during conditions that require both heating and cooling. The Thermostat Controller app allows more control of your connected thermostat by creating a virtual thermostat device to manipulate the set-points of the ''controlled'' thermostat, thus taking over most of its functionality and becoming the '''Controller''' thermostat for establishing set-points of your heating and cooling system.
  
 
===Features===
 
===Features===
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*'''OFF''' function for when manually disabling the heating and cooling system is desired.
 
*'''OFF''' function for when manually disabling the heating and cooling system is desired.
  
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'''Additional Temperature Sensors'''
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==== '''Additional Temperature Sensors''' ====
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Improperly located thermostats are an all too common issue, but the powerful features in Thermostat Controller can help keep the temperature in your living space even by averaging multiple temperature sensors, rather than just using the sensor built into the thermostat. Many motion sensors and some door/windows sensors include temperature readings, that can be combined with the sensor in the thermostat, with the capability to offset a given sensor's readings, or place more or less weight toward the average from each sensor.  
 
Improperly located thermostats are an all too common issue, but the powerful features in Thermostat Controller can help keep the temperature in your living space even by averaging multiple temperature sensors, rather than just using the sensor built into the thermostat. Many motion sensors and some door/windows sensors include temperature readings, that can be combined with the sensor in the thermostat, with the capability to offset a given sensor's readings, or place more or less weight toward the average from each sensor.  
  
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'''Control of Hysteresis'''
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==== '''Control of Hysteresis''' ====
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Hysteresis is the difference between the temperature at which a thermostat switches '''OFF''', and the temperature at which it switches '''ON''' again. By carefully adjustment of the hysteresis value, the efficiency of the heating and cooling system can be optimized, ensuring maximum comfort in the conditioned space. With a lower hysteresis value, the system will cycle more frequently and the temperature swings in your living space will be lower. A wider hysteresis will result in the heating and cooling system cycling less frequently, thus resulting in correspondingly larger temperature swings. For example, with a default hysteresis value of 1.0 ˚F, and a thermostat setting to 75 °F, cooling will be called for when the temperature exceeds the 75 °F plus half of the hysteresis, or 75.5 °F. Once cooling begins. The system will remain '''ON''' until the average temperature has been reduced to 75 °F minus half the hysteresis value, or 74.5 °F.
 
Hysteresis is the difference between the temperature at which a thermostat switches '''OFF''', and the temperature at which it switches '''ON''' again. By carefully adjustment of the hysteresis value, the efficiency of the heating and cooling system can be optimized, ensuring maximum comfort in the conditioned space. With a lower hysteresis value, the system will cycle more frequently and the temperature swings in your living space will be lower. A wider hysteresis will result in the heating and cooling system cycling less frequently, thus resulting in correspondingly larger temperature swings. For example, with a default hysteresis value of 1.0 ˚F, and a thermostat setting to 75 °F, cooling will be called for when the temperature exceeds the 75 °F plus half of the hysteresis, or 75.5 °F. Once cooling begins. The system will remain '''ON''' until the average temperature has been reduced to 75 °F minus half the hysteresis value, or 74.5 °F.
  
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'''Auto Mode Thermostat'''
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==== '''Auto Mode Thermostat''' ====
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Once the Thermostat Controller app takes control of a thermostat, its heating and cooling operation becomes automatic and will be dependent on the established setting for the controller thermostat. A heating and cooling system will typically move at least 3° F between ON and OFF cycles. For example, when the average temperature falls below the thermostat setting (less half the hysteresis), heating will be called for. Should the temperature rise above the heat setting (plus half the hysteresis), the system will return to idle. If the temperature continues to rise and reaches the cooling set-point (plus half the hysteresis), cooling would be called for.
 
Once the Thermostat Controller app takes control of a thermostat, its heating and cooling operation becomes automatic and will be dependent on the established setting for the controller thermostat. A heating and cooling system will typically move at least 3° F between ON and OFF cycles. For example, when the average temperature falls below the thermostat setting (less half the hysteresis), heating will be called for. Should the temperature rise above the heat setting (plus half the hysteresis), the system will return to idle. If the temperature continues to rise and reaches the cooling set-point (plus half the hysteresis), cooling would be called for.
  
