How does a temperature sensor work in a heated floor? Thermostat for water heated floors: types, principles of operation, recommendations for use. Which corrugation is better to use?

Warm water floors from the category of exotic heating become a type of heating known to many users interior spaces for various purposes. If the insulation of the building meets modern strict requirements, and the room small sizes, then it can be the main one. In all other cases, a warm water floor is used as additional heating.

The nature of the application is also influenced by the climatic zone of the building's location; in warm regions, water floors are in most cases installed as the main heating. In regions with cold and long winters, this option is not used; the effective power to create comfortable temperatures is insufficient. And for many reasons it is impossible to heat the floor to very high temperatures.

The comfort of staying in the premises, the duration and safety of operation of the systems largely depends on the operating modes of water heating. To control and regulate operating parameters, thermostats for water heated floors are used. There are a huge number of them, but according to the principle of operation, the devices are divided into only a few large groups. Before you begin to consider the principle of operation of thermostats, you need to become familiar with the methods and parameters for adjusting the heating temperature. This knowledge will make it possible to better understand the functioning of various types of thermostats.

Water heating at home has several systems for each room; sometimes there can be two or more circuits in one room.

Each system and each circuit must be independently regulated. The process is carried out through a collector - a device to which the inputs and outputs of all circuits are connected.

A pump is installed to supply water; the amount of coolant supplied is regulated. various valves. To monitor temperature indicators, there are sensors; valves can be controlled by servo drives.

If the sensor shows a decrease in the floor temperature, then the amount of warm water increases and vice versa, when the temperature rises above the set parameters, the consumed volume of water decreases. Servo drives must be mounted on each circuit separately and controlled by sensors. Thermostats for selecting heating parameters are installed in rooms or in a special common control panel (if there are many rooms and a single control panel is required).

The use of thermostats and servo drives in thermostats makes it possible to fully automate the functioning of the system; heating is easy to maintain; thermostats are able to not only maintain temperature values ​​in specified modes, but also independently turn on/off the heating in the event of a long absence of people. Automation saves up to 30% of energy without worsening the living conditions of people in the premises.

What can thermostats control?

Depending on the type of heating, thermostats can regulate the following parameters:

  • floor temperature. Sensors are installed in close proximity to the heating circuit and indicate the degree of heating of the finished floor covering. They are used in small circuits and low-power water systems used only as additional heating;
  • air temperature in the room. For these thermostats, the sensors are mounted directly in the thermostat housing. The parameters are adjusted taking into account the comfortable room temperature. They are used on powerful systems and only in houses that have thermal insulation that meets the requirements of the standards. Otherwise, large losses of coolants make its operation unprofitable;
  • combined. Heating parameters are controlled taking into account the readings of two sensors: in the room and next to the heating system. Rarely used only for the most modern systems. If desired, control can be carried out based on the readings of one of the installed sensors.

Warm water floor - temperature distribution

The choice of a specific thermostat takes into account the maximum number of technical characteristics of the heating system, heat saving indicators of the building, the climatic zone of the location and the wishes of the customer.

Types and brief characteristics of thermostats

Industrial companies have mastered the production of a wide range of different thermostats, which makes it possible to control all water floor heating systems in atomic mode.

  1. Mechanical thermostats.

    The simplest, cheapest and most reliable devices. Have protective cover made of durable plastics. The temperature is regulated by turning the thermostatic head; the devices do not require high maintenance costs. The temperature is selected by turning a special disk with a gradation scale.

    On some models, a valve is installed to completely turn on/off the system. Disadvantage - constant temperature control is required; changes in indicators are made only in manual mode. Unscrupulous manufacturers may produce devices that incorrectly display the temperature. Practitioners advise in all cases to check their readings with an installed accurate thermometer. If the data differs significantly, then the adjustment must be made taking into account the differences.

  2. Remote touch. Parameters are configured using the touch panel and can be controlled by remote controls. More modern models make temperature control much easier. They have several adjustment options. Reliability and safety of operation largely depend on the manufacturer. You should not save, real losses can far exceed the difference in price.
  3. Ordinary electronic. The functionality is almost no different from the touch ones. On the case there is a small screen and a set of buttons for creating a program for the functioning of a heated floor.
  4. Electronic programmable. Some of the most complex ones allow you to create a heating system operating program for a week and by time of day.

    This allows you to maintain a comfortable temperature in the premises only during the presence of people; during the rest of the period, the heating is switched to standby mode. Due to such opportunities, financial losses for the maintenance of premises during the heating season are significantly reduced. Devices can be connected to the system if desired. smart House", heat savings reach 30%. In addition, users can increase the temperature in the rooms when they arrive, making their stay in the premises more comfortable.

    Programmable thermostats can simultaneously control several separate hydronic underfloor heating systems. Disadvantages: high cost and complexity of adjustments; installation, adjustment and start-up work should only be performed by a specially trained technician. Before starting operation, you must carefully study the attached instructions; gross violations of the rules of use can damage the expensive equipment.

  5. Radio controlled. Rarely used due to unreasonably high cost. In terms of their technical capabilities, they are no different from those described above, but the price can increase significantly. The difference is that the servomechanisms are controlled not through low voltage cables, but using radio signals. The radio thermostat receives sensor readings and transmits them to the radio controller. The latter, after processing the data, sends radio signals to the drive mechanisms for supplying warm water. Each device has its own receiver and transmitter, which significantly increases the price. In addition, this complicates repair work; most parts have to be completely replaced with new ones. It is advisable to install such thermostats in elite premises where the presence of external conductive cables is not welcomed by the owners.

How thermostats work

The operation of devices is possible only in combination with additional equipment and sensors; each element performs its own functions. The equipment is installed on the wall or in a separate panel and on the switching center.

  1. Sensors Mounted next to the heating system or in the thermostat housing, they show the actual temperature at the installation sites. Signals are transmitted via wires or radio.
  2. Thermostats process the received information and send response signals to the servos.
  3. Pump control module. It only works when at least one heating system or individual circuit is open.
  4. Servo drives open/close hot water supply taps and have direct connections with thermostats.

To increase operational safety, safety valves and fittings are installed to protect electrical equipment from overheating and ultra-high short circuit currents.

The choice of a specific model of thermostat for a water floor depends on many conditions: the purpose and size of the room, the method of connecting the coolant, the finishing materials of the floor, the climatic zone of residence, the presence of main or additional heating systems.

What criteria should you use to select devices?

  1. Price. The cheapest mechanical ones. They are reliable in operation and universally usable. In addition, such devices are very reliable, they are almost impossible to disable due to negligence. Perfect for those users who have small children.
  2. Electronic. They have somewhat expanded functionality and can control the temperature at floor level or in the room. In terms of cost, they belong to the middle segment of goods.
  3. Programmable. Expensive devices require careful attention and allow you to create the most favorable living conditions in the rooms. They can have various modifications and technical capabilities, and in terms of cost they belong to the highest category. Recommended for use during heating installation in luxury buildings. The price can reach $500 or more.
  4. Mechanical regulator

    A separate mechanical device must be installed on each circuit, its technical specifications do not allow you to control the temperature of several rooms at the same time.

    In order to control the heating temperature depending on the room temperature, you need to purchase a room thermostat and set the required temperature by rotating the head. Some models can be connected to chronometers, which allows you not only to maintain a comfortable temperature at different periods of time, but also save significant money.


    The servo drive has a motor with two-way rotation. Depending on the phase of the signal supplied by the thermostat, the rotor rotates clockwise or counterclockwise. Accordingly, the valve increases or decreases the nominal clearance of the pipelines. All work must be carried out in compliance with the PUE; the equipment operates on a voltage of 220 V.

    Video - Thermostat for water floor

Before installing thermostat sensors and a heated floor thermostat, it is important to read the heating system manufacturer’s instructions and the principle of their operation. An important condition for successful operation of the system is correct placement temperature sensor

It and the wires leading to it must be placed in a groove using corrugation.

It is recommended to place the temperature sensors directly in the body of the structure at an equal distance from adjacent heating elements. The corrugated pipe should be laid with smooth turns and transitions. This will help if the sensor is broken. Replacing a damaged device if you follow these recommendations will be greatly simplified.

As a recommendation, you can listen to the advice of using a trimmer cord. Having secured the sensor and supply wires to such a fishing line, it is quite easy to insert the sensor into the corrugated pipe. Removing it with wires will be just as easy in case of breakdown.

Let's look at typical mistakes when installing floor heating sensors. The most difficult thing is when you forgot to install the sensor, and the floor screed is already finished. In this case, if you are confident in knowing the exact location of the heating elements, you can make a groove along the floor and install a sensor. The second way out of this situation is to install an external device to measure the room temperature.

It should be remembered that there are sensors that have polarity. Such sensors should be connected strictly according to the diagram specified in the instructions.

For remote sensors, when installing underfloor heating with water heating, the main condition is the location of the temperature sensor at a distance from heating elements and pipelines with coolant. Such sensors, like all others, should be protected from exposure to drafts, direct sunlight and infrared radiation.

The underfloor heating control system includes a temperature sensor and a thermostat. If the manufacturer's recommendations for selecting heating system elements are followed, then the setting is reduced to setting the desired temperature.

The control system, which includes a programmable thermostat, has a more complex setup. In the latter case, the settings may include switching time, setting the temperature of individual heating zones and other parameters.

The test consists of monitoring and maintaining the specified temperature.

Selecting a heated floor sensor depending on the floor covering

Depending on the type of floor covering, certain types of sensors should be used. There are the following types of device.

  1. Fits under soft surfaces(carpet, linoleum, parquet, laminate). The sensor in this case is a small cylinder attached to the end of a special cable. It is installed only after the concrete screed has completely dried, in which a small groove is then made specifically for the device.
  2. Installs under hard surfaces. The larger element has a special gel shell that protects the device from shock and mechanical damage.

Installation

When installing a heated floor sensor, be sure to follow all safety rules.

Installation of a heated floor sensor

Installation sequence for the heated floor sensor:

  1. You need to make a small hole in the wall partition; the depth should be enough to install the mounting box.
  2. It is necessary to punch a groove in the floor screed so that cables and signal wires can be laid.
  3. From the seat up and to the switchboard you need to punch a channel for the input wires.
  4. The signal wires and power cable are placed in a plastic protective hose: its diameter should be sufficient so that the device can be reached if necessary. Pipe bend (from 5 cm).
  5. The temperature sensor must be located at the same distance from all thermal elements and no closer than 50 cm from the wall partition.

Fault detection methods - how to check correctly

There are two ways to check the functionality of the system:

  1. First. It consists of visually inspecting the cable and components for damage. But it allows you to detect only visible defects, such as burnt equipment, lack of power supply in the building, broken cable and others. But this method is not very informative, and it is not always possible to identify the reason for the lack of heating.
  2. Second. This method makes it possible to find a breakdown using a multimeter. It allows you to find out the voltage in the network. Before checking the heated floor with a multimeter, the temperature regulator is removed from the wall and the voltage, which should be 220V, is measured using special probes. If this parameter is normal, then the cause of the malfunction lies in one of the system elements.

First of all, perform a visual inspection to make sure there is power supply to the floor. Next, they look for melted or burnt parts. If nothing can be detected, use a multimeter.

You need to measure the cable resistance and divide it by 220 to get the voltage value in the electrical network. This value reflects the amount of current passing through the system. This figure is then multiplied by the voltage to determine the power consumption. It is necessary that it corresponds to the power of the heating system, which is reflected in the passport.

When the received parameter is greater, this means that the cable insulation is damaged. If the value is less than that specified in the passport, then you need to read the instructions on how to check the heated floor for a break. In the absence of documentation for the equipment, it is considered that the power is conditionally 150 W/m2.

If the resistance of the heated floor on the multimeter is zero, then the system is disabled by a short circuit. In this case, repairing the equipment will be expensive, and finding such damage on cable field difficult. If heating occurs using infrared flooring, you need to lift the floor covering, find the damaged area and replace it.

Design and arrangement of electrical cables

A heated floor system, mounted from an electric cable or using infrared film, consists of a number of elements:

  • heating cable, which is a source of thermal energy;
  • a temperature sensor that records the degree of heating of the wires;
  • thermostat, which is responsible for connecting all the components in general design and regulating the switching on/off of the floor in accordance with the cable heating temperature.

