Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site kitty.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!rochester!rocksanne!sunybcs!kitty!larry
From: larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman)
Newsgroups: net.analog
Subject: Re: digital thermostats
Message-ID: <624@kitty.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 3-Dec-85 09:30:05 EST
Article-I.D.: kitty.624
Posted: Tue Dec  3 09:30:05 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 7-Dec-85 16:34:55 EST
References: <603@ihlpm.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, NY
Lines: 36

> Does anyone know anything about digital thermostats as opposed to the
> conventional types?  Are they more accurate?

	The digital thermostats (I assume you are referring to those which
are fully solid-state, and not the older bimetallic spring-clock hybrids)
on the market are generally accurate to +/- 0.5 deg F (just like below).
This is really good enough, since greater accuracy accomplishes nothing.
Thermostats are generally adjusted to a comfort level (after various tries),
so the absolute temperature reading is not that important with less than
1.0 degree resolution anyhow.  The night setback temperatures would have the
same accuracy as the daytime setting.

> Does it really save very much to have a timer that turns the temperature
> down after you go to sleep and then back up again before you wake up?

	Absolutely!  We have had two digital setback thermostats in our
house (hot water baseboard heat with two zones) for over five years now,
and after some calculation and making adjustments for changing fuel cost,
we feel we have saved AT LEAST 20% annually in energy cost for our home.
We normally use a 10 degree nighttime setback - which means its often pretty
cold when getting up to use the john :-) - but it is well worth it!

> The two digital thermostats I've seen advertised are made by Jade Controls
> and White-Rodgers and are in the $100-$200 price range.

	Since a reliable thermostat is a pretty important part of your home,
I would suggest that you avoid any mail-order products and spend a few more
dollars to buy a name-brand unit (like White-Rodgers, Honeywell, etc.) from a 
local plumbing/heating supply firm.

===  Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, New York        ===
===  UUCP    {decvax,dual,rocksanne,rocksvax,watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry  ===
===  VOICE   716/741-9185		 {rice,shell}!baylor!/             ===
===  FAX     716/741-9635 {AT&T 3510D}	             ihnp4!/               ===
===									   ===
===                   "Have you hugged your cat today?"		           ===