A heating system of any type must necessarily contain control components. These can be simple mechanical devices that stabilize pressure and temperature. But they are ineffective for automation of heat supply. Therefore, it is recommended to consider the management of the home heating system in different ways: using electronic controllers and specialized hardware.
Principles of organizing smart heating
The modern home heating control unit is a complex electronic complex connected to a single network with all components of the system. He performs the adjustment of their parameters using the built-in control units.
In order for the home heating control system to be truly effective, it is necessary to choose its elements correctly. They are characterized by a set of options and the possibility of organizing three-way communication between the user, the electronic control unit and the heating components.
What should be considered when choosing a specific control system? There are several fundamental parameters that characterize any heating control:
- Possibility to connect electric thermostats, temperature and pressure sensors to the electronic components of the boiler;
- Flexibility of customization. So, the Arduino heating control system has an open program code, which makes it possible to adapt it for a specific autonomous heating supply;
- Change in current heating values depending on external factors - indoor temperature on the street, an emergency, the absence of coolant;
- Installed remote heating control for remote change of parameters in the system.
Correctly drawn up diagram of the control unit of the heating system is centralized. Those. on critical sections of the mains, boiler and heating radiators, control elements — temperature regulators, controllers — stop. They are connected to a single control node. It is called a programmer or device for monitoring the operation of heat supply.
To create an effective control system, the boiler must have an electronic operation unit that contains terminals for connection to an external programmer.
Programmers and thermostats - the main elements of heating control
For the organization of autonomous heat supply, electronic devices are needed. They can have a control panel for the heating boiler, the ability to simultaneously change the steam meters in several connected components.
These devices are called programmers or electronic thermostats. Like other similar devices, they can have heating control via SMS or the Internet. But these are just additional features. To select the optimal model, you need to know the basic functional qualities of the programmer:
- The number of connected loops. It can vary from 1 to 12. Additionally, a module is installed to increase the number of connectors;
- System Modes. Depending on the settings, you can set the control of heating radiators in an economical mode, normal and comfortable;
- Plug-in - telephone heating control. A GSM station transmits the required information via SMS - coolant temperature, emergency alert, etc .;
- The presence of radio transmitters to create wireless communication channels between connected heating components.
Together, the installed equipment is called the heating control frame. It may consist of components with various functionalities. The purpose remains the same - the ability to automatically or semi-automatically change the parameters of heat supply.
But in addition to local devices, there are also zonal ones installed on specific components - boilers, radiators. By controlling the heating via the Internet using these devices, you can adjust the degree of heating of water in the system, the temperature in a specific battery. Often such devices are called not programmers, but electronic thermostats.
They differ in more affordable cost and ease of installation. For thermostats do not need a heating control cabinet, which reduces the complexity of the arrangement. In some cases, it is possible to connect several temperature controllers to a single control unit.
What to consider when preparing a budget for smart heating? In addition to the cost of the control element, you need to know the estimated price of consumables - communication wires, heating control panel. The latter is necessary when installing a system of several blocks - a programmer, a GSM module, expansion strips for additional contactors.
| Model | Appointment | Cost, rub. |
| Computherm q3 | Wired thermostat | 1625 |
| Computherm Q3 RF | Wireless temperature controller | 3367 |
| PROTHERM Kromschroder E8.4401 | Programmer Management of 4 boilers, domestic hot water, 15 heating circuits | 34533 |
| Heating control panel | RCD, boiler control units, connection to temperature sensors | From 7000 |
It is also important to consider the location - the heating control box must be installed in an accessible place. It is not recommended to install it in a boiler room, although it is the easiest option in terms of complexity. It is best to install in a living room. Then it will be possible to control and change system parameters much more often.
Programmer models differ in the number of connected system components. They are called control loops.
Modules for remote control of heat supply
To organize a home heating control system, you need to take care of the possibility of remote control. Special modules will help to provide this function. Most often, they are not included in the standard package of programmers and temperature controllers.
After purchasing a home heating control unit, you should choose the right communication device. Depending on the technical requirements, it can provide the following types of communication between the user and the control element:
- GSM control. Data is transmitted via cellular. In fact, it is a landline telephone with the functions of generating, sending, receiving and processing SMS messages;
- Internet connection. It is characterized by more advanced functionality and is practically not limited geographically. In this case, the control panel of the heating boiler can be a tablet, laptop or any PC with a special software package installed.
For this, the programmer must have a flexible configuration. This feature is provided by Arduino heating control systems. In fact, they can be adapted for any scheme, from monitoring the operation of ventilation to complex industrial complexes.
When traveling abroad, it is not recommended to activate roaming to control heating through the GSM module. This will entail high costs. It is best to delegate control of the heat supply to a friend or relative.
GSM boiler control unit
The easiest and relatively affordable way to control the operation of the boiler is to set the heating control via SMS. To do this, a separate unit is purchased, which is connected to the programmer or thermostat. Some models already have a similar feature.
At the stage of choosing a remote heating control, you should decide on the method of data transfer via the GSM network. This largely depends on the capabilities of a particular phone model, as well as the built-in functions of the data transfer unit.
The easiest way is to receive messages in the form of SMS. A unit installed in the heating control frame will transmit the following data:
- Drop in temperature and pressure below (above) the critical level;
- Emergency failure in the operation of the boiler - power failure, lack of energy. In this case, the transmission of the error code and its description is possible.
For reverse heating control by phone, you need to send SMS of a certain format. With their help, you can adjust the temperature level, initiate the launch of the boiler after an emergency shutdown. Also, many models have a built-in function of delaying the command. Those. the value of a parameter is transmitted, and the activation time of the boiler to achieve it is indicated.
It is important to remember that the data obtained may differ from the actual ones. For effective control of heating radiators, it is necessary to know the degree of error of the following devices:
- Temperature sensors. The readings of most electronic models have an error of ± 0.5 ° C;
- The temperature change step in the thermostat. It can be from 0.2 ° C to 0.5 ° C.
In practice, this is really necessary when setting the heating to anti-freezing mode, when the level of heating of the coolant is maintained at + 5 ° C. This allows you to save on energy costs while avoiding emergency situations.
To install the GSM unit, you do not need to purchase a special heat supply control cabinet. This device is rarely controlled - therefore, you can limit yourself to installing a closed panel.
Internet heating control
Heating control via the Internet has all the advantages inherent to controlling heat supply using SMS messages. However, the ability to receive more information affects the quality of heat supply.
The functions of the cottage heating control unit when connected to the Internet have several advantages. The main one is the ability to install special software systems. They integrate into a laptop, smartphone or any other type of personal PC. At the same time, remote control of heat supply is characterized by the following features:
- User friendly interface. Most often, it is designed for smartphone operating systems. But with a little refinement, it can be installed in the computer;
- No limit on the number of connected users, as in SMS blocks;
- Ability to customize settings and any point where there is internet. In this case, there is no need to enable roaming. An exception is Internet services from mobile operators.
It is important to properly preset the remote control for the heating boiler. To do this, it is recommended that you first verify the actual system readings after changing them. This is necessary to calibrate the system.
Some models of Internet units installed in the heating control frame have limitations on operating systems. The most commonly used OS is Android or IOS.
Tips for organizing a remote heating control
In most cases, you can make a cottage heating control system yourself.This is only possible with the right choice of system components. Those. First you need to analyze the status and capabilities of already installed equipment.
The classical scheme of the heating system control unit has one control unit, which is connected to all elements of the heat supply. The programmer must meet the following requirements:
- The number of connected terminals and their configuration must coincide with similar communication nodes of the boiler and thermostats. Otherwise, the management of heat supply via SMS will be impossible. If necessary, adapters are purchased;
- Maximum user distance from the control unit. If this distance does not exceed 300 m - you can purchase models with ore management. To increase the area of communication, it is recommended to use heating control by mobile phone or the Internet;
- The ability to independently (or with the help of specialists) establish additional work parameters. This is done with a controller based on heating control boards;
- Connection of an autonomous power supply unit. For this, a sufficiently large control box for the heating system is needed. This parameter is taken into account when choosing the installation location of the control unit in the house.
Do not forget about the ability to control heating radiators. This can be done using local devices - mechanical thermostats. They have a low cost, but can not be connected to a common electronic control system.
If heating also performs the function of hot heat supply, it is necessary that the programmer has a function to control this area.
Central heating control
For district heating, the control scheme will be much more complicated. It can include several nodes - an equipped control cabinet for heating in the central boiler room, a distribution block of the coolant in an apartment building.
In this case, heating control via the Internet is practically not used. The exceptions are heat meters, which transmit the readings of the coolant flow directly to the management company.
In turn, it is not important for the consumer to know the features of the arrangement of heating control. Each heat consumer in an apartment building should be familiar with the standards for providing heat supply to residential buildings:
- The temperature range in residential premises is from +18 to + 22 ° C;
- Perhaps the excess of heating should not be more than 4 ° C;
- Temperature reduction - not lower than 3 ° С.
If these indications are outside the norm, it is necessary to contact the management company. A systematic violation of the heating mode may be due to obsolete control equipment. The only way out is to install an electronic control unit for district heating.
When choosing a programmer for autonomous heating, you need to consider that the vast majority of models are sensitive to voltage drops in the network. Therefore, the installation of a voltage stabilizer is recommended.
An example of installed heating control can be found when watching the video:
