Home Automation Omnistat RC-101 Owner's Manual
O M N I S T A T
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATING THERMOSTAT
Owner's Manual
RC-101 Heat Pump
Real Time Pricing System
2 Stage Heat / 1 Stage Cool
Document Number 13R00-4
January, 1997
AUTO
ModeHold Prog Fan
DAY
COOL
:
P
OMNISTAT
Copyright © 1997 Home Automation, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
..................................
1
DESCRIPTION
....................................
1
ABOUT HEAT PUMPS
..............................
2
OPERATION
.....................................
4
DISPLAY
........................................
7
FILTER REMINDER
................................
9
ANTICIPATION
...................................
9
REAL TIME PRICING SYSTEM
.......................
10
SETTING THE CURRENT TIME AND DAY
...............
11
PROGRAMMING
..................................
12
SETTING THE VARIATION FOR HIGHER RATES
.........
12
SETTING TIME SCHEDULES
.........................
13
SYSTEM MODE
...................................
14
AUTOMATIC TIME UPDATE
.........................
15
This thermostat is Listed by Underwriter's Laboratories and
UL Canada.
This thermostat has been tested and found to comply with the
requirements of the European Union for Electromagnetic
Interference, Electromagnetic Immunity and Safety under the
applicable EMI and Low Voltage Directives and Standards.
This thermostat has been tested and found to comply with the
limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the
FCC Rules.
This product generates and can radiate radio frequency
energy. Due to its low power design, it is unlikely to
interfere with radio and TV communications. If it is
suspected of doing so, the user is encouraged to try to correct
the problem by reorienting the receiver's antenna, moving the
receiver away from the product, or consulting an experienced
radio/TV technician for help.
FCC
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing your new RC-101 heat pump electronic
communicating thermostat. Your thermostat will provide you with
comfort, convenience, and energy savings for years to come.
We hope that you take a few moments to become familiar with all of
the features of this fine product by reviewing this manual. Please
keep this manual on file for future reference.
DESCRIPTION
The RC-101 is a precision digital thermostat with Real Time Pricing,
specifically designed for heat pumps. It has the capability of being
controlled both locally and by remote control. It offers
programmability, stand alone operation, and robust, optically isolated
communications with automation systems, utility control systems,
and personal computers.
There are several items which can be configured at the time of
installation. These items have a check box (
) for your installer to
indicate which features are used in your system.
As an EPA ENERGY STAR Partner, Home Automation, Inc. has
determined that this thermostat meets the ENERGY STAR
guidelines for energy efficiency.
MAINTENANCE
Your new thermostat is maintenance free. There is no battery to
install or replace. If necessary, clean unit carefully with a mild soap
solution on a soft cloth.
1
ABOUT HEAT PUMPS...
A heat pump is a mechanical refrigeration system that operates in
two modes, heating and cooling. In cooling mode, the heat pump
takes indoor heat and pumps it outside, just like a standard air
conditioner. In heating mode, the process is reversed: the heat pump
takes outside heat and pumps it inside. Although it feels cold
outside, the air still has heat in it that the heat pump can use as a
source of heat. The fact that the heat pump moves heat from one
place to the other (as opposed to creating heat directly from
electricity or gas) is the key to it's remarkable efficiency. A heat
pump usually produces over 3 times more heat per watt of electricity
than standard electric heating.
While some heat pumps use outside air as their source of heat, others
use the heat available under the ground or in a water well. These are
called air-source, ground-source, or water-source heat pumps,
respectively. The RC-101 is capable of controlling all of these types
of heat pumps.
In extremely cold conditions, the heat pump may require assistance
from another source of heat, known as "auxiliary heating". Auxiliary
heating is less efficient than the heat pump, so it is best to use the
heat pump instead of the auxiliary heat.
For normal and most efficient operation, the RC-101 should be in
HEAT or AUTO mode so that it can properly control the auxiliary
heat. The heat pump is used first, auxiliary heat is used only if
necessary.
In EMERGENCY HEAT mode, the RC-101 will turn the heat pump
off and use the auxiliary heating only. This mode may be used if the
heat pump has failed.
2
ENERGY EFFICIENT CONTROL
Using the programmable or remote control features of your
thermostat, you can save energy costs by setting back the thermostat
during unoccupied times. This reduces the energy loss from indoors
to outdoors. In the past, it has been said that heat pumps should not
be set back because it takes more energy to re-heat the premises than
to keep it at the same temperature. This is true with mechanical
thermostats, because they will use the inefficient auxiliary heat to
recover from the setback. This is not true with the RC-101, because
it uses intelligence to ensure that recovery from setback is done using
the heat pump, and not the auxiliary heat. Because the heat pump
takes longer to recover, heat pumps should not be set back for periods
of time less than 4 to 6 hours.
The RC-101 has microprocessor intelligence that continually
monitors the performance of the heat pump and uses the auxiliary
heat only when necessary. If the RC-101 determines that the heat
pump is able to heat at a rate of 5 degrees per hour or better, the
auxiliary heat will not be used. If the heat pump is unable to heat at
this rate, the RC-101 will use the auxiliary heat to supplement that of
the heat pump. Under these conditions, the heat pump will run
continuously and the auxiliary heat will cycle on and off as needed.
If you wish to temporarily override Energy Efficient Control to heat
as quickly as possible, press the Hold key. The RC-101 will use the
Auxiliary Heat as needed to reach the heat setting, then resume
Energy Efficient Control once the setting is reached.
Remember to turn Hold off to resume programmed operation.
3
Loading...