Thermoregulators for gas and solid fuel boilers

An effective heating system is crucial for keeping our homes warm and comfortable during the winter. For many years, people have preferred gas and solid fuel boilers for heating their homes because they offer dependable warmth and comfort. However, having appropriate temperature control is essential to guaranteeing peak performance and energy efficiency. Thermoregulators are useful in this situation.

Thermoregulators, sometimes referred to as temperature controllers or thermostats, are appliances that control the boiler system’s temperature. These useful devices make it simple to set and maintain the ideal temperature inside your house, regardless of whether your boiler runs on gas or solid fuel. Thermoregulators optimize energy use and lower heating expenses by automatically modifying the heating output in response to temperature readings.

The ability of thermoregulators to precisely control temperature is one of its main advantages. Thermoregulators let you set specific temperatures and let the system take care of the rest, saving you the trouble of manually adjusting the boiler’s settings, which can result in temperature fluctuations and wasted energy. In addition to making the interior more comfortable, this also lessens the chance of overheating and wasteful fuel use.

Purchasing a high-quality thermoregulator is a wise decision for homeowners wishing to increase the effectiveness of their heating systems. To accommodate different kinds of boilers and heating systems, these devices are available in a variety of models and designs. There is a thermoregulator that can be used with either a modern solid fuel system or a conventional gas boiler, depending on what you need.

Thermoregulators offer convenience and peace of mind in addition to improved temperature control and energy savings. You can effortlessly modify the heating settings in your house to suit your preferences and schedule thanks to programmable features and remote control options. Your heating system is working effectively and efficiently, so you can relax whether you’re at work, on vacation, or just lounging around the house.

Briefly about the principle of operation

To enhance comprehension of the room thermoregulator’s working principle, let us first elucidate the hot water boiler’s basic configuration’s operation algorithm:

1. The user ignites the heater, sets the desired temperature of the coolant using buttons or control knobs.
2. Each unit is equipped with an immersion or surface-mounted sensor that informs the control unit about the degree of water heating. When the temperature of the coolant reaches the set threshold, the gas valve is triggered and cuts off the fuel supply to the main burner. The circulation pump continues to "drive" the water through the system.
3. After the cool down of the heating medium to the lower temperature limit, the gas supply is resumed, the burner is ignited again and heats the water.

Aid. The automation in wood boilers with turbochargers turns off the blower fan. The furnace’s air supply and combustion are shut off, and the device enters standby mode.

The heater foolishly heats water to the designated limit because it "does not see" the outside air temperature in the building in the absence of an external temperature sensor. As a result, during the fall-spring transitional period, there is a phenomenon known as "cycling" in which the burner is started and stopped frequently (every two to three minutes), shortening the unit’s overall lifespan.

Let’s talk about the main point now. Because the remote thermoregulator is oriented to the air’s temperature, which cools more slowly than other materials, it lengthens the time between turning on and off the gas boiler. The device is turned on in the built-in pump and gas valve (turbine on TT-boilers) power supply circuit break.

By installing an automated thermostat, you can simultaneously accomplish three goals:

• reduce energy consumption;
• make boiler control more convenient;
• prolong the life of the heat source.

Noteworthy information. The following list of points is not limited to gas heaters. Any heat generator—solid fuel, diesel, electric boiler, etc.—that has an electronic or electric control unit is controlled by a thermostat.

The thermostat cuts the circuit, stopping the burner and the heat generator’s integrated pump when the space reaches the desired temperature. The air must cool down by one or two degrees before the unit turns on, extending the time between shutdown and ignition to fifteen to twenty minutes.

Let’s observe two important details:

1. When the room regulator is used, the standard start/stop function based on the water temperature in the boiler jacket is still in effect. When the coolant in the boiler heats up to the set limit, the gas burner will turn off.
2. If the burner is extinguished at the command of the internal temperature sensor, the regular circulation pump continues to work. When the remote thermostat is triggered, both devices – burner and pump unit – are stopped.

For this reason, it’s crucial to configure the boiler’s external thermostat correctly.

Types of room regulators

Two different types of thermostats are used to automatically regulate boiler combustion based on the temperature of the surrounding air:

1. Mechanical. The electrical circuit is broken and closed by a bimetallic plate that bends due to heat. To change the desired temperature, the user turns a knob that increases or decreases the gap between the plate and the second contact.
2. Electronic (digital). Here the role of the element sensitive to heating is played by a thermistor, which changes resistance depending on the temperature. The circuit, which includes the specified part, closes the contacts of the relay, guided by the change in resistance and user settings.

Aid. Not just the boiler uses mechanical and electronic temperature sensors. Thermoregulators are effectively used in other areas of the heating system, such as zone control of warm floors or the shut-off of the circulation pump of a separate radiator branch.

