Thermostat for heating boiler. Thermostat for a heating boiler: temperature controller and automation of operation in one device. Electromechanical, electrical, mechanical

By installing an automatic thermostat, the user hopes to save energy spent on heating an apartment or private house. True, purchasing and installing a device sometimes gives the opposite result - gas or electricity consumption increases. Therefore, we propose to clarify a number of points: how a room thermostat for a gas boiler works, types of temperature controllers, connection methods and correct settings.

Briefly about the principle of operation

To better understand the principle of operation of room thermostats, we first explain the operating algorithm of a water heating boiler in the basic configuration:

The user ignites the heater and uses buttons or control handles to set the desired coolant temperature.
Each device is equipped with a submersible or surface-mounted sensor that informs the control unit about the degree of water heating. When the coolant temperature reaches a predetermined threshold, the gas valve is activated and shuts off the fuel supply to the main burner. The circulation pump continues to “drive” water through the system.
After the coolant has cooled to the lower temperature limit, the gas supply is resumed, the burner is re-ignited and heats the water.

Reference. In turbocharged wood boilers, the automatic system turns off the blower fan. The flow of air and the combustion process in the furnace are suspended, and the unit goes into standby mode.

Scheme of operation of a heating boiler with a remote thermostat - the automation stops and starts the burner depending on the air temperature, not the coolant

Without an external temperature sensor, the heater “does not see” the air temperature in the rooms and stupidly heats the water to the specified limit. Result: during the transitional autumn-spring period, the so-called clocking is observed - frequent start/stop of the burner (once every 2-3 minutes), reducing the resource of the unit as a whole.

Now about the main thing. A remote thermostat extends the intervals between turning on/off a gas boiler, since it focuses on the temperature of the air, which cools more slowly. The device is connected to the power supply circuit of the gas valve (turbines on TT boilers) and the built-in pump.

Installing an automatic thermostat allows you to kill three birds with one stone:

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

Important note. The listed points apply not only to. Any heat generator equipped with an electronic or electrical control unit is connected to the thermostat: solid fuel, diesel, electric boiler, and so on.

The wood boiler automation unit has a connector for connecting a thermostat

When the room warms up to the specified temperature, the thermostat breaks the circuit, the burner and the built-in heat generator pump stop. The unit starts up after the air has cooled by 1-2 degrees, which increases the duration of the interval between shutdown and ignition to 15-20 minutes.

Let us note 2 significant nuances:

When using a room regulator, the standard start/stop function based on the water temperature in the boiler jacket continues to operate. When the coolant in the boiler heats up to the set limit, the gas burner device will turn off.
If the burner is extinguished at the command of the internal temperature sensor, the standard circulation pump continues to operate. When the remote thermostat is triggered, both devices – the burner and the pump unit – stop.

This is why it is important to correctly configure the boiler-external thermostat connection.

Types of room regulators

To automatically adjust the boiler combustion according to the room air temperature, 2 types of thermostats are used:

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

Reference. Mechanical and electronic temperature sensors are used not only for the boiler. Thermostats are successfully used in other parts of the heating system, for example, to turn off a separate radiator branch or for zone control.

The device of a simple mechanical temperature controller

The mechanical device is connected to the heat generator via a cable. Most electronic models provide wireless connection. According to reviews, radio-controlled thermostats are gaining wide popularity due to their ease of installation and operation. How a wireless boiler thermostat works:

The device consists of two blocks equipped with radio modules.
The first block, including the executive relay, is placed directly next to the heater and connected to the desired connector. Power supply - from the house electrical network 220 volts.
The second unit with a display and control buttons is powered by batteries and is installed in a convenient place in the home.
Placed inside remote control The temperature sensor responds to air temperature. At the right moment, the radio module sends signals to the first block to turn on/stop the boiler. It opens the relay contacts, heating and circulation of the coolant is stopped or resumed.

Wireless thermostats consist of 2 blocks exchanging radio signals

Typically, electronic models are equipped with programmers that allow you to set the boiler operating schedule for a week. The temperature in the rooms can be changed several times during the day. Individual instances are programmed for 90 days and managed via mobile communications, for example, via SMS or smartphone Internet application.

Which thermostat is better to choose?

To do right choice room regulator, we suggest considering the pros and cons of two types of household appliances. Disadvantages of mechanical models:

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

Note. Judging by the reviews of real owners on the forums, the accuracy of temperature maintenance is not a critical problem and does not worry users too much. Another thing is the wires that need to be hidden under the baseboards, in the grooves of the walls, and so on.

There are also three obvious advantages of bimetallic thermostats:

low price and availability;
reliability in operation - in the simplest models there is nothing to break;
ease of control of the boiler using one handle, which is important for older homeowners.

Negative sides electronic regulators- higher price, not always clear interface and the need for timely replacement of batteries. Cheap Chinese models encounter an additional problem - a breakdown in communication with the relay unit when installing the control panel behind 1-2 partitions.

An absolute plus of digital thermostats is comfortable operation. It is enough to deposit a week’s rent once and daily program operation of the heat generator, no further action is required.