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If one does not want auto mode, and only wants the system to work for cooling or for heating, this can be accomplished by setting the setpoint for the unwanted mode well out of meaningful range.
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If Auto Mode is not desired, and you only want the system to operate cooling or heating independently, simply adjust the set-point for the unwanted mode well out of a meaningful range.
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'''How It Works'''
 
  
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Thermostat Controller manipulates the setpoints of the controlled thermostat to control its operation. This usurps most of the functionality of the controlled thermostat. To call for cooling, for example, Thermostat Controller will set the cooling setpoint of the controlled thermostat to a level well below the current temperature, thus forcing the controlled thermostat into cooling operation. The amount by which the setpoint is set below is determined by the Control Offset, a settable number of degrees. When the demand for cooling has been met, the controlled thermostat's cooling setpoint will be set well above the current temperature, thus forcing it to idle, and again using the Control Offset. The Control Offset defaults to 2° F, and should be set high enough to cover any difference between the average temperature of all of the sensors, and the temperature reported by the controlled thermostat itself.
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<span style="color: red;;">'''WARNING!'''</span>  '''''The Thermostat Controller app takes over control and most safeguards of the existing thermostat. Be sure to set the minimum and maximum values so that if the hub were to fail, the actual thermostat will not end up in a run-away condition.'''''
  
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'''Cautions'''
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'''Use with Thermostat Scheduler'''
  
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Bear in mind that this app usurps the control and most safeguards of the existing thermostat. Avoid setting the Control Offset higher than needed for successful control. The Control Offset should be kept low so that should the hub fail, the real thermostat will not be in a run-away condition. Be careful in establishing a proper Hysteresis setting.
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To add scheduling for the ''Controller Thermostat'', it may be selected in the '''Thermostat Scheduler''' app.  
  
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Use with Thermostat Scheduler
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'''<span style="color: red;;">WARNING!</span>'''  '''''Do not use the Thermostat Scheduler app directly on an actual thermostat that is already under the control of the Thermostat Controller app.'''''
  
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To add scheduling to the controller thermostat, it may be selected in Thermostat Scheduler. Do not use Thermostat Scheduler with the controlled thermostat, once it is under control of Thermostat Controller.
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==== '''Thermostat Fan Mode''' ====
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The ''Controller Thermostat'' created by the Thermostat Controller app will inherit fan modes from the actual thermostat. Fan speed adjustments made to either the actual or virtual thermostats will mirror each other.  
  
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'''Thermostat Fan Mode'''
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'''NOTE''': Thermostat fan mode may also be set on the ''Controller Thermostat'' by the '''Thermostat Scheduler''' app, which would then set it on the actual thermostat that the '''Thermostat Controller''' app is manipulating.
  
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The created controller thermostat inherits the supported thermostat fan modes, if any, from the controlled thermostat. The thermostat fan mode may be set for either thermostat, controller or controlled, and that setting will be set for the other. Thermostat fan mode may be set by Thermostat Scheduler, acting on the controller thermostat, and such a setting would be passed on to the controlled thermostat.
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=== Installing Thermostat Controller ===
  
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'''Basic Instructions'''
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# From the Hubitat Web Interface select '''Apps'''[[File:Install Built-In App 2.0.png|none|thumb|600x600px]]
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# Choose the Thermostat Controller from the list of Hubitat Elevation<sup>®</sup> Built-In Apps[[File:Install Thermostat Controller.png|none|thumb|600x600px]]
  
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=== Creating a Controller Thermostat ===
 
When you first set up Thermostat Controller, the controlled thermostat is not yet put under the control of the controller thermostat. The first section of the app UI shows the current setting of the controlled thermostat. These can be adjusted by opening that page. On that page is a setting called "Free/Controlled", and it starts out as Free. This means that the controlled thermostat is Free from being controlled. Only when you switch that selection to Controlled, does the actual control function of the app kick in.
 
When you first set up Thermostat Controller, the controlled thermostat is not yet put under the control of the controller thermostat. The first section of the app UI shows the current setting of the controlled thermostat. These can be adjusted by opening that page. On that page is a setting called "Free/Controlled", and it starts out as Free. This means that the controlled thermostat is Free from being controlled. Only when you switch that selection to Controlled, does the actual control function of the app kick in.

