🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <C0Eoqw.5Dq@techbook.com>, philb@techbook.com (Phil Biehl) writes:
> Hi. In examining my hydronic (hot water basboard) furnace, I find that
> it is divided up into three zones. What I'd like to do is put in
> electrically operated valves that controlled via a microcontroller and
> three separate thermostats, one for each zone.  I need to find a source
> for these valves that will fit 7/8" copper piping. 12 Volt coils would
> be nice but not absolutely necessary. 

I don't know about the "7/8 copper piping" part, but one good source for 
solenoid-operated valves is your local home improvement store, in the 
plumbing department.  They're sold for timer-operated lawn sprinkler systems.
The coils are either 12 or 24 V AC -- I forget which.  They would probably 
work on DC as well. 

Editorial comment follows:

The idea of using several thermostats in a house is VERY OBVIOUS to anyone who
has ever tried to stay reasonably, but not overly, warm in the bedroom at
night, with a whole-house heating system controlled by ONE thermostat which is
invariably out in the living room (or, worse, *downstairs* in the living room).
 I don't understand why it isn't obvious to the people who build houses, or to
the people who write the local building codes, particularly in these
(supposedly energy-conservation conscious) times. 

At minimum, houses should be built with a "bedroom area" thermostat and a
"living area" 'stat, with a timer to switch between the two.  

	--- Jamie Hanrahan, Kernel Mode Consulting, San Diego CA
Internet:  jeh@cmkrnl.com, hanrahan@eisner.decus.org, or jeh@crash.cts.com
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