Overview of ways to organize heating control: programmers, control via the Internet and SMS alerts

A heating system of any type must necessarily contain control components. These can be simple mechanical devices that stabilize pressure and temperature. But they are ineffective for the automation of heat supply. Therefore, it is recommended to consider the control of the home heating system in different ways: using electronic controllers and specialized hardware.

Principles of organizing "smart" heating

A modern home heating control unit is a complex electronic complex connected to a single network with all system components. It adjusts their parameters using built-in control units.

In order for the home heating control system to be truly effective, it is necessary to choose the right elements of it. They are characterized by a set of options and the possibility of organizing a three-way communication between the user, the electronic control unit and the heating components.

What should be considered when choosing a specific control system? There are several fundamental parameters that characterize any heating control:

• Possibility of connecting electric thermostats, temperature and pressure sensors to the electronic units of the boiler;
• Customization flexibility. So, the Arduino heating control system has an open program code, which makes it possible to adapt it for a specific autonomous heat supply;
• Changing the current heating values ​​depending on external factors - the temperature in the room outside, the occurrence of an emergency, the lack of a coolant;
• Installed remote control of heating for remote change of parameters in the system.

A correctly drawn up diagram of the heating system control unit is centralized. Those. on critical sections of the line, boiler and heating radiators, control elements stop - thermostats, controllers. They are also connected to a single control node. It is called a programmer or device for controlling the operation of the heat supply.

To create an effective control system, the boiler must have an electronic unit of operation, which contains terminals for connection to an external programmer.

Programmers and thermostats - basic heating controls

For the organization of autonomous heat supply, electronic devices will be needed. They can have a heating boiler control panel, the ability to simultaneously change the steam meters in several connected components.

These devices are called programmers or electronic thermostats. Like other similar devices, they can have heating control via SMS or the Internet. But these are just additional functions. To select the optimal model, you need to know the main functional qualities of the programmer:

• Number of connected circuits... It can vary from 1 to 12. Additionally, a module is installed to increase the number of connectors;
• System operation modes... Depending on the settings, you can set the control of heating radiators in economic mode, normal and comfortable;
• Plug-in - heating control by telephone... The GSM station transmits the required information via SMS - coolant temperature, emergency notification, etc .;
• Availability of radio transmitters to create wireless communication channels between connected heating components.

Collectively, the installed equipment is referred to as the heating control frame. It can consist of components with different functionality. The purpose remains the same - the possibility of automatic or semi-automatic change of heat supply parameters.

But in addition to local devices, there are also zonal ones installed on specific components - boilers, radiators. By controlling heating via the Internet using these devices, you can adjust the degree of water heating in the system, the temperature regime in a particular battery. Often, such devices are not called programmers, but electronic thermostats.

They differ in more affordable cost and ease of installation. The thermostats do not need a heating control cabinet, which reduces the labor intensity of the arrangement. In some cases, it is possible to connect several thermostats to a single control unit.

What to Consider When Budgeting Smart Heating? In addition to the cost of the control element, you need to know the approximate price of consumables - communication wires, a heating control panel. The latter is necessary when installing a system of several units - a programmer, a GSM module, expansion strips for additional contactors.

It is also important to consider the location - the heating control box must be installed in an accessible place. Its installation in a boiler room is not recommended, although it is the simplest option in terms of labor intensity. The installation is best done in a living room. Then it will be possible to control and change the parameters of the system much more often.

Programmer models differ in the number of connected system components. They are called control loops.

Modules for remote control of heat supply

To organize a home heating control system, you need to take care of the possibility of remote control. Special modules will help to provide this function. Most often they are not included in the standard set of programmers and thermostats.

After purchasing a home heating control unit, you must choose the right communication device. Depending on the technical requirements, it can provide the following types of communication between the user and the control element:

• GSM control... Data is transmitted using cellular communication. In fact, this is a landline phone with the functions of forming, sending, receiving and processing SMS messages;
• Internet connection... It is characterized by more advanced functionality and is practically not limited geographically. In this case, the control panel for the heating boiler can be a tablet, laptop or any PC with a special software package installed.

For this, the programmer must have flexible settings. Arduino systems that control heating have such an opportunity. In fact, they can be adapted for any scheme, from ventilation control to complex industrial complexes.

When traveling abroad, it is not recommended to activate roaming to control heating via the GSM module. This will entail high costs. It is best to delegate the control of heat supply to a friend or relative.

GSM boiler control unit

The easiest and relatively affordable way to control the operation of the boiler is to install heating control via SMS. For this, a separate unit is purchased, which is connected to a programmer or thermostat. Some models already have this feature.