Wireless programmers need to change batteries on time.

We list a typical set of functions using the Baxi Magic Plus thermostat as an example:

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

Reference. Manufacturers often call such devices digital chronothermostats. The weak point of the devices is their low maintainability in the event of a breakdown, especially Chinese products for which it is not easy to find spare parts.

Knowing the features of electronic and mechanical regulators, it is not difficult to choose suitable model. Focusing on your budget, first of all consider reliable products from European, Japanese and Korean manufacturers. Among the “Chinese” there are also decent brands, but on average the quality of the products leaves much to be desired.

Installation and connection of the device

Installation of a household regulator consists of two stages - mounting in a convenient place and connecting to a gas (solid fuel) boiler. In order for the thermostat to record the temperature without deviations, position the control element according to the recommendations:

Advice. For a private house with warm floors It is worth buying a thermostat model equipped with an additional temperature sensor. The latter is placed above the floor surface and measures the temperature in the lower zone of the room.

After mounting the device on the wall, according to the manufacturer’s instructions, lay the wire to the heat source hidden or open method(if there is a wired connection). How to connect the regulator to the boiler:

Connect one end of the control cable to the contacts marked COM (common) and NO (normally open) of the thermostat. On the wireless version, these terminals are located in the relay block.
In the operating instructions for the heat generator, find the connection diagram for the remote thermostat, markings and location of the contacts.
Remove or fold down the front panel of the gas heater, which provides access to the control board and connectors.
Remove the jumper inserted between the terminals indicated in the passport. Do not throw away the part; you may need it later.
Connect the wires coming from the regulator contacts to the free terminals. There is no need to observe polarity.
When installing a wireless thermostat, connect a three-wire 220 V power cable with a grounding wire to the relay unit.

Advice. If the contacts of your device have numbers or strange letters instead of the indicated markings, find the 2 required terminals using a tester (the circuit between them must be open). There are three contacts in total, the pair COM and NC are initially closed, as shown in the diagram above.

Details of installing a wireless thermostat are shown in the video:

Non-volatile floor-standing boilers equipped with 630 SIT, 710 MiniSIT, SABC, Orion and the like are incompatible with remote regulators. The reason is the completely mechanical design of the gas valve and the lack of electrical circuits, where you can turn on the breaker relay.

Connection diagram of the regulator to the SIT 820 NOVA valve

The exception is gas heat generators equipped with Kare automatics and the latest generation of Italian valves EuroSIT - 820 NOVA. These blocks provide solenoid valves and special contacts for connecting two types of external thermostats - mechanical and digital.

The “Kare” automation uses an electromagnetic valve, where the thermostat is connected

Setting procedure

To configure the system and select a comfortable temperature, follow these steps:

Set the maximum temperature using the remote controller.
Start the boiler and bring it to the optimal operating mode, in which the unit achieves the greatest efficiency.
When all rooms are at a comfortable temperature, take an electronic thermometer and measure the temperature near your regulator.
Select the measured value on the thermostat as the heater shutdown threshold. Enter the required settings into the programmer.

Important clarification. The gas boiler operates with maximum efficiency at a temperature range of 80/60 °C (supply/return).

Let us explain the purpose of these manipulations. Due to different areas and heat losses, the temperature in the rooms may differ by 1-3 degrees, so it is better to navigate by the degree of heating of the air near the sensor itself.

If the temperature at the point where the regulator is installed is very different from other rooms, when setting, you need to make an adjustment for the magnitude of this difference. Some models, for example, Baxi Magic Plus, provide a function for such adjustment (called temperature shift). Then all that remains is to enter the desired value into the device’s memory, ranging from 1 to 5 degrees.

When does the thermostat not save gas?

There are quite a few reviews on the Internet of this kind: “I fell for the sellers’ assurances about saving 30%, bought and installed a temperature regulator, now the boiler consumes more gas. Why is it needed at all? Let's figure out how this device saves energy (not only gas, but also solid fuel, diesel fuel and electricity):

The interval between starts of the heat generator increases. The reason is that the cooling and heating of the air occurs more slowly than the water in the batteries.
Together with the burner, the circulation pump is turned off, consuming up to 100 W of electricity. The fan (turbocharger or smoke exhauster) stops.
The premises are fully heated at the right time when residents are at home. During other hours, a reasonable permissible temperature is maintained. It is recommended to reduce the heating at night - for a comfortable sleep it is enough to heat the rooms at 18-19 °C.

Explanation. Reasonably acceptable means the temperature at which the boiler will quickly warm up the rooms to a comfortable level without much energy consumption. It is determined empirically and lies within 15-18 degrees.

Now let’s look at situations where, instead of saving, there is increased consumption or worsening heating:

The boiler is set to the minimum coolant temperature (40-45 °C), because the underfloor heating circuits are connected directly. The heater operates with low efficiency, gas consumption does not decrease.
When the home is heated exclusively with warm floors, and the thermostat does not measure in the lower zone of the room. The screed and air warm up slowly, and at the moment the sensor is triggered, the floors become too hot. When cooling, the opposite picture is observed.
The heat loss of the building is too great. No thermostats will help here; insulation is required.
The temperature sensor-boiler connection is incorrectly configured, the hysteresis (temperature difference between starting and stopping the heat generator) is incorrectly selected.

Each thermostat provides a temperature difference between turning off and turning on the boiler. The value can be changed within 0.5-2 degrees. If maximum hysteresis is selected and the house is heated with underfloor heating, the air temperature difference will increase greatly, staying in the room will become uncomfortable, and the heat generator will consume more fuel for heating.

The master installer will tell you about the intricacies of setting the thermostat in the video:

Conclusion

According to sellers, thermostats for gas boilers reduce the consumption of blue fuel by 25-50%. The figures are somewhat inflated in order to sell heating equipment to the user. In practice, the amount of savings falls within the range of 10-25%, depending on many conditions. But at current tariffs and energy prices, 10 percent will give a noticeable effect, so thermostats are definitely recommended for use.

Effective heating control is a vital part of running your boiler and home heating system efficiently. Proper use of controls will reduce the energy consumption of the unit, while creating a comfortable temperature in every room of the house, avoiding overheating of the premises. A thermostat (or programmer) controls the operation of the boiler depending on the room temperature.

Up to 20% of the volume of energy consumed can be saved by using this type of automation. And energy prices are quite high and every normal person wants to reduce their expenses.

We consider a situation where the boiler is calculated correctly, the necessary insulation of the premises has been completed, and the heating system is functioning normally.

Main types of boilers and temperature control

There are several types of boilers: solid fuel, gas, electric and liquid fuel.

Boilers have become widespread throughout the world. There are domestic samples, and there are also imported boilers. Material of manufacture: steel or cast iron. Easy to use, economical, with the function of adjusting the coolant temperature. In cheaper models, this function is implemented using a special device - a thermoelement.

Structurally, the thermoelement is metal product, the geometric dimensions of which decrease or increase under the influence of temperatures (depending on the degree of heating). And this, in turn, changes the position of a special lever that closes and opens the draft damper. The photo shows an example of such a regulator:

Photo: thermostat sample

The more the damper is open, the stronger the combustion process, and vice versa. Thus, the volume of air that enters the combustion chamber closed type, is fully controlled by the thermostat, and if necessary, its supply is stopped and the combustion process is extinguished. More modern models have controllers that, depending on the specified thermal conditions, control the air flow, turning on (or off) a special fan (see photo below):

Gas boilers- the most common and cheapest units to operate. Boilers are single-circuit and double-circuit. Single-circuit boilers have one heat exchanger and are intended for heating only. The connection diagram is shown in the figure below:

Switching diagram for a single-circuit boiler

Double-circuit boilers have two heat exchangers and are designed for heating and obtaining hot water. The boiler switching diagram is presented below:

Some boilers have separate controls for heating and hot water temperatures.

Electric boilers

A fairly common alternative to gas and solid fuel boilers. Lots of advantages, high efficiency, but long term payback. The connection is simple, like gas boilers, but without a supply cold water. Temperature regulation and overheat protection are provided.

Mechanical boiler timer

Using a simple mechanical electric boiler timer There are three options for starting the central heating system:

The boiler is turned off;
The boiler supplies warm water;
The boiler turns on and off at the set time.

Mechanical timers usually have a large round dial with a 24-hour scale in the center. By turning the dial, you can set the desired time, and then leave it in that position. The boiler will turn on at the right time. The outer part consists of a set of 15-minute period tabs, which are inserted for easy adjustment of operation and mode settings. Emergency reconfiguration is possible, which is performed with the boiler connected to the network.

Mechanical timers are easy to set up, but the boiler always turns on and off at the same time every day, and this may not satisfy the owners if the family is large and bathing procedures are carried out several times a day. different time.

Types of thermostats

Based on the type of functions, they can be divided into several groups:

— with one function (temperature maintenance);

- with a large number of functions (programmable).

Based on their design, thermostats are divided into types: wireless and with wires for communication with the boiler. Install thermostats in comfortable spot, connect the temperature sensor, connect it to the boiler control system and use it.

Room thermostats need a constant flow of air to function properly and properly, so they should not be covered with curtains or blocked by furniture. Devices adjacent to the electric thermostat may interfere with the correct operation of the device: lamps, televisions, heating devices, located nearby.

A programmable electronic room thermostat allows you to select the desired and comfortable temperature at any time; it is easy to reconfigure and change the operating mode. The timer allows you to set a different heating pattern on weekdays and weekends. Some timers allow you to set different settings for each day of the week, which can be useful for people who work part-time or shift work. Many Terneo and KChM models are equipped with such thermostats.

A programmable room thermostat allows you to set individual heating standards for each day in accordance with your lifestyle and maintain the temperature of the house all the time, regardless of the presence or departure of the owners.
Video: Connecting a room thermostat to a gas boiler

If the heating system is controlled by a boiler with a radiator, as a rule, only one programmable room thermostat is needed to control the entire house. Some patterns must be adjusted in the spring and fall as the clocks move forward and backward, or certain changes in climatic conditions occur. We also recommend changing the temperature settings when changing from day to night.

This climate controller has several options that expand its capabilities:

“Party”, which stops heating for several hours, then resumes;
“Override” allows you to temporarily change the programmed temperatures during one of the configured periods;
“Holiday” increases the heating intensity or reduces it for a certain number of days.

Central thermostat

This thermostat is located far from your boiler and usually allows you to turn the heating on or off throughout the house. Older versions are connected by wires to the boiler; newer systems tend to send signals to the device's command post. It is the new type of devices that are equipped with quite expensive but effective devices: double-circuit boilers Ferroli, Beretta and domestic AOGV.

The most famous are room thermostats for double-circuit boilers of the Gsm and Protherm brands. They have a built-in dilatometric thermostat for the boiler, which, depending on the model, can operate remotely; this technology is often used for an electric boiler or solid fuel units.

The room thermostat turns off the heating of the system as needed. It works by measuring the air temperature, turning on the heating when the air temperature drops below the thermostat setting, and turning it off when the set temperature is reached.

Adviсe:

It is recommended to set the thermostat to 20°C;
At night, the set temperature should be between 19-21° C.
It is advisable that the temperature in the children's room is about 22 ° C.
The temperature should not fall below 22°C in rooms for elderly and disabled people.

As a rule, the temperature of the entire house or individual rooms is based on only one climate microcontroller in the heating system. The best option is to place it in the living room or bedroom, which should probably be the most visited place in the house.

Room thermostats need free air flow to measure temperature, so they should not be covered with curtains or blocked by furniture. Devices adjacent to the electric thermostat may interfere with the correct operation of the device. These include lamps, TVs, neighbors' boilers through the wall, touch switches.

Thermostatic control valves

The thermostatic valve is a simple solution to the problem of obtaining a coolant at a given temperature by mixing colder water with warmer water. The three-way valve is shown below:

The thermostatic radiator valve allows you to control the temperature in the room by varying the flow of hot water through the radiator. They regulate the flow of hot water through the radiator, but do not control the boiler. Such devices must be installed to adjust the temperature needed in each individual room.

This idea should be considered as an addition to the thermal control installation. Also, such devices require periodic readjustment and regular performance checks (every six months when changing operating modes).

Homemade external thermostat for the boiler: instructions

Below is a diagram of a homemade thermostat for a boiler, which is assembled using Atmega-8 and 566 series microcircuits, a liquid crystal display, a photocell and several temperature sensors. The Atmega-8 programmable microcircuit is responsible for compliance with the specified parameters of the thermostat settings.

Strictly speaking, this circuit turns the heating boiler on or off when the outside air temperature decreases (increases) (sensor U2), and also performs these actions when the temperature in the room changes (sensor U1). It is possible to adjust the operation of two timers, which allow you to adjust the time of these processes. A piece of circuitry with a photoresistor affects the process of turning on the boiler depending on the time of day.

Sensor U1 is located directly in the room, and sensor U2 is located on the street. It is connected to the boiler and installed next to it. If necessary, you can add an electrical part of the circuit that allows you to turn on and off high-power units:

Another thermostat circuit with one control parameter based on the K561LA7 chip:

The thermostat is assembled on the basis of the K651LA7 microcircuit and is simple and easy to adjust. Our thermostat is a special thermistor that significantly reduces resistance when heating. This resistor is connected to the electricity voltage divider network. This circuit also contains resistor R2, with which we can set the required temperature. Based on this scheme, you can make a thermostat for any boiler: Baxi, Ariston, Evp, Don.

Another circuit for a microcontroller-based thermostat:

The device is assembled on the basis of a PIC16F84A microcontroller. The role of the sensor is performed by a digital thermometer DS18B20. A small relay controls the load. Microswitches set the temperature, which is displayed on the indicators. Before assembly, you will need to program the microcontroller. First, erase everything from the chip and then reprogram it, and then reassemble it and use it to your health. The device is not capricious and works fine.

The cost of parts is 300-400 rubles. A similar regulator model costs five times more.

A few final tips:

although they fit most models different variants thermostats, it is still desirable that the thermostat for the boiler and the boiler itself are made by the same manufacturer, this will significantly simplify installation and the operating process itself;
before purchasing such equipment, you need to calculate the area of the room and the required temperature in order to avoid “downtime” of equipment and changes in wiring due to connecting devices of higher power;
Before installing the equipment, you need to take care of the thermal insulation of the room, otherwise high heat losses will be inevitable, and this additional article expenses;
if you are not sure that you need to purchase expensive equipment, then you can conduct a consumer experiment. Buy a cheaper mechanical thermostat, adjust it and see the result.

In order to uniformly heat the room and rationally use electricity, a special device for the heating boiler was developed and implemented - a thermostat. Principle of operation different models The equipment is very similar, but there are important differences. For example, a heat signal can come to the coolant from sensors that measure the temperature indoors or outdoors. In this article we will talk about the characteristics of popular thermostats for heating boilers, and find out what parameters to choose them by.

