Photo Display Page

Heat Distribution System
Step 7
Wiring

The wiring was a challenge until I learned about a thermostat called a "Line Voltage Thermostat". The full 15 amps goes through the unit and is switched ON or OFF based on your settings. Here's the design:

- Power from the circuit box goes to the bedroom HEATER THERMOSTAT. It turns ON when it's too cold and needs heat. In other words, don't turn on unless you need heat in the bedroom.

- Then power goes to the living room COOLING THERMOSTAT. It turns on when it gets hot. As if to trigger an air conditioner. In other words, don't turn on unless there's heat to deliver. Without the cooling thermostat, the system would run all night pumping cold air. Heat must be available.

This documents the wiring, the final step.

This photo sequence contains 9 frames. Each landscape frame is a finite 1366 pixels wide but height was left to its own based on the crop. I based the picture size on an email program's display window asuming that the picture would not be automatically resized to fit. This technique kept the file size down, the largest being 746k making it easy to send and receive through email. All photos were taken with a Nikon D810.

From the drawing board, here's the design.

I chose this location because it's not too close to the vent. It will register
a more accurate room temperature without the heat blowing on it.

From the junction box above it, the power line is routed to the HEATING THERMOSTAT.
It's a Line Voltage Thermostat.
The circuit is connected when the temperature gets cold.
This thermostat tells the system "We need heat!"

In place.

Looks fine. Not an eye-sore.

In the living room, I placed the COOLING THERMOSTAT up in the heat.
The circuit is connected when it's at or above the set temperature.
This thermostat tells the system "We have heat, so we'll turn the fan opn if you need some."

Like the master bedroom, the box clamps to the drywall. The thermostat switches the 15 amp power line.

In place.
Looks fine, not an eye-sore.

In the attic, the wire was placed between the two junction boxes. It tested fine and flawless.
As long as I have a fire supplying heat, this system will keep my bedrooms warm.
Now all I need is a robot to feed the fireplace with wood while I'm asleep.

2021-01-HDS-Wiring.zip - 4755285 bytes.