A cable is used to connect a mechanical device to the heat generator. The majority of electronic models are wirelessly connected. Reviews claim that because radio-controlled thermostats are so easy to install and use, they are becoming increasingly popular. Workings of a wireless boiler thermoregulator:

1. The apparatus consists of two blocks equipped with radio modules.
2. The first block, which includes an executive relay, is placed directly next to the heater and connected to the necessary connector. Power supply – from the house electric network 220 volts.
3. The second unit with a display and control buttons is powered by batteries and installed in a convenient place in the dwelling.
4. The temperature sensor inside the remote control reacts to the air temperature. At the right moment, the radio module sends signals to the first unit to turn on/stop the boiler. Tot opens the relay contacts, heating and circulation of the coolant is stopped or resumed.

The majority of electronic models come with programmers that let you schedule the boiler for up to seven days. Throughout the day, it is possible to adjust the room temperature multiple times. Certain copies are managed through mobile communication, such as SMS or smartphone Internet applications, and have a 90-day programming period.

Which thermostat is better to choose

We advise weighing the benefits and drawbacks of the two categories of household appliances in order to select the best room regulator. Negative aspects of mechanical models

• low accuracy of the maintained temperature;
• wired connection – the cable will have to be pulled from the boiler room to the right room;
• lack of various convenient functions available in programmers.

Note: Based on real owners’ reviews posted on forums, it appears that users are not overly concerned about temperature maintenance accuracy and that it is not a major issue. Another issue is the need to conceal wires in wall nooks, beneath skirting boards, and other places.

Additionally, bimetallic thermostats have three distinct benefits:

• low price and availability;
• reliability in operation – there is nothing to break in the simplest models;
• ease of boiler control with a single handle, which is important for elderly homeowners.

Electronic regulators’ drawbacks include their higher cost, occasionally ambiguous interfaces, and the requirement for frequent battery replacement. One more issue with low-cost Chinese models is that they don’t communicate with the relay block when the control panel is installed behind one or two partitions.

Comfortable operation is a digital thermoregulator’s unquestionable benefit. One time setup of the heat generator’s weekly and daily program is sufficient; no additional steps are needed.

As an example, let’s enumerate a standard set of features for the Baxi Magic Plus thermostat:

• temperature regulation range – 5…35 °С;
• protection against freezing of the heating system, by default starts the boiler when the dwelling cools down to +3 degrees Celsius;
• LCD display with backlight, push-button control;
• ±5 ° C temperature sensor reading shift (read the explanation in the next section of the publication);
• 2 operating modes – economy and comfort;
• hourly / daily / weekly programmer.

Aid. Manufacturers often refer to these devices as digital chronothermostats. The devices’ weak point is their low repairability in the event of a breakage, particularly for Chinese products for which replacement parts are difficult to come by.

Selecting the appropriate model is simple if you are aware of the differences between mechanical and electronic regulators. Prioritize trustworthy products from European, Japanese, and Korean manufacturers while keeping an eye on your budget. There are respectable brands among the "Chinese," but overall the merchandise is of quite low quality.

Installation and connection of the device

There are two steps involved in installing a household regulator: connecting it to the gas (solid fuel) boiler and mounting it in a convenient location. Place the control element in line with the following recommendations to make sure the thermostat maintains the set temperature:

• minimum height from the floor – 1.5 m, maximum – 1.7 м;
• There should be no heating radiators, heaters or other appliances (including air conditioners) within 1 meter of the appliance that distort the heat picture;
• exclude the impact of drafts, running ventilation;
• it is undesirable to put the sensor away from the heated rooms.

Advice: It makes sense to purchase a thermostat model with an extra temperature sensor if you live in a private home with warm floors. The latter gauges the temperature in the room’s lower region and is positioned above the floor.

Once the device has been mounted on the wall in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, run the wire (if there is one) to the heat source in an exposed or concealed location. How to attach the boiler’s regulator:

1. Connect one end of the control cable to the contacts marked COM (common) and NO (normally open) on the thermostat. On the wireless version these terminals are located in the relay unit.
2. Refer to the heater"s instruction manual for the remote thermostat wiring diagram, markings and pin locations.
3. Remove or hinge the front panel of the gas heater, which covers access to the control board and connectors.
4. Remove the jumper inserted between the terminals shown on the data sheet. Do not throw the part away, you may need it later on.
5. Connect the wires coming from the regulator contacts to the released terminals. Polarity is not necessary.
6. When installing the wireless thermostat, connect a three-core 220 V power supply cable with grounding wire to the relay unit.

Advice: Use a tester to locate the two necessary terminals if your appliance’s contacts are marked with numbers or cryptic letters rather than the required marking (the circuit between them must be open). As seen in the above diagram, the COM and NC pair are initially closed, making a total of three contacts.

The following video illustrates the specifics of installing a wireless thermostat:

Remote regulators are incompatible with non-independent floor standing boilers that have gas automatics like the 630 SIT, 710 MiniSIT, SABK, "Orion," and others. This is because there are no electrical circuits where the breaker relay can be connected, and the gas valve is entirely mechanically designed.

The newest generation of Italian EuroSIT – 820 NOVA valves and gas heat generators fitted with "Kare" automatics are the exception. These blocks feature solenoid valves and unique connections for attaching mechanical and digital external thermostats.

