Warm floors: thermostat and its connection

The popularity of floor heating systems is associated with their efficiency and ease of use. But if the first aspect is conditioned by the characteristics of the heating elements, the second one depends entirely on the controls of such devices. Special sensors are used for this purpose, which allow to regulate the intensity of the system operation with the expectation of ensuring an optimal microclimate. As practice shows, warm floors, the thermostat of which is used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, can significantly save the cost of heating. That is, the rational use of resources for heating, which in this case can be water or electricity, primarily depends on how correctly selected, installed and operated temperature sensor, that is, a thermostat.

What is a thermostat?

The temperature regulator for the warm floor is presented on the market in different versions. Combine a wide range of models with design parameters that are designed with ergonomic requirements in mind. In particular, most controllers have small body dimensions, which includes the technical filling of the device. In this case the sensor of the thermostat of the warm floor can be located both in the niche of the device and outside. In any case, manufacturers tend to maximize the means of informing the user about the performance of the system. For this model, ergonomic interfaces are provided, which are formed by displays, convenient handles and buttons.

It is also worth noting the stability of the regulator in relation to the working environment. There are different approaches to the installation of the device, so the conditions of its operation are not always successful. For example, if a thermostat is installed for a water-heated floor, you must first choose a model that has a water-repellent coating. At least that should apply to the sensor.

Types of thermoregulators

At the moment, users of warm floors are available three versions of thermostats. The cheapest and least functional is a conventional electronic controller. It has the simplest set of options and, most importantly, assumes a minimum degree of autonomy of its work. It is for this criterion to distinguish between two types of devices that allow you to program modes in which warm floors work. The thermostat in this case independently controls not just the temperature, but the modes in which the system will operate. For example, the floor can be heated an hour before the arrival of the owner, taking into account the influence on the microclimate in the house from the work of other sources of heating. Such models can have either a simplified, but still programmable timer, or its more advanced "intelligent" analog.

Optimal sensor location

Before you begin installing the thermostat, you need to determine the installation point. Before this, it is worth noting that regulators can also be classified by type of placement. For example, there are overhead, recessed, wall and floor models. Usually when looking for the location of the sensor, consider the area of the zone for heating. If the thermostats of the temperature of the warm floor are installed with the convenience of user management, the sensor must be located directly in the thermal cover zone. The technique of installation is simple. It is enough to make a small hole in the wall by strobing, insert a piece of pipe into it, and then the device itself. Then the site is sealed.

Installation of wiring

Unfortunately, the installation of any thermostat requires the preparation of appropriate wiring and stroblenie. First of all, using a puncher, a niche is made for the juniper. Then a shroud is formed for the supply wire. It will be a hidden vertical gasket. In general, using a hidden installation, you can significantly improve the warm floors. The thermostat will interact with the system using invisible channels, which will undoubtedly become an advantage.

In the end, the cable should pass through the apartment shield to the outlet. Directly for the regulator it is desirable to use similar wiring, which will increase the reliability of the device. If you plan to use a separate line, it is best to connect the warm floor to the thermostat via a copper cable of 2.5 mm ² , for which it will be necessary to provide protection from the circuit breaker.

Connection via a two-wire cable

First, a sensor is connected to the thermostat. It has two terminals, but no polarity is required. Voltage 220 V for power supply of the device is usually fed to the terminal terminals. Accordingly, this can be the phase L and zero N. These are general information for connecting the device, and the differences in the approaches to solving this problem are due to the nuances of working with single-core and two-wire cables. Usually for a two-wire cable, a cable TVK system is used, with which a thermostat for a warm floor is connected. The execution instructions for connections can be represented as follows:

• The brown wire goes to phase L, connecting to its terminal.
• The neutral wire (blue) is applied to the terminal with which the green wire from the two-wire cable is connected.
• The ground wire has a yellow-green color and is connected to the corresponding terminal.
• The heating cable screen is reset.

Connection via single-core cable

When working with a single-core heating cable, the wiring diagram can be adjusted. In particular, its white wires should be connected in the elementary circuit through terminals immediately after the contacts intended for the sensor. In this case, the yellow-green wire of the cable with grounding is also fed to its corresponding terminal - this is usually the terminal socket. If a thermostat is connected to a water-heated floor, the grounding or zeroing is particularly important. It should be performed based on the characteristics of the wiring in the shield and the recommendations of the manufacturer of the thermostat.

Operation of the thermostat

Complexities for the device to regulate the temperature modes of floor heating should not cause. Usually, in the simplest interfaces, it is assumed that there is a switch, toggle switch or a wheel for adjusting a specific temperature index, as well as LED bulbs that act as indicators of the operation of the device. It is also possible to equip with additional control elements - for example, the thermostat for the warm floor, programmable on the outside, can have means for setting the modes, necessarily a timer and other adjustment tools. The user only needs to identify the required parameters of the system and approve them in the thermostat.

Self-regulation of the warm floor

The thermostat is a common attribute not only of the warm floor system, but also of other types of heating equipment. However, floor heating has one feature that is important to remember when operating thermostats. The fact is that both electrical and water systems presuppose the effect of sememoregulation. This means that the warm floors, whose thermostat sets a certain operating mode, independently compensate for the thermal inertia in the heating process. In practice, this phenomenon can be felt after the system is put into operation and switched off. That is, in the first case, it will take time to reach the set work parameters, and in the second case, on the contrary, the system gradually completes the work, bringing the temperature to the natural level.

Conclusion

Floor heating systems are valued by the consumer as a way of conveniently regulating the temperature in the room. But the further benefit from it depends on the quality of the installation. Most of the installation work involves the direct laying of cables or pipes, but the connection of a warm floor to a thermoregulator requires certain knowledge. At this stage of installation, physical effort is not so much required as the correct arrangement of the wiring elements, as well as their connection to the sensor and the regulator itself. At the same time, do not forget about the recommendations of manufacturers on the rational operation of the warm floor. Only in this case it is possible to get both a productive and financially profitable heating system.