Revision as of 21:52, 26 January 2021

In many circumstances a properly located thermostat will work well to maintain comfortable temperatures. However, the performance of a heating and cooling system may suffer when the thermostat is not in the right location, or there is significant heat gain or loss in parts of the your home. Some thermostats also lack an Auto mode, which may result in difficulties during conditions that require both heating and cooling. The Thermostat Controller app allows more control of your connected thermostat by creating a virtual thermostat device to manipulate the set-points of the controlled thermostat, thus taking over most of its functionality and becoming the Controller thermostat for establishing set-points of your heating and cooling system.

Features

  • Supports additional temperature sensors, allowing any connected device with temperature readings available to Hubitat Elevation®, to also participate as a remote sensor.
  • Allows control of thermostat hysteresis to set the difference between the temperature at which the thermostat switches OFF, and the temperature at which it switches ON again.
  • Auto mode is available to the Controller thermostat for conditions where both heating and cooling may be needed
  • OFF function for when manually disabling the heating and cooling system is desired.

Additional Temperature Sensors

Improperly located thermostats are an all too common issue, but the powerful features in Thermostat Controller can help keep the temperature in your living space even by averaging multiple temperature sensors, rather than just using the sensor built into the thermostat. Many motion sensors and some door/windows sensors include temperature readings, that can be combined with the sensor in the thermostat, with the capability to offset a given sensor's readings, or place more or less weight toward the average from each sensor.

Control of Hysteresis

Hysteresis is the difference between the temperature at which a thermostat switches OFF, and the temperature at which it switches ON again. By carefully adjustment of the hysteresis value, the efficiency of the heating and cooling system can be optimized, ensuring maximum comfort in the conditioned space. With a lower hysteresis value, the system will cycle more frequently and the temperature swings in your living space will be lower. A wider hysteresis will result in the heating and cooling system cycling less frequently, thus resulting in correspondingly larger temperature swings. For example, with a default hysteresis value of 1.0 ˚F, and a thermostat setting to 75 °F, cooling will be called for when the temperature exceeds the 75 °F plus half of the hysteresis, or 75.5 °F. Once cooling begins. The system will remain ON until the average temperature has been reduced to 75 °F minus half the hysteresis value, or 74.5 °F.

Auto Mode Thermostat

Once the Thermostat Controller app takes control of a thermostat, its heating and cooling operation becomes automatic and will be dependent on the established setting for the controller thermostat. A heating and cooling system will typically move at least 3° F between ON and OFF cycles. For example, when the average temperature falls below the thermostat setting (less half the hysteresis), heating will be called for. Should the temperature rise above the heat setting (plus half the hysteresis), the system will return to idle. If the temperature continues to rise and reaches the cooling set-point (plus half the hysteresis), cooling would be called for.

If Auto Mode is not desired, and you only want the system to operate cooling or heating independently, simply adjust the set-point for the unwanted mode well out of a meaningful range.

WARNING! The Thermostat Controller app takes over control and most safeguards of the existing thermostat. Be sure to set the minimum and maximum values so that if the hub were to fail, the actual thermostat will not end up in a run-away condition.

Use with Thermostat Scheduler

To add scheduling for the Controller Thermostat, it may be selected in the Thermostat Scheduler app.

WARNING! Do not use the Thermostat Scheduler app directly on an actual thermostat that is already under the control of the Thermostat Controller app.

Thermostat Fan Mode

The Controller Thermostat created by the Thermostat Controller app will inherit fan modes from the actual thermostat. Fan speed adjustments made to either the actual or virtual thermostats will mirror each other.

NOTE: Thermostat fan mode may also be set on the Controller Thermostat by the Thermostat Scheduler app, which would then set it on the actual thermostat that the Thermostat Controller app is manipulating.

Installing Thermostat Controller

  1. From the Hubitat Web Interface select Apps
    Install Built-In App 2.0.png
  2. Choose the Thermostat Controller from the list of Hubitat Elevation® Built-In Apps
    Install Thermostat Controller.png

Creating a Controller Thermostat

When you first set up Thermostat Controller, the controlled thermostat is not yet put under the control of the controller thermostat. The first section of the app UI shows the current setting of the controlled thermostat. These can be adjusted by opening that page. On that page is a setting called "Free/Controlled", and it starts out as Free. This means that the controlled thermostat is Free from being controlled. Only when you switch that selection to Controlled, does the actual control function of the app kick in.

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