Adjustment procedure

To tweak the system and choose a comfortable temperature, take the following actions:

1. Set the maximum temperature with the remote controller.
2. Start the boiler and bring it to the optimal operating mode, at which the unit achieves the highest efficiency.
3. When all rooms are comfortably warm, take an electronic thermometer and measure the temperature near your regulator.
4. Select the measured value on the thermostat as the heater cut-out threshold. Enter the required settings into the programmer.

Vital elucidation. The optimal operating temperature mode for the gas boiler is 80/60 °C (supply/return).

Let us clarify the aim of the aforementioned manipulations. The temperature in the rooms may vary by one to three degrees due to various areas and heat losses, so it is preferable to follow the air heating level in the vicinity of the sensor.

Adjustment is required to account for temperature differences if the temperature at the location of the regulator is significantly different from the surrounding area. This kind of adjustment is possible with certain models, like the Baxi Magic Plus (called temperature shift). The device’s memory needs to be updated with the desired value, which can range from 1 to 5 degrees.

When the thermostat does not save gas?

Online reviews abound stating something like this: "I bought and installed the temperature regulator, but now the boiler consumes more gas. I was fooled by salesmen’s assurances about saving 30%." Why is it even necessary?" Let’s examine the reasons behind this device’s energy savings (which include electricity, solid fuel, diesel, and gas):

1. The interval between starts of the heat generator increases. The reason – cooling and heating of air is slower than water in the batteries.
2. Together with the burner, the circulation pump, which consumes up to 100 W of electricity, is switched off. In TT-boilers the fan (turbo blower or smoke pump) is stopped.
3. The rooms are fully heated at the right time when the occupants are at home. Reasonably acceptable temperature is maintained during the rest of the hours. It is recommended to reduce heating at night – for comfortable sleep it is enough to heat the rooms at the level of 18-19 °С.

Justification. A reasonably acceptable temperature is one that allows the boiler to quickly and energy-efficiently heat the rooms to a comfortable level. Experience determines it, and it’s between 15 and 18 degrees.

Let us now examine the scenarios in which there is a worsening of heating or an increase in consumption rather than a savings:

1. On the boiler is set the minimum temperature of the coolant (40-45 ° C), because the floor heating circuits are connected directly. The heater operates with low efficiency and gas consumption is not reduced.
2. When the dwelling is heated exclusively with warm floors and the thermoregulator does not measure the lower zone of the room. Screed and air warms up slowly, floors become too hot at the moment of sensor activation. When cooling down, the opposite is the case.
3. The heat loss of the building is too high. No thermostats will not help here, insulation is required.
4. The connection between the thermal sensor – boiler is incorrectly configured, incorrectly selected hysteresis (temperature difference between the start and stop of the heat generator).

There is a temperature difference in each thermostat when the boiler is turned on and off. It is possible to adjust the value by 0.5-2 degrees. The air temperature differential will significantly increase, making the room uncomfortable to be in and requiring more fuel to heat the heat generator if the maximum hysteresis setting is chosen and the house is heated with warm floors.

The master installer in the video will be briefed on the nuances of thermostat setting.

Effective heating system management is essential for efficient and comfortable living when it comes to heating and insulation in your home. Thermoregulators are essential components of gas and solid fuel boilers. By controlling the boiler’s temperature, these gadgets help it operate at its best and use less energy. Thermoregulators give you the control you need to keep your home comfortable while reducing energy waste, whether it’s regulating the heat output based on your preferred room temperature or preventing overheating. Your comfort and energy costs can be greatly impacted by selecting the appropriate regulator for your boiler setup and knowing how these regulators operate.

Conclusion

The sellers guarantee that thermostats for gas boilers cut down on blue fuel usage by 25–50%. In order to convince the user to purchase heating equipment, the figures are a little bit inflated. In actuality, the savings vary from 10% to 25% based on a number of factors. However, ten percent will have a noticeable impact at the energy carriers’ current rates and prices, so thermoregulators are most definitely advised.

Selecting the appropriate thermoregulator for your gas or solid fuel boiler can have a big impact on how comfortable and efficient your house is. These appliances are essential for controlling the heating system’s temperature, keeping your house warm and maximizing energy efficiency.

It’s important to take into account aspects like compatibility with your boiler type, desired features, and energy-saving capabilities when choosing a thermoregulator. The requirements for gas and solid fuel boilers vary, so it’s important to select a thermoregulator made especially for your system.

A variety of cutting-edge features are available in modern thermoregulators to improve efficiency and control. With the help of programmable thermostats, you can customize heating schedules to fit your daily schedule, keeping your house warm when you need it and conserving energy when you don’t. Remote access to Wi-Fi-enabled thermostats lets you use a smartphone or tablet to change the settings from any location.

Over time, purchasing a high-quality thermoregulator can result in considerable energy bill savings. Through precise temperature regulation of your heating system and reduced energy loss, these gadgets assist you in lessening your carbon footprint without sacrificing comfort levels in your house.

To sum up, thermoregulators are crucial parts of boiler systems that use gas or solid fuel because they provide exact control over temperature settings and maximize energy efficiency. More comfort and energy savings in your home can be yours with the proper thermoregulator that fits your needs and modern features.