Home Automation RC-100 User Manual

O M N I S T A T

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATING THERMOSTAT

:

COOL

P

AUTO

DAY

ModeHold Prog Fan

OMNISTAT

Owner's Manual

RC-100 Heat Pump

2 Stage Heat / 1 Stage Cool

Document Number 13R00-3

January, 1997

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.

FCC

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.

Copyright © 1997 Home Automation, Inc.

All Rights Reserved

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

DESCRIPTION

ABOUT HEAT PUMPS

ENERGY EFFICIENT CONTROL

OPERATION

DISPLAY

FILTER REMINDER

ANTICIPATION

SETTING THE CURRENT TIME AND DAY

PROGRAMMING

SETTING TIME SCHEDULES

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DAY/NIGHT MODE

PROGRAMMABLE ENERGY SAVER MODE (PESM)

SYSTEM MODE

AUTOMATIC TIME UPDATE

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INTRODUCTION

Thank you for purchasing your new RC-100 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-100 is a precision digital thermostat 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 (
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.

) for your installer to

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.

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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-100 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-100 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-100 will turn the heat pump
off and use the auxiliary heating only. This mode may be used if the
heat pump has failed.

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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-100, 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-100 has microprocessor intelligence that continually
monitors the performance of the heat pump and uses the auxiliary
heat only when necessary. If the RC-100 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-100 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-100 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.

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