Operating principle and device

Typically, the operating modes of a heating boiler are regulated by sensors that measure the temperature of the coolant. In fact, this is not always convenient, since the regulator, set to a certain liquid temperature, gives the boiler a command to turn on if the coolant has cooled down. But this does not take into account the temperature inside the room, which changes at different times of the year. That is, in the spring the batteries will work exactly the same as in the winter, while the thermostat, which measures the temperature in the heated room, allows you to turn the boiler on and off depending on this data.

The thermostat is designed in such a way that it has a built-in temperature sensor, which is placed in the room where they want to measure the average temperature. This must be done in such a way that the sensor is not affected by heat directly from the battery. Receiving information about the temperature in the room, the regulator gives commands to the heating boiler.

The device measures the temperature and turns off the system heating as necessary. When the temperature drops to the set thermostat readings, the boiler turns on again.

Types of thermostats

Determining the installation location and characteristics of the temperature sensor for the heating boiler must be done at the system design stage. It is necessary to first calculate the heat supply parameters and, based on these data, make a choice individual parts systems.

The thermostat for a heating radiator is no exception. But besides technical characteristics It is worth considering performance qualities:

control precision. This quality allows you to understand what changes in the temperature of the coolant will lead to the operation of the device;
thermostat automation. It helps you understand how often you will need to manually adjust the settings to make the system function normally;
additional mode. Almost every model can be configured for cyclic operation daily or for the whole week - additional settings allow you to work strictly in accordance with the specified parameters;
installation features. It is necessary to pay attention to whether the thermostat can be installed in any position, since some models are installed strictly in one position.

Let's talk about the most basic types of heating boiler thermostats, their operating qualities and technical data.

Mechanical device

The easiest option to control the heating of the main line and radiator section is to install a mechanical thermostat for the heating boiler. The design of this option is not particularly complicated - it consists of a shut-off valve and a mechanical control unit.

This thermostat is filled with a coolant liquid, which, when heated, expands and presses on the rod, which limits the movement of the coolant in the line. The reduced working diameter of the pipe helps make the heating less intense, which leads to the cooling of the batteries. Mechanical thermostats for heating boilers have several features, and before making a choice, you need to familiarize yourself with them:

first of all, you need to calculate the parameters of the heating boiler regulator specifically for your system;
the installation of the thermostat on the radiator must be done so that the high temperature does not affect the control element and does not make incorrect adjustments;
The thermostat can be installed on both the inlet and outlet pipes. If it is necessary to control the heating of the radiator, the thermostat is installed in front of it. To limit the flow of liquid from the battery, install a thermostat after the radiator.

Two-way and three-way regulator

These are multifunctional universal devices. The main difference from the mechanical version is the absence of a control component, which depends on the temperature of the coolant.

A mechanical thermometer for a heating boiler can only work in its local area. It cannot take into account the ambient temperature.

Modern automatic valves are free from this drawback thanks to their design features, servomechanism and special tap.

The servomechanism can be connected to any external control unit. This role can be played by temperature sensors or special programmers. External data regulates the shut-off valve rod, which is necessary to regulate the flow of liquid in a given section of the pipeline in accordance with the specified parameters.

Such valves, in addition to performing the function of a thermostat for a heating boiler, can also be used in other heat supply systems:

collector heating. The coolant is adjusted to a certain area of the system;
warm floor. Included in the design of the mixing unit.

If you need to install a thermostat in the heating pump, then the best option will become two and three way valves.

Attention ! Two-way and three-way regulators are capable of not only regulating the volume of hot water, but also equalizing the hydrodynamic distribution in the main.

Electronic thermostat for heating

To make the heating system work autonomously, it is recommended to install an overhead electronic thermostat for the heating boiler. Most often, such thermostats are not installed directly into the main line, but are taken outside and mounted anywhere in the room.

Simplified designs of room thermostats for heating boilers are equipped with one remote temperature sensor and a control element. It is installed on a certain section of the main line, and with its readings it adjusts the operation of the control valve or boiler. But for comfortable and efficient operation, more suitable complex designs overhead thermostats for the heating system, which have the added function of a daily or weekly programmer.

Before choosing a thermostat for your heating boiler, you should familiarize yourself with the options available on the market:

With timer. This additional option helps make home heating dependent on the time of day. This thermostat is suitable for a small room.
With bimetallic spiral. Hot air acts on the spiral, it expands and the contact closes. As a result, the control mechanism is activated and a command is given to the valve to open or close.
Programmable. In this version, the mechanical part of the heating boiler thermostat is supplemented by an electronic control unit. This model is convenient for installing autonomous heat supply.

Attention ! Such a valve can be connected to the boiler, circulation pump or radiator servo mechanism.

Thermostat prices

Making a choice in favor of cheap products does not mean making the right choice. Moreover, everyone knows that both maintenance-free operation of boiler equipment and energy savings will depend on the high-quality and correct operation of the components and elements of the heating system. Failure of the thermostat settings will lead not only to damage to the sensitive elements of the circuit, but also to disruption of the microclimate in the room.

