Author Topic: Underfloor heating control with 240v actuators  (Read 3783 times)

william

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Underfloor heating control with 240v actuators
« on: June 30, 2010, 09:56:02 pm »
hello all,
          my brother has installed an underfloor heating system with 16 actuator connections which is split into 13 zones (some zones have 2 pipes due to length restrictions), the actuators work (open) when 240v electricity is supplied to it. i am having serious difficulty in finding a control unit which will receive the linuxmce signals, process them and send the 240v electricity supply to the actuator so it will open.

 i have looked at the siemens s7 plc, but it is way too costly and it is proprietory, it also uses an interface which i am not guaranteed will work with linuxmce.
i have also looked at pc cards that will receive signals and send a signal to the actuator, the major problem i am having is the 240v electricity. if these cards are digital and are plugged into an expansion slot would that be dangerous as most electronics work on 12v d/c not 240v a/c. these cards in effect make a pc a programmable logic controller.

if anybody can please help we would be very grateful as we have spent 3 months researching it and have come up with no affordable solutions, we have got quotes for 15000, 3000 etc.

the whole project is being held up by this as my brother needs to turn on the heating to finish the floor properly and work has totally stalled.

he wants a system where it is controlled by orbiter and does not need thermostats in each room.

any help on this would be very very very welcome, thank you in advance

Zaerc

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Re: Underfloor heating control with 240v actuators
« Reply #1 on: July 01, 2010, 12:09:28 am »
Now if only LMCE had some sort of way to control powerlines...
"Change is inevitable. Progress is optional."
-- Anonymous


william

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Re: Underfloor heating control with 240v actuators
« Reply #2 on: July 01, 2010, 12:33:33 am »
excellent thank you very much never thought of it, simple but effective youre a lifesaver thank you,

edbroni

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Re: Underfloor heating control with 240v actuators
« Reply #3 on: November 09, 2010, 03:50:15 am »
Hi Willian,

    Could you create a interface between your computer and actuator using a serial connection. This interface could control a relay. In this way, the low voltage from PC will control the actuators conected in the relay.
    I´m not a expert in LinuxMCE but I think that there is a way to create a relation between pins in serial cable and events in LinuxMCE. Let´s wait more explanations from experts.

Edgar

tschak909

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Re: Underfloor heating control with 240v actuators
« Reply #4 on: November 09, 2010, 05:12:08 am »
If you have a way to automatically control the unit and it can plug into a PC, and you have the protocol sheet, then LinuxMCE can control it.

-Thom

edbroni

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Re: Underfloor heating control with 240v actuators
« Reply #5 on: November 09, 2010, 08:52:11 pm »
If you have a way to automatically control the unit and it can plug into a PC, and you have the protocol sheet, then LinuxMCE can control it.

-Thom

Thom,

   Look this: http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=9990.0