At the stage of choosing a remote heating control, you should decide on the method of data transmission via the GSM network. This largely depends on the capabilities of a particular phone model, as well as the built-in functions of the data transmission unit.

The easiest way to get messages is SMS. The unit installed in the heating control frame will transmit the following data:

• Drop in temperature and pressure below (above) the critical level;
• Emergency boiler failure - power outage, lack of energy carrier. In this case, the transmission of the error code and its description is possible.

For reverse control of heating by phone, you must send SMS of a certain format. With their help, you can adjust the temperature level, initiate the start of the boiler after an emergency shutdown. Also, many models have a built-in command deferral function. Those. the value of a parameter is transmitted, and the time of activation of the boiler to reach it is indicated.

It is important to remember that the data obtained may differ from the actual data. For effective control of heating radiators, it is necessary to know the degree of error of the following devices:

• Temperature sensors... The indications of most electronic models have an error of ± 0.5 ° C;
• Temperature step in the thermostat... It can be between 0.2 ° C and 0.5 ° C.

In practice, this is really necessary when installing heating in anti-freezing mode, when the heating level of the heat carrier is maintained at + 5 ° C. This allows you to save on energy costs while avoiding emergencies.

To install a GSM unit, you do not need to purchase a special heating control cabinet. The control of this device is rarely performed - therefore, you can limit yourself to the installation of a closed panel.

Heating control via the Internet

Heating control via the Internet has all the advantages inherent in controlling heat supply using SMS messages. However, the ability to receive more information affects the quality of heat supply.

The functions of the cottage heating control unit when connected to the Internet have a number of advantages. The main one is the ability to install special software systems. They integrate into a laptop, smartphone, or any other kind of personal PC. At the same time, remote control of heat supply has the following capabilities:

• Convenient interface... Most often, it is designed for smartphone operating systems. But with a little modification, it can also be installed in a computer;
• No limit on the number of connected usersas in SMS blocks;
• Configurable parameters and any point where there is internet. In this case, there is no need to enable roaming. The exception is Internet services from mobile operators.

It is important to correctly preset the remote control for the heating boiler. To do this, it is recommended to first check the actual system readings after they have been changed. This is required to calibrate the system.

Some internet block models installed in the heating control frame have operating system restrictions. The most commonly used OS is Android or IOS.

Tips for organizing remote heating control

In most cases, you can make a cottage heating control system yourself. This is only possible with the right choice of system components. Those. first you need to analyze the condition and capabilities of the equipment already installed.

The classic scheme of the heating system control unit has one control unit, which is connected to all heat supply elements. The programmer must meet the following requirements:

• The number of plug-in terminals and their configuration must match the same communication nodes of the boiler and thermostats. Otherwise, control of heat supply via SMS will be impossible. If necessary, adapters are purchased;
• Maximum distance of the user from the control unit. If this distance does not exceed 300 m, you can purchase models with a mine management. To increase the communication area, it is recommended to use the heating control via a mobile phone or the Internet;
• The ability to independently (or with the help of specialists) set additional work parameters. This is done with a controller based on heating control boards;
• Connecting an autonomous power supply unit. This requires a sufficiently large heating control box. This parameter is taken into account when choosing a place to install the control unit in the house.

Do not forget about the possibility of controlling heating radiators. This can be done using local devices - mechanical thermostats. They have a low cost, but cannot be connected to a general electronic control system.

If the heating also performs the function of hot heating, it is necessary that the programmer has a control function for this area.

District heating control

For district heating, the control scheme will be much more complex. It may include several units - an equipped heating control cabinet in the central boiler room, a coolant distribution unit in an apartment building.

In this case, heating control via the Internet is practically not used. The exceptions are heat meters, which transmit the readings of the heat carrier flow directly to the management company.

In turn, it is not important for the consumer to know the features of the heating control arrangement. Each heat consumer in an apartment building must be familiar with the norms for providing heat supply to residential buildings:

• Temperature range in residential premises - from +18 to + 22 ° С;
• Perhaps the excess of heating should not be more than 4 ° С;
• Decrease in temperature - not lower than 3 ° С.

If these readings go beyond the value of the norm, you must contact the management company. A systematic violation of the heating operation may be associated with outdated control equipment. The only way out is to install an electronic centralized heating control unit.

When choosing a programmer for autonomous heating, it must be borne in mind that the vast majority of models are sensitive to voltage drops in the network. Therefore, it is recommended to install a voltage stabilizer.

An example of the installed heating control can be found by watching the video: