Above: The system can be directly controlled using a touchpad, or remotely via a PC or mobile phone.

New UFH Network Control System From Speedfit
Monday 02 June 2008

John Guest Speedfit has launched a low voltage underfloor heating system that can be controlled using a touchpad screen or from a remote location. A low voltage underfloor heating (UFH) control system which can be controlled remotely using the internet or a mobile phone has been launched by JG Speedfit. Unlike other underfloor heating systems, the electrical components are networked together using computer cable. This provides the user with a number of control options: • Direct control using touchpad controller • Direct control from a PC • Remote control from a PC over the internet • Remote control using a text message from a mobile phone The system can be controlled by computer either directly, using USB connection or from a remote location using an ethernet adaptor and internet access. Two different software packages are available. One can be used to control up to 32 thermostats, and a more sophisticated package allows control of up to 900 thermostats. This package makes the system particularly suitable for use in hotels, nursing homes, schools and other situations where temperature of a facility needs to be controlled from a central location. Features of these software packages include: • The ability to check the actual and set temperatures of every thermostat throughout the building. • Program the comfort Level for each thermostat on the network. • Quickly override the set temperature for each thermostat. • Lock the keypad remotely to prevent unauthorised alterations. • Program a holiday period for all selected thermostats, switching the thermostats into frost mode. An alternative way of providing remote control of the system over the internet is to use the Speedfit Net Monitor System. Recommended for holiday homes or for people who work away from their property, the system allows for communication over the internet from a PC without the need to install specialist software. Used in conjunction with the JGUH1 Wiring Centre, the user can control the heating and hot water over the internet from any web browser. The Net Monitor can control up to 32 thermostats from any internet browser. Additional facilities include being able to connect to home alarms, receive a text or email message if the temperature drops below a certain level, remotely switch on interior or outdoor lighting and close blinds or curtains. For direct control of the system from within the home, the system’s touchpad offers touch screen control for up to 32 zones of heating. The user can set up 24-hour settings for each thermostat, remotely programming the comfort levels of all network thermostats from one central location. Program settings can then be copied from one thermostat to another. The touchpad can additionally control the hot water and radiator circuits if required. It can also: • Set the temperature, daytime and setback periods for each zone. • Lock the keypad of each thermostat to prevent tampering. • Hold the temperature for a certain length of time. • Turn thermostats up or down. In the off position, the thermostat will maintain the frost protection. • A Holiday function puts the system on to a user-defined minimum temperature mode while the house is unoccupied. This can provide frost protection in very cold weather. The function is easy to cancel if you return early, or via the internet. • A history function allows the user to view the hours run for the previous four weeks, or a temperature graph for the previous 24 hours.

The touchpad is wired into a JGUH1 Wiring Centre. If more than one wiring centre is used, they can be linked together using CAT5 or Beldon cable. Room Thermostats The room thermostats in the system offer 5/ 2 day programs, with up to four different temperature settings per day. The thermostats are self-learning, and will delay the heating start up until the last possible moment, avoiding unnecessary fuel use, so the property will be comfortably warm at the programmed time. The thermostats have the facility to connect to two remote probes. These are used to control the temperature in areas where moisture would be a problem, such as in a wet room or bathroom. They can also be used to control floor temperature where overheating would cause damage to the floor finish. The remote probe can extend up to 20 metres from the thermostat, and can sense air temperature or be built into the floor. An alternative room thermostat is offered with the additional facility to set heating and hot water to different timed periods.