6 period programmable thermostats

[jetescamilla]

Hello, I am glad I stumbled across this forum. Because of the available savings program we can enroll in with power provider to conserve power during peak hours and lower my bill, there are multiple times we would to program our thermostat along with our sleep temp, day temp...etc. Unfortunately the 4 period changes that are so popular with most units does not seem to fit our need. I am having a hard time finding thermostats that can do 6 or more changes in temp. Can anyone help point me in the direction of models and/or recommendation that may work?

I will admit I am not the most knowledgeable in HVAC systems but I am more than capable of programming the unit and installing it myself. If there is any more info you think you would need please feel free to ask.

Thanks.

[skippedover]

A couple of thing of which you should be aware.

First, the reason most t-stats are 4 periods is because even at 4 daily periods, the opportunity to save is greatly diminished. It takes a minimum cycle time of 8 to 10 hours per cycle to realize any saving benefit at all. Do the math and you can see why they are just 4-cycles and at that, the 4 is more to appease the public than any real savings that will be had.

The power company cycling is a whole different animal. That's put in place so that the power company can turn off your AC system during peak times to save them from overloading their electricity production capability. They might offer you a lower electric rate if you will allow them to do that but again, the number of periods of set-back have never been part of that program to my understanding. Honeywell makes a full line of t-stats, some with commmunicating capability. I'd recommend that you contact your favorite HVAC company for that product as the t-stats are somewhat on the pricey side and if you miswire and let the magic smoke out of the stat, you'll be making a new purchase and any anticipated savings is moving further and further away. Use a pro and it's all on him to do it right. In other words, I would NOT recommend a DIY installation of the more sophisticated t-stats.

[jetescamilla]

My changes I would like would not be too drastic. Basically the peak hours that the power company program has is from 1-8pm m-f.

So I was thinking of setting our thermostat at 82 during those hours. Our ambient temp would be something like 79 and our sleep temp would be 76 totaling 6 changes. I dont think that temperature variance is too much, but as I said before my HVAC experience is very limited. So you are saying because of the time for the cycle (8-10 hours), we would not be making any savings? Can you explain further?

Also, the current thermostat (I dont know the brand off the top of my head) is programmable with 4 periods. I would assume that connecting something like the honeywell would just be ensuring that the same wiring is put into the correct terminal for honeywell that is was for the previous thermostat. Is there something more complicated for an advanced thermostat?

Thanks again.

[MicahWes]

After a few years of experimenting in my own home, my thermostat now stays at 77 in summer and 68 in winter. This has proven to save more than constant changes, especially since our house is not very often vacant for more than 4 hours a day. In a commercial retail space I operate I have removed all the programmable stats for straight stats (GOOD electronic stats with no programming capability...Stay away from Home Depot crap either way you go!) and have also been more comfortable with hardly any effect on my utility usage.

[big sky hvac]

My changes I would like would not be too drastic. Basically the peak hours that the power company program has is from 1-8pm m-f.

So I was thinking of setting our thermostat at 82 during those hours. Our ambient temp would be something like 79 and our sleep temp would be 76 totaling 6 changes. I dont think that temperature variance is too much, but as I said before my HVAC experience is very limited. So you are saying because of the time for the cycle (8-10 hours), we would not be making any savings? Can you explain further?

Also, the current thermostat (I dont know the brand off the top of my head) is programmable with 4 periods. I would assume that connecting something like the honeywell would just be ensuring that the same wiring is put into the correct terminal for honeywell that is was for the previous thermostat. Is there something more complicated for an advanced thermostat?

Thanks again.

Your idea makes no sense at all. Is it really worth saving very little money to be uncomfortable? You say during the peak you would set it to 82*, then you want to cool it to 79* for a couple of hours and then down to 76* while you're sleeping? Your A/C is going to run for a while trying to cool your house down, not to mention the discomfort of 82* when you get home from work. Either way, you could still accomplish what you want with a 4 period stat. You could set it for 76* for it's sleep setting, 79* for the wake setting, 82* for your leave setting at 1pm and 79* for your return setting at 8pm. I personally don't recommend much more than a 2* setback for cooling, but to each their own.

[pacnw]

I guess I still don't get it!!!!

why not set the stat to where you want it with the four periods and let the power company shut it off it it needs to and if it doesn't then if it is calling for cooling it will cool and if it's not calling then it won't be running.

I just do not see the need to try to make it harder than it needs to be.

if you need that time to be inactive from your end, an additional timer on the "y" circuit would accomplish that easier. if you don't know how to do that, a professional electrician or HVAC company should.

[amd]

Large setbacks are good for fossil fuel fired furnaces - not great for heatpumps and a/c units, since they don't have the capacity to recover quickly.

I wouldn't increase the temperature by more than 2-3F degrees during peak periods.

[amd]

This has proven to save more than constant changes, especially since our house is not very often vacant for more than 4 hours a day.

4 hours is too short to bother, but reducing the setpoint (heating only) for 6-8 hours per day has been proven to save a significant amount of energy - https://www03.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/catalo...=1283230579462