HVAC Integrated control

[dkv23]

Well figured I would jump on the hvac wagon here. No issues at this time. Just looking to set up an integrated control system to switch between my oil furnace and my Mitsubishi splits based on outside temps. I tried to do the Mitsubishi kumo cloud station but went through two and a four transformers. No idea why that won’t work with my system, had an hvac tech and master electrician look as well all stumped.

my solution run new wire to replace old thermostats with new Ecobee ones and then use sensibo sky adapters and geo fencing. Any one else done this? Any opinions?

not looking for rebates really, just efficiency.

-Duncan

[Tinman74]

You don’t run your mini-splits as a heat pump? Almost no reason to even have an oill burner if it’s sized correctly. Most new splits including Mitsubishi have sub zero models, ditch the oil burner, problem solved😉

[dkv23]

With the cost of electric I mass occasionally it’s not worth it. But yeah the eventual plan is remove the oil burner.
-Duncan

[Mr. Hick]

Current prices of KW/hr of juice is about $.50 after delivery fees. that puts the price of 1MBTU at about $60 1MBTU of oil is still about $30. I definitely wouldn't jump on the heat pump only bandwagon without a lot of batteries and solar panels.

As far as I know there is no way to cohesively make any heat pump/oil burner combinations work. I know you're a pretty smart man, Duncan, so I'm sure you could figure something out. Most people I know run their heat pumps during the day light hours and then shut them down and let the oil unit take over for the colder nights. That seems to work best for them.

[dkv23]

Yeah that’s the plan if I can get this set up it should alternate using the thermostat and outside temp for me for heat. If I can’t get their software to work the way I want I’ll play around with ifttt as a more manual option for me.
-Duncan

[Siress]

my solution run new wire to replace old thermostats with new Ecobee ones...

FYI, Fast-Stat Common Maker sounds a lot easier than running new cables in finished walls.

For what it's worth, I think the only real solution to having a smart home (i.e. a variety of systems that can operate together as you so desire) is to implement and maintain it yourself. Companies cannot be trusted to have compatibility with each other. https://www.home-assistant.io/

[dkv23]

I agree with this general statement. So the Ecobee and sensibo do claim compatibility with each other. I do plan to test this and if they don’t work through those integration to use something like ifttt to make my own conditions.
-Duncan

[Carlito[]

Honeywell T775. It can do anything and everything you want.

[dkv23]

This looks like a great option for controlling the oil furnace, but I cannot find how a way to make it link with the minisplits. Any suggestions? I would prefer a hardwired or local solution to a cloud based one.
-Duncan

[Carlito[]

Some of those mini splits have proprietary controls and can be a pain, but either way there will always be a way to add a control relay to the circuit.

[Carlito[]

And yeah F--- all that cloud based or wireless stuff. It's never going to be 100% reliable.