If you have been using Events2HVAC for a while, this summer might be a good time to check your settings and fine-tune HVAC control.
Would you like to keep HVAC equipment from cycling off when there is a short amount of time between events? Or have it come on for the first scheduled event of the day and turn off after the last event of the day, even though each day is different? You can do these things and more with EventsHVAC.
Stop Gap Time
With Events2HVAC v1.5.0 and higher, you can choose a Stop Gap Time for each piece of HVAC equipment controlled. This setting will prevent Events2HVAC from sending unoccupied commands to equipment if the gap between two events is equal to or less than the Stop Gap Time.
For example, if the Stop Gap Time is set for 15 minutes, and one event ends at 1 pm, and the second event begins at 1:10 pm, an unoccupied command will not be sent at 1 pm, and the HVAC equipment will stay in occupied mode through the end of the second event. Or, if the second event begins at 1:30 but there is a 15-minute pre-start time set for the equipment, again the unoccupied command will not be sent and the equipment will remain in occupied mode through the end of the second event.
This feature is useful for air handlers and other type of equipment that you might not want to cycle on and off for such short periods of time. Note that the maximum Stop Gap Time is 120 minutes.
To set the Stop Gap Time, login to Events2HVAC, click on the Equipment tab, and access the equipment or zone for which you want to set a Stop Gap Time. The box to enter the time in minutes is below the equipment/zone name and description, right next to the Pre-Start and Post-Stop Time settings. Enter the Stop Gap Time you desire, and save.
Zone-First/Last
If you have an older, large air-handler or exterior door locks, you might not want to trigger them on each event during the day. But you can still automate them based on daily schedules to avoid tedious manual scheduling.
This is the purpose of the Zone-First/Last trigger in Events2HVAC. Zone-First/Last will set the air handler to occupied or unlock the doors at the start of the first event (setup or pre-start) of the day, and return the air handler to unoccupied and lock the doors after the last event (teardown or post-stop) of the day.
To use the Zone-First/Last trigger, login the Events2HVAC, click on the Equipment tab, and select from the left frame the zone or equipment that you want to trigger this way. Click on the Action tab, and add a trigger for Zone-First/Last.
For additional information, see Event Scheduling v. Zone Scheduling in the online Events2HVAC Help Manual.
Negative Post-Stop Times
If you are using Events2HVAC, you are probably already familiar with setting pre-start and post-stop times for equipment or zones. But did you know that you can set negative post-stop times to squeeze out every bit of energy savings?
Obviously this is a feature that you don’t want to abuse. But if you have already automated all of your HVAC equipment based on schedules, and you are looking for a way to get just a bit more energy savings, this might be an option for you.
To use a negative post-stop time, login to Events2HVAC, click on the Equipment tab, and select from the left frame the zone or equipment for which you want to use a negative post-stop. In the Post-Stop box, enter a minus sign with the number of minutes before the end of the event that you want the equipment to return to occupied settings (ex. -5, -10, -15), and save.
Conclusion
Events2HVAC is flexible and continues to be improved. If you have an idea that will make Events2HVAC more powerful or effective for users, please let us know: sales@events2hvac.com.