The difference in price, as well as the range of thermostats, is very large. Professionals do not recommend buying a thermostat for less than 1,700 rubles, which is about the cost of a high-quality element equipped with electronics. Well, the cost of more functional, universal models can start from 12,000 rubles.

Constant consumption of fuel or electricity in heating devices is impossible when the temperature of the heated medium changes, as happens in a heated apartment during fluctuations in climatic conditions. Naturally, when it gets colder, maintaining a comfortable temperature will require more power from the heating system, which is achieved by increasing energy consumption. Monitoring the permissible temperature range is provided by special thermostats for heating boilers.

Thermostats are otherwise called thermostats, temperature sensors, thermostats, but regardless of the name, complexity, accuracy and functionality of the devices, their main purpose is to monitor changes in the temperature of the coolant or air in a heated room with issuing a signal to turn the heating on or off depending on the parameters measured by the sensors and preset temperature operating conditions.

An example of a thermostat designed to regulate the temperature of a heated floor

The fundamental principle of thermoregulation of heating systems

Many people who lived in the era of socialism remember gas tariffs based on the heated area, without using a meter. With this approach, the heating boiler could burn at maximum around the clock, and temperature control in the house was carried out by releasing too hot air through open windows. Nowadays, when every cubic meter of gas or kilowatt-hour of electricity counts, such wasteful consumption of energy resources will be extremely unprofitable, so there is a need to adjust the power of heating systems depending on demand.

Uneconomical room temperature control using an open window

Since ancient times, manufacturers of heating systems have known about the dependence of the temperature in a heated room on fuel consumption, so they immediately began installing manual regulators for the supply of energy and began to develop a thermostat for the boiler, operating in automatic mode. The operating principle of such a thermostat is still successfully used today - it is a reaction to the temperature of the coolant returning to the boiler after passing through the heating radiators. If the water after the radiators returns hot, it means that the heating radiators are warmed up, and the air in the room is warm enough and does not have a significant effect on the cooling of the coolant; accordingly, the fuel supply to the boiler can be reduced.

An example of a thermostat regulating the gas supply to the boiler

These thermostats do not use electricity and work thanks to uneven thermal expansion in a bimetallic plate. When heated, the bending plate presses on the gas valve damper and the gas supply to the boiler decreases, and when cooled, the reverse process occurs. When an intense flame appears or a sharp increase in temperature, the bimetallic plate of the thermostat will act as a thermal fuse, completely cutting off the supply of fuel or air in solid fuel boilers.

Thermostat for solid fuel boiler. The delivery set includes a lever and chain for controlling the damper

Room temperature control

A modern thermostat for a boiler operates in a heating device control system, which also monitors parameters such as the presence of draft in the chimney, gas pressure in the gas pipeline, ensures coolant circulation, etc. This comprehensive control of parameters and programming of the boiler operation is possible when using electronic systems management. But even very “smart” and “advanced” electronics that detect changes in temperature in the boiler are not able to provide comfortable heating of the room if the heating system is designed incorrectly or the operating conditions have changed.

Electric draft sensor for gas boiler

For example, with bitter frost outside the window, accompanied by gusty winds, heat loss through the walls and cracks of the room will increase, which will immediately affect the temperature in the house, even if the heating radiators and return pipe are relatively hot. If it is impossible to reduce heat loss, the only way to increase the room temperature is to manually increase the heating power.

Manual temperature adjustment on the thermostat built into the boiler

In this case, the thermal sensations of the nervous system of the human body act as a thermal sensor for the heater, which are converted into a command to the body: get up and go reconfigure the boiler. It is logical that they appeared electrical devices, controlling the room temperature and connected to the boiler control system. Thus, the entire heating system will work to maintain the set temperature in the control zone, regardless of changes in external conditions.

Determining the heating intensity of radiators with your own hands

Using a remote thermostat

The operating principle of a remote temperature sensor is practically no different from the functioning of a thermostat built into the boiler - when the threshold temperature is reached, team to increase or decrease power. Connecting the thermostat to the heater can be done using a cable or wireless connection, provided that the boiler supports this feature. Installing even the simplest thermostat, which monitors only temperature changes, will significantly reduce heating costs, avoiding unnecessary overheating in the room, maintaining a given temperature regime.

Setting the temperature on a thermostat remote from the boiler

Installing a remote boiler thermostat in the children's room will allow you to maintain optimal temperature for children, without fear of hypothermia due to changing weather conditions outside. Also, temperature stability is very important for elderly people or those suffering from various diseases, the treatment of which requires constant comfort in the room.

Installing a thermostat in the nursery will help avoid hypothermia in children during cold times of the day.

More functional and expensive thermostats have the ability to program different temperature modes for heating the room depending on the time of day or days of the week. For example, on weekdays daytime, when the children are at school and all the adults are at work, there is no need to intensively heat the nursery and the entire house, compensating for heat loss. Therefore, during the period of absence of family members, the thermostat can be programmed to lower the temperature, which will reduce heat loss and energy bills, and by the time the children return from school, the automation will again increase the heating power.

Programming temperature modes of boiler operation

Thus, when using a programmable thermostat, you can achieve significant energy savings by combining, depending on the need, different operating modes:

Absence of owners in the house - the minimum temperature necessary for the life of plants and domestic animals is maintained;
Intensive heating of the heating system before residents enter the room, carried out programmatically or using a remote command;
Installation and use of heating control patterns at different times of the day on weekdays and weekends.

Example of a programmable thermostat

Connecting and installing thermostats

Manufacturers of modern boilers and heating systems equip their heating devices with connectors or wireless ports for connecting additional temperature sensors installed at control points in the room. Also, many companies that produce heaters offer their own additional control devices of various functionality as an option. In this case, find out how connect the thermostat to the heating device, you can refer to its operating instructions.

Connecting the thermostat to a boiler that supports this feature

The figure below shows a generalized simple circuit connecting the thermostat to the heater. There are several general rules and requirements for the installation and placement of thermostats of various functionality. It must be remembered that the operation of the control system will depend on the heating and cooling of a small thermoelement, and the speed of the response directly depends on the rate of temperature change.

Generalized thermostat connection diagram

Obviously, a thermostat blocked by furniture or curtains will respond late to changes in parameters in the room. The opposite situation is also possible - when placing a temperature sensor opposite the doors, when they open, a draft will appear every time, intensively cooling the heat-sensitive element, which will lead to an increase in power too often. The thermostat readings will be unreliable if it is installed too close to the boiler emitting heat.

Installing a programmable thermostat with a wired interface near a warm boiler will not allow you to reliably control the room temperature

Therefore, when choosing a location for installing a thermostat, it is recommended to experimentally find the most acceptable point where the influence of heating and cooling convection currents is compensated, and thermal radiation from various household electrical appliances and the Sun is minimized. When installing a thermostat on an external wall that may freeze, you should take care of the thermal insulation gasket to avoid false alarms of the heating system.

Drawings clearly demonstrating suitable and undesirable places for installing a thermostat

Implementation of separate temperature control in rooms

The use of a single thermostat will allow you to maintain a comfortable temperature in the most important room in the house, and in other rooms the temperature regime will differ from the control depending on the quality of insulation and the area of the radiators. For complete and independent regulation of the thermal climate in all rooms, it would be necessary to install an individual thermostat and boiler (or a separate circuit) for each room. Obviously, this approach is too expensive, so this problem is solved with the help of thermostats installed on heating radiators.

Installing a thermostat on a heating radiator will help save money

More effective way Thermal regulation is the mixing of hot and cold coolant to achieve the optimal temperature of the heating radiator. This mixing of coolants is carried out by a special three-way valve. Installing such a valve in the heating system of each room will allow control it contains a given temperature regime when controlled by a thermostat installed in a given room.

Installation and configuration of an individual thermostat for each heating radiator

Thus, the number of rooms in a house with independently controlled temperature will depend on the number of thermostats and three-way mixing valves. But even installing one sensor and a three-way mixing valve into the heating system will help modernize an outdated boiler, with a built-in thermostat still working properly.

Operating principle of a three-way mixing valve

In this case, the connection diagram of the thermostat and three-way valve does not affect the internal components of the boiler in any way, and affects its operation only indirectly - when hot water is supplied from the mixer to the return pipe, the built-in thermostat will react and reduce the fuel supply. When the room cools, the thermostat will close the valve, and the hot coolant will circulate throughout the entire system with intense heat release.

Diagram of a heating system with one three-way valve

Since unauthorized introduction into work gas equipment dangerous and punishable by law, the use of thermostats and mixing valves will increase the service life of an outdated boiler, without changes in internal system, with the ability to automatically adjust the temperature. In this case, you need to select compatible thermostats and electric three-way valves.

When choosing any thermostat, you need to remember that it will be ineffective if the heating system is incorrectly designed and the insulation is poor.

The simplest thermostats have an adjustable temperature range, beyond which the device at the output can have two states - on or off. The phase, working zero and ground are connected at the input (the device must have appropriate terminal markings), and the load is connected at the output - a mixing valve, an infrared emitter or an electric heating element.

Modular thermostat for an electric boiler with filament control circuits and a circulation pump

The thermostat for an electric boiler operates on a similar principle as described above, with the difference that switching of high currents must be ensured, because an electric boiler consumes significantly more electricity than valve systems. Therefore, when purchasing a thermostat for an electric boiler, you should first check the correspondence of the switching and consumption currents, and also make sure that there are leads for connecting the circulation pump.

The thermostat for the boiler allows you to control the operation of the heating unit in automatic mode, thereby ensuring the most comfortable temperature in your home.

Types of heating boilers - how are the temperatures regulated in them?

There are several types of units used for heating residential premises. Consumers install electric, gas, solid and liquid fuel boilers in their houses and apartments. All these installations have certain features regarding temperature control. Electrical units, for example, are equipped with a special mechanical timer. It allows you to choose one of three options for boiler operation:

1. The equipment is turned off.
2. Hot water supply.
3. Starting and shutting down the unit at a specified time.

Such a timer in most cases is made in the form of a dial with 24 divisions. The user sets the disk to a certain point. At the specified time, the boiler automatically turns on and begins to heat the room. In addition, the timer can be programmed to turn the unit on/off at certain intervals (15, 30, 60 minutes).

Liquid and, as a rule, are equipped with a special thermoelement - a device that is elementary in design for automatic opening and closing the draft damper. Everything is simple here. The more the damper is open, the stronger the combustion will be. In more modern boilers For liquid and solid fuels, it is not the thermoelement that is built in, but the controller. It makes it possible to more accurately regulate the operation of heating equipment by controlling the air flow entering the combustion chamber.

Installations operating on natural gas, have become most widespread. They are cheap to operate, reliable, economical, and can be single- or double-circuit. In the first case, the unit has only one heat exchanger. Such installations are used exclusively for heating. Double-circuit devices not only heat the home, but also supply hot water. Gas units are always used with a thermostat, which is often called a thermostat, programmer, temperature sensor or temperature sensor. We will describe this device in as much detail as possible. After reading the article, you will easily select and connect the thermostat for the boiler.

Types of thermostats - which device to buy for a private home?

The devices we are interested in are central, radiator, and room. Thermostats for radiators allow you to adjust the temperature in each room of your home. Such devices are very simple. They are a valve with which you can reduce or increase the supply of hot water to the radiator.

Central thermostats are usually installed in boiler rooms that provide heating for multi-family cottages, apartment buildings. But in some apartments with autonomous heating, room temperature regulators are mounted on gas units. They constantly maintain the optimal temperature in the home without the need for human intervention in the operation of the heating system.

The temperature regulator for a gas boiler has a clear operating principle. It's not difficult to deal with him. The consumer programs a certain temperature in the room (for example, +22°) and turns on the heating unit. The boiler begins to heat the water, which flows into the radiators. When the temperature in the house (apartment) reaches +22°, the thermostat turns off the heating system. The boiler is not working. When the air temperature in the home drops by 0.5°, the thermostat starts the heating equipment again and turns it off when it reaches +22°.

Important point! The thermostat turns off not only the burner of the gas unit, but also its pump. This means that the consumer is already beginning to save electrical energy.

There is one more point here. Coolant in heating system cools down noticeably faster than the room temperature. Due to this, we save again, since the boiler will turn on much less often (5-10 times). The result is a reduction in electricity bills, an increase in the durability of the gas heating unit and, at the same time, always a comfortable temperature in the house.

Features of room thermostats - what does the consumer need to know?

When choosing a thermostat, it should be taken into account that the described devices are divided into:

wireless;
wired.

Wireless temperature sensors consist of two blocks. One of them has a device that measures temperature. It is placed indoors. The second block is connected to the boiler. These two elements communicate with each other via a radio signal. The main advantage of such a thermostat is that there is no need to lay cables. Installation of wired devices is more complex. You will have to run a wire from the boiler to the unit installed in the room, dismantle the baseboards, thresholds under interior doors and so on.

Thermostats are also divided into simple and programmable. They are characterized by different functionality. Single-circuit boilers are usually connected simple devices, which perform one task - keep the temperature in the home at a given level. With a dual-circuit unit everything is more complicated. In this case, it is recommended to connect a programmable one. This device allows you to:

select day and night temperatures;
program the boiler several months in advance and for each day of the week;
set any operating modes of the heating installation.

The ease of use of the programmable device is obvious. With its help, you will be able to maintain the temperature in your home at the required level, regardless of how long you will be away from home (a week, a month), and also adhere to the heating standards that are most acceptable to you.

Selecting and installing a temperature controller – a minimum of difficulties!

In order to properly purchase a temperature sensor and connect it to the boiler without any problems, you should consult a professional in the field of residential heating. It is advisable to buy a temperature controller from the same manufacturer that produced the gas unit. Then connecting the thermostat to the heating installation will be truly simple. And the process of operating the heating system itself will be reliable and trouble-free.

Now let's figure out how to connect a thermostat to a gas boiler. But first, consider the following. It is prohibited to cover the temperature sensor with curtains, curtains, false panels or other decorative elements(shelves, canopies, etc.). Do not install the thermostat near objects and structures that will interfere with the free circulation of air in the room, as well as near air conditioners, electric furnaces, and heaters. If these requirements are not met, the sensor will not be able to accurately measure the temperature in the room.

The devices we are considering are connected according to the following algorithm:

1. Carefully study the thermostat installation instructions.
2. Disconnect the heating unit from the power supply.
3. Find contacts in the boiler for connecting the regulator. They are indicated in the diagram supplied with the unit. The connection point in the boiler is clearly visible visually - manufacturers install a special jumper on it. It's hard to make a mistake.
4. Remove the jumper and connect the thermostat. There is no need to perform any additional actions with the connected wires.

Note. Programmable temperature controllers are often connected to terminals on the gas unit. The principle of performing work in such cases will be similar.

Setting the thermostat also does not cause any serious problems. Study the instructions, try different operating modes, choose the ones that suit you. And don’t forget - you can always re-adjust the thermostat at the time you need. Let your home always be warm and cozy!