Carrier 1 Comfort Zone - THERMOSTAT HELP!

[chamaway]

Hello all....

First off, many thanks in advance for ANY assistance.....

My family has purchased a new home that has a 4 zone Carrier Comfort Zone 1.

The thermostat is the original "rotary dial" digital model...

PROBLEM = The thermostat wont allow a heat setting between 66 and 60.... it will let us set 66.67.68.69 and up, or 60... but nothing between 60 and 66....

From reading the manual, it seems it MAY be related to the "zone of comfort" 14 degree spread, but cant seem to be able to change it....

HELP! Really need to be able to set to 64 or so as heating to 66 all winter will be bad for the bills.....

If there is no answer... does anyone know if the new Carrier Thermostats (infinti / etc) will work with the older systems?

Again... THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!

[beachtech]

are you turning one stat to 64? or all of them?

some digital stats can be programmed to go no lower than a certain temp, and 66 may have been programmed into it.

[chamaway]

are you turning one stat to 64? or all of them?

some digital stats can be programmed to go no lower than a certain temp, and 66 may have been programmed into it.

There is only one thermostat.... I CAN change the lowest temp, but cannot seem to change the "range".... so if I set the lowest heat to 58... I can choose 66 or 58.... or if I change it to 62, I can choose between 62 and 66... but nothing in between :-(

[beachtech]

is it set for just heat only, or is it on an auto change over, with both heat and AC showing on the display?

[chamaway]

Thanks for replying (forgot that earlier)....

Set for heat right now....

[demorrison]

I believe you will need to set the minimum temperature using the rotary switch position set to S-3 before programming the thermostat. Check to see what it is set on. I have attached a more comprehensive document that may help you.

The Maximum Temperature is only used for cooling. It is set by
selecting Rotary Switch Position S-2. The Maximum Temperature
setting is used when a temperature above the 14° span is selected.
If the Cooling Base Temperature is set to 68°F and the cooling
setpoint is 82°F, any attempt to raise the cooling setpoint will
select the Maximum Temperature.
The Minimum Temperature is only used for heating. It is set by
selecting Rotary Switch Position S-3. The Minimum Temperature
setting is used when a temperature below the 14 ° span is selected.
If the Heating Base Temperature is set to 54°F, any attempt to
lower the heating setpoint below 54°F will select the Minimum
Temperature.
Both the Maximum and Minimum Temperatures are intended for
use with schedules or setpoints which are extreme compared to
normal building temperatures.

http://www.xpedio.carrier.com/idc/groups/public/documents/techlit/920415-3si.pdf

[chamaway]

Demorrison!

Thanks for the reply.... and I researched and it is letting me change the minimum heat point....

If I set the minimum to 58, it will drop from 66 to 58.... if I set the minimum to 62, it will drop from 66 to 62....

Seems like somehow the "span" is set to 66 to 80 and there is NOTHING that is letting me change that piece...

The "9" setting says it will show the span (high and low) but all it shows is "dashes" in the top left and lower right.... and when I press the up or down to change, nothing :-(

Any ideas???

Thanks again for the help!!!

[demorrison]

There is a 14 degree range as a previous poster stated. This thermostat is pushing 19 years old or at least 15. It probably is beginning to fail. You may not be able to set the themostat properly because some of the functions are failing. I am assisting a friend with the same system. The relays in the controller, not the thermostat have gone bad and recently replaced it. The parts for the comfort zone are very difficult to find if not impossible. I'm not familiar enough with the thermostat to know if there is a replacement. I have heard that the newer thermostats are not compatible, but don't take my word for that, if you find out different I would like to know.

[demorrison]

You may want to try the vacation mode to see if that meets your required temperature settings

Comfort Zone also has one additional set of temperature settings.
These are the Vacation Setpoints. The Vacation Setpoints are the
heating and cooling setpoints to be used in all 4 zones whenever
the Four Zone Controller rotary switch is turned to "Vacation."
The Vacation option is used to place the entire building in setback
during long unoccupied periods without the danger of freezing or
extreme heat/humidity.

This sounds like you would not be able to set zones for different temperatures.

[chamaway]

Ok....

Latest update.... apparently the thermostat has a "short" and I can either live with never setting a heat temp between 66 and 60... OR.... replacing the thermostat (and possibly panel)....

OR find an old rotary dial Comfort Zone thermostat....

Does anyone know about the backward compatability in terms of using a newer Comfort Zone thermostat.....

THIS SUCKS... :-( - Appreciate any help

[jpsmith1cm]

demorrison,

Before posting advice in our AOP forums, you must first be a qualified Professional Member*

[beachtech]

Ok....

Latest update.... apparently the thermostat has a "short" and I can either live with never setting a heat temp between 66 and 60... OR.... replacing the thermostat (and possibly panel)....

OR find an old rotary dial Comfort Zone thermostat....

Does anyone know about the backward compatability in terms of using a newer Comfort Zone thermostat.....

THIS SUCKS... :-( - Appreciate any help

to the best of my knowledge the newer thermostats are backwards compatible.

may i ask if you are using a carrier dealer to figure this out?

[mjhvac]

I understand about the * but Demorrison has been the only person to provide correct info. As a former tech for a Carrier dealer the Comfort Zone I system was an adaptation of a commercial system for residential application. And neither the Comfort zone II or the Infinity controller will work in place of the CZ I controller.

[hvaclogic]

For the past 5 years or so I've had to upgrade those Comfort Zone I zoning systems to the Comfort Zone II since the rotary T-stats are no longer available. The upshot is that the Comfort Zone II is way easier to program than those rotary stats.

[chamaway]

Quick Update -- and Resolution....

Thanks to all for the help and feedback....

Found a great carrier dealer who helped explore all the options (not that there was many)...

Ended up with a new Comfort Zone II thermostat and panel.... pretty quick install and 100% compatabile with the existing wiring / dampers / temp sensors.... Not plug and play, but close.

Love the programability and the kit came with new temperature sensors as well (more modern look) which swapped out easily....

Bonus was one of my dampers was making a louder than should when opening / closing, and now seems perfectly quiet (and yes, it is working)....

Anyway... thanks again to all.... out close to 4 figures, but everything is now good....