How Did I Improve My Central Heating Control with Arduino?

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1

Before I started this project, my central heating was controlled with Danfoss TP7000 room thermostat only by switching heating pump ON-OFF. Then I heard about Arduino (2 years ago), get interested, and decided to make an advanced control system for central heating: weather compensated heating controller, room thermostat, web-based remote control for the whole system, and web logging.

Weather Compensated Heating Controller
The main task of this device is to control mixing circuit based on outside and inside temperature. As a result, indoor temperature is constant regardless of outside temperature change, comfort is increased and it's energy efficient.

Device is based on Arduino Mega 2560, has 12 temperature sensors (11 DS18B20, a 1 K-type thermocouple for measuring gas temperature), 4 solid state relays (for controlling boiler pump, heating pump and 3-way valve actuator), and wood pellet level sensor. Valve actuator is PID controlled (slave PID). Device communicates with room thermostat wirelessly using nRF24L01.

VIDEO: Improving My Central Heating with Arduino - PART 1 - YouTube

Room Thermostat (Corrector)
Device is used for controlling room temperature and for monitoring whole central heating system, including wood pellet boiler work. Some of the features are: 5 heating profiles (7-day), 6 adjustable periods per day, setting holding temperature, low level pellet alarm, 5-day weather forecast, photo album and screensaver, etc. Also, since it's connected to Internet, device can receive commands from anywhere in the world using computer or mobile phone to make adjustments.

Device is based on Arduino Mega 2560, has TFT LCD 3.2" (400x240) with touchscreen, ethernet, SD card, and temperature sensor (DS18B20) for measuring room temperature. Room temperature is PID controlled (master PID). Device communicates with central heating controller in boiler room wirelessly using nRF24L01.

VIDEO: Improving My Central Heating with Arduino - PART 2 - YouTube

Web-based Remote Control
This web application based on jQuery Mobile allows me to take control of my central heating using computer, tablet or mobile phone, and monitor every aspect of the system including pellet boiler work and pellet level in the tank.

VIDEO: Improving My Central Heating with Arduino - PART 3 - YouTube

Web Logging
This web application based on jQuery Mobile and JavaScript allows me to monitor trends in my central heating for the past 24 hours. Data like temperatures and other signals are stored in database once per minute.

VIDEO: Improving My Central Heating with Arduino - PART 4 - YouTube

2

Hello zibel32,
That's really great stuff! You did a huge project with a brilliant graphically set up!
congratulation.
Is it running stable?
how often to you have to reboot?
I plan to do almost the same project using a similar setup.
Would you be willing to share sources?

3

Hello zibel32,
The graphical environment you've done is impressive.
congratulation.
I plan to do something similar to control my awnings with somfy remote controls.
Would you be willing to share sources?

Thanks a lot

4

@Merian2014, @glich

Thank you, guys! Sorry for this long delay.

Yes, this was a big project for me. I worked on it for almost 18 months, but at that time I was new to Arduino and electronics, so I was learning along the way. System is working stable for the last 8 months. No reboot needed so far.

I only regret I didn't go for larger 7" TFT LCD. The screen is showing lots of information at once, so with larger screen would be easier to read and control it.

Which part of the sources are you interested in?

5

Zibel32

Great project.

Can I ask you what software did you use to produce the system graphic and display temperatures on that graphic?

On your lcd, are those web pages, if so what are you using to display them? Is it a raspberry pi / arduino etc?/

I want to be able to make a similar system for my house and I want a graphical display of my wood burning boiler flow / return temps, hot water store temps top middle and bottom as well as my UFH flow / return and radiator flow and returns. The graphical display I want to be able to draw the full system and display it an a 7" or so LCD or even on a cheap tablet via a web page maybe but am struggling at how to draw the system diagram up.

Regards

6

i would like to install this exact same thing for my wood boiler. do you have anything on how its wired and code? the only other part i want to add to mine is a setting on it for cooling since i also have a chilled water loop i would be running through it.

7

http://postimg.org/image/m9vesjqqb/

With some tips from zibel and psd source for graphics, my central heating controler si full functional and has some additions. AC controller, lights controller (RGB) and hot water controller.

8

First time i used arduino mega 2560 but graphics was slow for my needs and i've decided to recode some portions for arduino due compatibility. arduino due has dma transfer and now graphics are 10 time faster.

9

Mihaidsn

Do you have your code to share? I am trying to achieve a similar outcome but don't really know where to start

Thanks

10

Hallo ,
ich finde das Projekt super. Können Sie den gesamten Code veröffentlichen?

11

zibel32 can you show example for control mixing valve ?