The thermostat or thermostat looks like a small switch. It is intended to adjust the voltage that is supplied to the wires. Connect this device to a standard electrical network using phase and neutral wires.

The thermostat regulates the voltage automatically. It is supplied directly to the heating cable after the floor in the room has cooled. The degree of its heating is monitored by a temperature sensor, which is mounted near the wires and filled with cement mixture.

Residents independently set the temperature at which the floor surface heating system should turn on. The cable used to equip such a heating structure can be resistive and self-regulating. The latter of them independently reacts to temperature fluctuations and changes the resistance level. In turn, a resistive cable does not have such functions.

When calculating the operating parameters of the heating system, and during installation, one must not forget that the length of some types of cables must be certain. If they are shortened, then the degree of heating and current readings may change, as a result of which the wires will begin to function incorrectly and the insulation on them will begin to deteriorate.

When arranging the system, either a single two-core cable or two single-core cables are used, which are arranged in parallel. The first of them is a mesh of wires with a plug on one side. It is unacceptable to cut it and lay it in a screed in places where large pieces of furniture or equipment will be located.

In turn, single-core cables can be cut and nothing bad happens to the insulation. In the same way, infrared floors are trimmed in accordance with the area of ​​the room that requires heating.

Installation features

Before installing the sensor, it is necessary to prepare the location for placement. You cannot embed it in a screed; replacement will be more difficult in case of breakage.

Preparing the installation site

Temperature sensors are used together with a control device in any heated floor system. In this way, it is possible to maintain a comfortable stay for a person in the room and safety for the floor covering. This requires a properly designed connection diagram.

It is advisable to install inside a corrugated pipe. When replacing, simply pull out the broken device and place a new one.

If the heated floor system is located under the laminate, then the sensor is placed without additional protection. But if you have to replace it, then the area where the sensor is located will have to be disassembled.

Installation of the device under laminate

Such devices have a soft wire, and it is difficult to place it in a corrugated pipe. The fishing line used for garden trimmers will help you complete this process. It has the rigidity to push the sensor through and, if necessary, remove it back.

Laying in corrugated pipe

There are devices that have a small step where the cable exits. It may catch on the protrusions that the corrugated pipe has during removal. For this reason, it is better to wrap this edge with electrical tape.

Installation of temperature sensors

The installation of a heated floor sensor is carried out taking into account safety rules. Unauthorized access to it should be limited, first of all, for young children. The recommended installation height is 1.7 m. The manufacturer supplies thermostats that are designed for hidden and open wiring. Devices of the first type must be buried in the wall when installed.

Procedure:

  1. A half-hole is made in the wall partition: its depth should be sufficient to install the mounting box;
  2. From the recess downwards and in the floor screed, a channel (groove) is punched for laying cables and signal wires;
  3. A channel for input wires is made from the seat up to the switchboard.
  4. The signal wires and power cable are packaged in a plastic protective hose: its diameter is chosen so that the device can be removed if necessary. The bend of the tube should be sufficiently rounded (from 5 cm) - over time it should not become an obstacle to the possible advancement of the device and cable.
  5. The sensor is placed at an equidistant distance from all thermal elements and no closer than 0.5 m from the wall partition.

Connecting a temperature sensor

Connecting a heated floor sensor is a multi-operational process, the observance of which requires care. Before connecting the sensor to the power supply, it is necessary to perform the following preparatory work:

  1. Disconnect the network;
  2. In the distribution box on the DIN rail, secure an additional protective disconnecting device and a circuit breaker. Externally, the devices are similar, but their operating principles are different. The first device is designed to turn off the voltage in the event of damage to the insulation and the appearance of a “breakdown” on the walls. The second is necessary to disconnect the network in case of a short circuit;
  3. Lay a three-core cable from the junction box to the sensor installation site.

How to connect a heated floor sensor? Connect the wires in the junction box as follows:

  • black: to the intermediate circuit breaker (bottom), from it to the RCD (bottom), then to the input circuit breaker;
  • light blue (blue): to the RCD (bottom), then to the block with neutral wires;
  • yellow with a green stripe - to the earth bus.

In the wiring box you need to connect the wires to the thermostat in accordance with the diagram. The connection procedure and diagram are determined by the instructions.

All devices are equipped with a standard block with six terminals, which are marked accordingly. Each connector has a mark that indicates:

  • L: “phase wire” from the network;
  • N: “neutral” wire from the network;
  • L1: “phase wire” to the thermal circuit;
  • N1: “zero” wire to the thermal circuit;
  • PE: grounding bus.

Please note:

  1. The blocks of some thermostats may not have a terminal for connecting the “ground wire”. In this case, the corresponding wires are connected directly - using a suitable connector or bolted connection;
  2. The marking of the wires that are connected to the working elements of the heater may have a different form, for example: “L” and “N” are connected by a jumper with a resistor icon (rectangle).

Manufacturers

DEVI. This company from Denmark is characterized by high quality products in their arsenal Newest technologies And modern materials, thanks to which it occupies a leading position in the heating equipment market.

Thermostat for heated floors Devireg 130 with sensor

Thermostat with sensor AEG FTE 5050 SN

Thermo Industri AB. This company from Sweden is one of Europe's largest manufacturers of heating equipment, in particular underfloor heating. Used in production modern technologies and materials. High quality and reliability are the main characteristics of Thermo Industri AB products.

Thermoreg TI-200 thermostat with sensor

Thus, the heated floor temperature sensor will help create comfortable conditions in the room.

Installation of fixture

The sensor is mounted in a corrugated tube.

  1. For internal installation, the sensor is placed between the loops of the heating cable, so that the gaps to them are equal.
  2. The device is fixed using a piece of mounting tape.
  3. It, in turn, is attached at a distance of 0.50 m from the wall, between the wire loops closest to the sensor installation point.
  4. Next, the device is placed in a corrugated tube. It must be carefully sealed with electrical tape to prevent solution and dust from penetrating into it.
  5. The final stage of installation is fixing the end of the corrugated tube with the sensor on a piece of mounting tape.
  6. The second side of the pipe with the wire is brought to the installation point of the thermostat.

Connecting the device

The photo shows a diagram of connecting devices.

After the warm floors are assembled, there are two ways to connect the sensor yourself.

  • Direct connection when the heating cable and thermostat are combined.
  • Using a junction box.

The sensor for heated floors must be connected using a separate power line from the panel. The best option, in this case, is to choose power wires made of copper. Their cross section should be about 2.5 mm².

In the room, another distribution box is placed on the selected wall. A cable from the electrical panel is pulled to it. A groove is made from the distribution box to the floors. Two corrugated plastic tubes for the power wires of the heating cable and the temperature sensor are placed in it.

Then the thermostat and sensor are fixed in their designated places.

The efficiency of controlling the operation of heated floors depends on the model of the temperature sensor. Therefore, his choice should be taken very seriously. In the video presented in this article you will find Additional information on this topic.

Thermal sensor malfunction

Don’t rush to open the floors, first check if the temperature sensor is working

In order not to open the screed ahead of time, check the serviceability of the temperature sensor. Its cable is a two-core wire.

To test, you need to measure the resistance between the wires. Typically resistance values ​​are in the range of 5 - 120 kOhm, the exact value is indicated in technical passport to the thermostat.

Resistance test:

  • the multimeter is switched to ohmmeter mode,
  • parameters are set,
  • the resistance value is measured.

If the resistance value during testing does not correspond to the passport value, then the sensor is faulty and requires replacement.

Before checking, turn off the power supply

You can check the electric heated floor and make sure that the heating system itself is working by connecting the power directly to the floor wires. To do this you need:

  1. Turn off the power to the electrical network of the apartment or house (unscrew the plugs on the electrical panel).
  2. Connect the power wires directly to the panel, bypassing the thermostat: contact No. 1 to contact No. 3, and contact No. 2 to contact No. 4.
  3. Turn on the electricity supply and wait half an hour for the floor to heat up.

If the system heats up with this connection, then the thermostat unit itself is faulty. If, after all the measures have been taken, the floor does not work and the cause cannot be eliminated, the problem is much deeper in the literal sense.

Installation of a heated floor temperature sensor

You can install the heated floor sensor using a protective box, which is located between the cable and the thermostat, or you can connect it directly to the thermostat. According to consumer reviews, the second option is more convenient and reliable for carrying out independent work, without the services of a specialist.

The sensor can be installed in several ways, which depend on the selected heated floor model. Therefore, in order to avoid mistakes that could lead to irreparable consequences, it is necessary to consider each option separately.

Installation of sensor with heating cable

Installation of a heated floor temperature sensor in conjunction with an electrical cable can be divided into seven main stages:

  • determine the location of the thermostat;
  • gating walls for wires;
  • covering the thermal insulation layer;
  • fastening the damper tape;
  • cabling;
  • mounting a temperature sensor and thermostat;
  • pouring concrete screed.

Installation of a thermostat for film heated floors

The location for the thermostat should be protected from direct sunlight and other heating elements. Also, for the safety of children and pets, its location should not be less than 0.5 - 1 meter from the floor level. The product is placed in a specially insulated box.

The cable from the sensor is inserted into the corrugated tube

A three-core electrical cable is laid to the location of the thermostat. From the floor to the box, two grooves are made in the wall, into which plastic tubes are mounted. The cable system wires will be located in one pipe, and the sensor wire in the second.

Attach the cable with the sensor to the heated floor

Having completed this work, heat-insulating and vapor-proof material is laid on the base of the room in a layer of 20 mm. Next, a mounting tape is attached to secure the electrical cable. Before laying the heated floor heating elements on it, all wires are pulled to the thermostat.

Lead the other end of the sheathed wire to the thermostat

Having laid and secured the cables of the electrical system with a certain step, it is carried out concrete screed. But before pouring it, you need to make sure that the connecting coupling of the elements is located directly in the screed itself.

Connect to the thermostat and seal the groove with putty

Installation of the sensor with heating mats

Installing a heated floor sensor based on heating mats is much faster than with the first method. Installation is carried out in the following way:

  1. Installation of thermostat. It is installed on the wall in the most convenient place, but not less than 30 cm from the floor. In the designated area, a hole is made with a hammer drill to install the thermostat. From the groove down the wall and along the base of the room, grooves are hollowed out for laying the ends of the heating mat and temperature sensor.
  2. Power supply. Electrical power is supplied to the thermostat installation. In this case, the cross-section of the power line conductor must coincide with the current strength of the heating mat.
  3. Preparing the base. The rough floor for laying the heating model must be level. To do this, all debris and dust are removed from it with a brush, and cracks are sealed with a primer.
  4. Drawing up a diagram. On the basis of the room, markings for the location of large furniture and floor electrical equipment are marked.
  5. Laying mats. Mats are laid out on a previously prepared free floor space. In order for the electrical system to occupy the entire heated area of ​​the room, it must be cut into convenient fragments. The heating material is cut along strictly designated lines, without damaging the cables.
  6. Sensor location. The area for the heated floor sensor should be located between the turns of the heating cable.
  7. Fixing the electrical system wires. Through a pre-prepared groove, the installation wires of the heating mats are led out to the thermostat box.
  8. Installing a temperature sensor. Before connecting the sensor, using special equipment, it is necessary to check its resistance with heating mats. If their values ​​coincide, the temperature sensor is placed in a special corrugated pipe, where one end will be located under the floor covering, and the other will be connected to the thermostat. The pipeline itself is laid in the niche made so that the bending radius at the wall is at least 5 cm.

To secure the installation of the sensor, a thin layer is laid on the groove cement mortar. Then, to connect the heated floor sensor, its ends must be tinned and connected to the thermostat.

Peculiarities

The basis for arranging a heated floor is the heating elements of the structure and an automation system consisting of a temperature sensor and a regulator. The sensor is designed to measure the temperature of an object and transmit data to the control unit.

The sensor for the heated floor thermostat should be selected based on the characteristics of the automation unit.

A prerequisite when choosing a temperature sensor is to follow the manufacturer's recommendations.

More complex systems Heated floor regulators include several sensors. An example of such a thermostat is one that measures temperature at several points. These measurement points are usually the body of the floor heater, the ambient air in the room and the temperature outside the room. The operating principle of such an automation unit is based on comparing measured temperatures, as a result of which the specified floor mode is maintained.

Systems that have more advanced methods of underfloor heating include electric heaters with liquid coolant. Such systems are considered ideal for installing heated floors.

Electric heating systems with liquid coolant have uniform heat distribution, smooth temperature changes, and are flexibly configured and regulated. A thermostat with an electric heater and a coolant liquid must include a thermostat. When combined with a thermal head, a thermostat allows you to more accurately regulate the floor temperature.

Functions and selection of thermostat

The thermostat is also a very important device that is used when installing a floor heating system. It will process the indicators that the temperature sensor transmits to it and, depending on them, control the system

Main types of thermostats

Thermostat functions:

  • heating system control;
  • control and maintenance of optimal floor temperature;
  • process of monitoring consumed electricity;
  • optimization and improvement of floor heating operation.

Thermostat Warmehaus TOUCHSCREEN

On a note! The energy consumption of the entire system usually corresponds to ½ of its power. In this way, approximate costs can be calculated.

Compact, convenient floor heating thermostat Termo+ A008 16A with weekly programming

Table. Types of thermostats.

TypeCharacteristic

Electromechanical

The simplest type of device and affordable. Its main working element is a special metal plate; it reacts to temperature changes. When the system cools, as soon as the curvature of the plate becomes such that it touches the second contact, the system turns on. The device will not allow you to install a specific floor heating temperature value.

Electronic

The device works like this: it is equipped with a special element that produces a special signal. Power directly depends on the ambient temperature. Such thermostats allow you to set the exact heating temperature, sometimes even down to fractions of a degree. The device is controlled using buttons and a small display. More expensive and more difficult to manage than previous ones.

Programmable

The most expensive type of temperature sensor, but it allows you to set certain parameters, upon reaching which the thermostat will turn the entire system on or off. Such a device will create a microclimate in the apartment that is suitable for a particular person. In this case, the programmable thermostat can be configured so that it starts the system at a strictly allotted time. That is, it can heat the floors immediately before the owner comes home, without wasting electricity while he is not in the room. However, it is not advisable to use it in the bathroom.

Experienced craftsmen recommend installing a programmable thermostat during installation. The costs for it will quickly pay off during heating season, when electricity bills will increase significantly compared to the warm period of the year.

Thermostat for heated floors TOP FLOOR M6.716

There are also thermostats with a limiter. This type of device is triggered depending on the maximum/minimum permissible temperature. Its main functions are to prevent the floor from overheating or cooling down too much.

There are regulators and alarms. If the sensor detects overheating of the coating, the device will notify the home owner about the violation using a special signal.

Connection diagram mechanical thermostat for water heated floor

Varieties

The sensor can measure floor or air temperature

The main regulation of the operation of the heated floor is controlled by a thermostat (temperature regulator), it reads readings from a sensor connected to the system and regulates the heating

This is especially important for floor coverings such as laminate or linoleum.

Otherwise, if there is no temperature sensor in the system or it is faulty, this may lead to damage to the above-mentioned coatings.

First of all, they differ in the mounting location.

There are sensors installed in the floor next to the system, others measure the temperature of the air space in the room.

In addition, there are devices that are built into the thermostat.

If we consider devices intended for installation in the floor, we can divide them into 2 categories:

  • floor sensor for soft surfaces - laminate, linoleum, parquet, carpet;
  • device for hard surfaces - ceramic tiles, artificial or natural stone. At the same time, it will be slightly different in appearance from the previous ones. Its size will be larger and it will be packaged in a protective case to protect it from the mixture or glue.

The limiter is programmed to a certain temperature and does not allow the floor to heat the room more than necessary

In addition, there is a floor heating sensor - a limiter. It is programmed at a certain temperature and does not allow the system to cool below the specified value.

Mostly it is connected to a cable heating system, and in this case it is mounted in an insulating pipe designed directly for it.

How to calculate the number of thermostats

As has already become clear, it is possible to connect electric heating through a thermostat. Therefore, first of all, you need to figure out how many thermostats there will be. First of all, you should determine how many rooms will be heated in this way. If there are several of them, it is recommended to install an individual thermostat in each individual room. Of course, this turns out to be quite expensive, but this way you can control the temperature in each individual room.

This solution has a lot of advantages. For example, if you install an electric heated floor in a utility room, then the required temperature there will be the same, but in the living room it will be different. As a result, the likelihood that heavy loads will be placed on the power grid is completely eliminated.

Important! The presence of a thermostat in each individual room will allow you to set the program. For example, in some rooms, you can turn off the heating at night, or, conversely, turn it on.
. Installing several thermostats also entails that an individual temperature sensor is installed on each of them

This is the only way the entire system will work properly, and you will be able to maintain a comfortable temperature throughout the room. So, having familiarized ourselves with all the features of connecting an electric heated floor, let’s consider small instructions on the sequence of the entire process.

Installing several thermostats also entails that an individual temperature sensor is installed on each of them. This is the only way the entire system will work properly, and you will be able to maintain a comfortable temperature throughout the room. So, having familiarized ourselves with all the features of connecting an electric heated floor, let’s consider small instructions on the sequence of the entire process.

How to check the temperature sensor

If the floor itself is working, but the system still does not work, then the reason lies elsewhere. You can try to check the serviceability of the sensor. It is a resistor that has its own resistance, and this can also be measured using a multimeter. But the performance of the latter varies greatly depending on what the floor temperature is at the moment. For example, with a temperature reading of 5 degrees, the multimeter will show a value of 22 kOhm, and with a temperature reading of 40 degrees – only 6 kOhm. In general, the indicator should correspond to the factory resistance. If it differs from the indicated value by more than 5 kOhm or is equal to 0, then the sensor does not work and needs to be changed.

Warm floor sensor

On a note! Modern thermostats equipped with a display often indicate a sensor malfunction on their own.

Manufacturers

From the variety of manufacturers of equipment for heated floors, we will analyze the advantages of products from well-known brands. Let us note the advantages when choosing a brand of such brands:

  • Legrand;
  • Spyheat;
  • Tech;
  • Heiz.

The Legrand company has been operating for a long time and specializes in the production of electrical devices, materials, and equipment. It has established itself as a manufacturer of reliable and high-quality products.

Programmable thermostats and thermostats manufactured by Legrand have installation features. So, if desired, you can choose equipment for installation in the mounting locations of switches or sockets. In this case, you can install the equipment both on the wall and in the panel. Due to the quality and reliability, Legrand products have an increased cost.

The manufacturing company Spyheat specializes in the production of ready-made sets of heated floors and other heating systems. The advantages of the company include the fact that the company produces ready-made systems warm floor with all components. Since the company specializes in heated floors using heating cables, these products will be a budget option.

Heiz specializes in heating systems based on liquid coolants. Thermostatic heads with remote sensors are needed to stabilize the room temperature. Heiz devices are distinguished by high reliability and accuracy of temperature control. This company provides a 5-year warranty on its products. The temperature sensor is capable of maintaining temperature with an accuracy of one degree. The manufacturer guarantees the sensitivity of the temperature sensor within 0.5 degrees.

Many underfloor heating manufacturers use and recommend controllers and sensors manufactured by Tech. One of the important factors in favor of this product is that the company produces both equipment for space heating and high-power boiler houses.

Tech sensors and thermostats are popular among manufacturers of heating systems, including underfloor heating kits. The reliability and quality of Tech's products is evidenced by its partnership with many manufacturers of heating systems. It would be useful to add to the advantages of the product the absence of reviews about malfunctions of its devices.

Precautionary measures

When working with any electrical equipment, installation work must be carried out carefully, connections must be made reliably, wiring must be designed for the power consumed by the heated floor. For safety, it is advisable to connect the power circuit to an individual RCD.

It should be remembered that thermostats do not tolerate high humidity and water ingress, therefore, when installing a heated floor in a bathroom, the control unit should be installed outside this room.

The serviceability of all parts must be checked before installation. Filling the screed and laying the finishing coating must be carried out carefully. If there is no mechanical damage, the heating cable will last a long time.

Types of temperature sensors for heated floors

Modern cable underfloor heating systems, as a rule, include a sensor included

However, in cases where the heating design is made independently, they do not always remember the important function of the temperature sensor and may simply forget to purchase it. In the future, this will lead to inflated bills for consumed electricity, since the system will operate without periodic outages

Temperature sensors, as well as thermostats, exist in several types:

  • Some thermostats work in combination with two sensors. Such a system shows both the external temperature and the condition of the base;
  • Limit sensors are also in demand, which prevent the temperature on the floor surface from falling below a set level;
  • Some samples of temperature sensors are additionally equipped with an alarm system that notifies home owners about possible problems in the system.

For water floors, a thermal head with a remote sensor is used, which acts as a regulator of the heating battery and serves to automatically maintain the selected coolant temperature. The thermostatic head is selected taking into account the design features of the pipeline of the installed heating system.

Installation work

Installation of a heated floor temperature sensor can be done in two ways:

  • using a special box between the cable and the thermostat;
  • directly from the heating cable to the thermostat.

In practice, the second option is more often used.

Also, the nuances of installing the device depend on the type of electric heating system being created: the use of a heating cable, mats or film floor.

The work of installing a floor temperature sensor for a heating cable can be divided into the following stages:

  • determining the location of the thermostat;
  • cutting two ditches on the wall;
  • laying thermal insulation material;
  • fastening the mounting tape;
  • installation of heating cable;
  • installation of sensor and thermostat;
  • pouring concrete screed.

The thermostat is usually located at a height of 0.5-1 m from the floor level. It is placed on the wall in a regular box designed for sockets. A three-core electrical wire is connected to the location of the box under the thermostat.

Using a hammer drill, two grooves are created leading from the floor to the thermostat box. Two plastic tubes will be attached to them. One will carry the power wires from the heating cable, the second will carry the electrical wire for the sensor.

The length of the tube for the heating cable will be equal to the distance from the thermostat to the floor. For the sensor, the tube is laid with a margin of approximately 1 m. It will be located on the floor. This is done so that the wire with the sensor can be pulled out through the tube if it breaks.

Creating thermal insulation involves sticking a damper tape and laying insulation with a minimum thickness of 2 cm. After which a special mounting tape is attached to the thermal insulation material. It is designed to fix the heating cable. The fastening step of the tape for laying the cable “snake” is 50 cm.

Before installing the heating cable, all wires are pulled to the thermostat box. The coupling for connecting the elements must be in the poured screed. The lines of the installed floor heating cable do not intersect.

Having finished laying the cable, you should work on the floor temperature sensor. He:

  • placed in a plastic tube;
  • is pulled between the heating cable.

The distance from the cable should be in the range from 0.5 to 1 m. To prevent the solution from entering, the end of the tube is sealed with electrical tape.

Before creating a concrete screed, the resistance of the heated floor temperature sensor must be measured. This is how the quality of the work performed is checked. The resistance indicator should not deviate by more than 10% from the product manufacturer’s specifications.

Next, the cement mortar is poured. After it has set, the functionality of the electric floor is checked. The heating cable is connected to the network for a short time. Usually the green light on the thermostat lights up and the cable starts to heat up.

Some nuances of installing the sensor when laying mats and film floors

The principle of installing an electric floor temperature sensor when laying heating mats and film covering has a number of distinctive features.

In particular, when installing a floor using heating mats, the groove for the sensor is carried out not only on the wall, but also on the floor. This is explained by reducing the thickness of the floor to 1.5 cm. The protective plastic tube where the sensor is placed will be located slightly below the mat.

When creating a warm film floor, the sensor can be installed in two ways:

  • using a pipe in the floor (it is necessary to make a groove);
  • placing the device directly on the film surface.

The most versatile devices are NTC floor temperature sensors. They can function like:

  • digital temperature controllers with manual control;
  • devices with software control.

Installing a temperature sensor and connecting it to the thermostat

Before installing the floor heating system sensor, it is necessary to place it in an insulated corrugated tube, which is usually included with the product. In the area where the sensor connects to the wire, it is advisable to wrap several layers of ordinary electrical tape so that the device can be easily removed if necessary.

The trimmer line, which is only 3 mm thick, has very good elasticity, will help you easily insert the sensor into the tube. Using electrical tape, the end of the wire must be connected to the fishing line, and then inserted into the corrugation.

Before connecting the temperature sensor, it must be positioned in accordance with the rules. The device is placed in the middle between the heating elements so that the sensor is parallel to them. It is recommended to close the corrugation with a plastic stopper. This will help prevent the screed solution from getting into it. If the heating system uses infrared film, then the sensor must be mounted on the reverse side of the product.

The thermostat is installed only after the screed has hardened. All heating elements of the system, a temperature sensor, as well as power wires are connected to it. It is recommended to place the regulator as close as possible to the heating system itself in order to minimize the distance from it to the temperature sensor.

Experts advise installing a temperature control device at a height of no more than 30-40 cm from the level of the floor covering.

When purchasing a thermostat, you should choose a product with a power that matches the power of the heating elements of the underfloor heating system. In maximum mode it should not exceed permissible load to the heating cable.

When connecting wiring to the terminals, you must remember to comply with the phases. For most thermostatic devices, the neutral zero is designated as "N", and the phases are letters "F" And "L". In addition, phases can also be determined by the color of the wires. Zero is usually blue. As for the phase, the wire can be either white, black or brown.

After the warm floor sensor and heating elements of the system are connected, it is recommended to test the thermostat. To do this you need:

  • set the lowest temperature on the device;
  • supply electrical power;
  • turn on the heating using the toggle switch;
  • smoothly change the temperature several times, paying attention to the presence of a click, which should be heard when the heating elements are turned on;
  • check how well the floor covering heats up.

If we talk about connecting a water heating system to a thermostat, it is not mandatory. However, using such a device will help save on coolant, since it can be used to control the flow of water. Just as in the case of electric heating, the sensor for a heated floor can be simple or programmable. It is usually mounted at a height of one meter near the location of the thermostat. In this case, the function of the temperature sensor is determining air temperature in a heated room. Therefore, there should be no additional heat sources near it.

Design and purpose of a temperature sensor

So, the temperature sensor for a heated floor system is a thermistor protected by a glass bulb, and also has a copper conductor about 3 meters long for connection to the thermostat. In addition to the glass bulb for tile floors, the temperature sensor itself is also protected by a gel shell. Conductor isolated quality PVC(polyvinyl chloride) to protect against external influences and damage. The length of the conductor can be increased, and naturally, reduced, up to 50 meters, the main thing is that there is an undamaged sensor at the end of the conductor.

To easily replace it in the future, it is recommended to place this design into a metal-plastic tube, even if the manufacturer included a plastic corrugation with a diameter of 16 mm. The metal-plastic pipe has a smoother inner surface therefore, it is much easier to remove and install, as well as connect a new temperature sensor in case of failure. These types of temperature sensors are installed in hard floor coverings (under tiles or porcelain stoneware).

The principle of operation of the temperature sensor is very simple; when the temperature changes, its resistance changes, thereby giving a signal to the thermostat to turn on or off the heated floor system from 220 V, the most common network in everyday life.

Installation of sensors for heated floors

Warm floors are responsible for creating a comfortable atmosphere that has a beneficial effect on well-being. The recommended temperature at the feet is 25°C, and in the head area - 21. It is this mode, which is optimal according to experts, that creates rising heat from the heated floor.

An integral attribute is a thermostat with a temperature sensor built into it - a device at the end of the cable that monitors the degree of heating. When the set values ​​are reached, the heated floor automatically turns off, and when the indicator drops by half a degree, the system starts working again. This ensures a constant climate in the room. In addition, energy consumption is significantly reduced.

How to ring a warm electric floor

Before ringing the heated floor with a multimeter, it is set to the sound signal icon located next to the ohmmeter scale. When the probes touch each other, a sound is heard, indicating that the circuit is closed. If you simultaneously touch the conductors of the heated floor with the probes, a buzzer should appear.

When it is missing or interrupted, this indicates a tear in the vein. After you have managed to figure out how to ring a warm floor, you need to do a similar procedure with a temperature sensor. If the sensor resistance is missing or does not match the specifications, it is clear that it is faulty.

Selecting a thermostat for an additional heating system

Thermostats or system control units differ not only in brands and prices, but also in functionality and installation methods.

According to installation conditions, thermostats are produced:

  • overhead mounted on a wall, for example – Caleo UTH-130;
  • in a mounting box, for installation in a wall niche flush with the partition - Thermoreg TI 950 Design.

Based on functionality, floor temperature control units are divided into classic and programmable thermostats. The classic version of the device assumes the use of only a floor heating sensor. Programmable home heating control devices:

  • can be with one or more heated floor temperature sensors - Caleo 330PS;
  • You can also use the installation of a heated floor temperature sensor and built-in or free-standing air temperature sensors - Devireg D-532.

The range of capabilities of programmable floor heating control devices is quite wide and these are:

  • stable operation of the device even with significant voltage drops;
  • floor temperature adjustment from +1°C to +45°C;
  • setting heating parameters for a day and a week;
  • programming up to 5 different daily schedules in different days weeks;
  • operation of the control unit in different modes during the day: “morning”, “night”, “at home”, “absence”;
  • maintaining room and floor temperature within specified limits;
  • saving specified parameters in cases of emergency power outage;
  • self-learning function.

A significant role in choosing a thermostat is played by its power; it must correspond to the maximum power of the heated floor. It is not recommended to use sensors and thermostats from different manufacturers in the floor heating control system.

Connecting the thermostat to the mains

Connection can be made in two ways:

  1. Connect through an outlet using a plug.
  2. Pass a three-core wire in a pre-prepared groove from the thermostat to the outlet.

In order to connect the regulator in the second way, you need to install it under the socket. To do this, a hole is made for a regular socket box. Using a crown, a hole is drilled into which the box is installed. There are also special boxes in plasterboard; thermostats can also be installed in these boxes.

When connecting the temperature controller, you should pay attention to the contacts located on the back of the device; they are marked with three letters that indicate different wire colors:

  • L – phase, brown or red wire;
  • N – zero, blue or blue wire;
  • PE – grounding, yellow-green or yellow wire.

Usually the cable comes complete with a thermostat, the wire length is up to 3 meters. It is connected to a temperature controller and a temperature sensor.

For the entire circuit to work, you must connect a thermostat with a temperature sensor and a heated floor. Before connecting, make a groove from the temperature regulator to the floor and lay the wires using the diagram that is in the instructions. We talked about how to perform wall gating in a separate article.

So, you can connect the thermostat to the heated floor as follows:

  • Connect the temperature sensor to terminal numbers 1 and 2 of the thermostat.
  • The wire from the network must be connected to terminal numbers 5 and 6. The phase is placed on the fifth, and zero on the sixth.
  • The heating cable is connected to terminals 3 and 4.

Please note that the markings on the thermostat may be different and, accordingly, the connection diagram will be different (for example, the power cable will be connected to terminals 1 and 2).

It is also important to understand that not all houses have the opportunity to connect the regulator to a three-wire network, because many old houses do not have grounding. There is also a single-core or two-core heated floor, this also affects the installation method

Connection diagram for a heated floor thermostat with grounding and without a grounding wire:

The temperature sensor is installed under tiles or other floor coverings, so it should be installed in such a way that in the event of a malfunction it can be removed without damaging the floor covering. Despite the simple connection diagram for the thermostat, it is important to carefully read the instructions, because if the connection is incorrect, the heated floor will not work.

The video below clearly shows how to install a temperature controller and connect it to the network with your own hands:

This is the technology used to install a heated floor thermostat in the bathroom and other rooms. Now you know at what height to install and how to correctly connect the wires from the heating system and temperature sensor to the regulator.

  • Errors when installing heated floors
  • Installing a fan in the bathroom

Three main reasons for underfloor heating failure

1. Floor temperature sensor. Each thermostat comes with a floor temperature sensor, which is installed in a corrugated tube and mounted in the wall and floor in a certain way, under a certain bend. So that it can be replaced in the future. In a floor heating system, the floor temperature sensor is a “consumable item”. Sooner or later it will need to be replaced. This sensor can work for you for 10-15 years, but it can fail after 3-5 months

This is why it is very important to install it CORRECTLY to avoid further problems.

Bricked sensor

How to check the serviceability of the heated floor sensor?
To check the serviceability of the floor temperature sensor, you need to remove the front panel. Unscrew the thermostat installation block and check the resistance of the floor temperature sensor with a multimeter. Each sensor has a factory resistance statement. Your sensor value should match it. If the resistance differs by more than 5 kOhm, or is early 0, then the sensor is faulty and requires replacement.

2. Thermostat. More often, either the relay or the capacitor fails. You can check the functionality of the thermostat by switching to heating mode by applying power to the underfloor heating terminals. The average cost of repairs is about 3,000 rubles. In many cases, it is more advisable to purchase a new thermostat from the same manufacturer. Since the thermostat must be from the same company as installed sensor in the floor. (However, the DeviTouch thermostat works with floor temperature sensors from manufacturers Teplolux, Eberle, Ensto, Fenix, Oj Electronics, Raychem, etc.)

3. Heating cable (mat). In 95% of cases, the cable heating system fails due to unqualified installation. The most vulnerable part of the heating cable is the coupling. During installation, it is necessary to observe all the rules for laying pitch, cable bending, and the location of the coupling. Also, when purchasing equipment, you need to understand that the cable will be under the tiles. You install heated floors for at least 10-15 years. There is no need to chase cheapness, since a cheap cable is not reliable and may soon fail.

How to check the serviceability of the heating cable?

Each cable has its own resistance. It is necessary to check the resistance value 3 times. Before installation. After installing the heated floor. After filling with screed or tile adhesive. If the cable resistance differs significantly from the rated values, or is equal to zero. This means the cable may have failed. In this case, it is necessary to check the cable with a megger to check the insulation resistance of the heating cores and the shielding braid.

Repair of electric heated floor.

Equipment for searching for cliffs.

Repairing a heating cable (mat) begins with searching for a broken cable or a damaged coupling.
Then the tile in this place is opened and a repair coupling is installed. After this, the resistance is checked and
checking with a megger, as well as a test connection.

In conclusion I would like to say: Each heating system, including heated floors, must be calculated and selected according to the heat loss conditions of your room. Despite its apparent simplicity, there are many nuances that must be taken into account when choosing a heated floor and thermostat and further installation.

We offer a service for on-site diagnostics of heated floors. Diagnostics will include checking the functionality of your thermostat, floor temperature sensor, and heating cable (mat). Cost: 2000 rubles.

Sensors and thermostats for heated floors

Selecting a thermostat

To make the right purchase, you will have to take into account the features of different types of such devices.

They, in turn, are as follows:

  • Electronic-mechanical - similar to those installed in irons. With their help it is impossible to set a specific temperature value. By turning the wheel, its approximate value is set here, which is then maintained. The advantages of such a product are its simplicity and affordable price;

Electronic-mechanical version

  • Electronic - in their principle of operation they are similar to the previous ones. The difference is that they can be used to set the exact temperature degree. In addition, their design does not use a wheel, but buttons or a touch screen;

Pictured is an electronic regulator.

  • Programmable - can not only maintain a given temperature, but also perform other actions. For example, they are able to turn off the heating in the absence of people. Or, turn on at a certain time and heat the room when the residents arrive. Despite their high cost, thanks to energy savings, these devices pay for themselves quite quickly.

Programmable thermostat

Advice!
Do not install programmable controllers in small rooms such as a bathroom or toilet.
After all, they have to be heated quickly and at unplanned times.
For such premises it is better to use electronic-mechanical devices.

Sensor selection

Typically, floor heating sensors are sold complete with thermostats. This is very convenient because it eliminates the need self-selection suitable elements.

In general, it should be noted that these devices can be internal or external. In the first case, the sensor is built into the heated surface and measures its temperature. The second sample is installed outside the coating and measures the heating of the surrounding air.

It is also possible that both types of devices are used. This is usually found in programmable devices, such as the SE 200 thermostat from the Teplolux company.

Thermostat SE 200 with two temperature sensors

Advice!
If an electric heating system is used, it would be a good idea to install a water sensor on the floor.
If a water main breaks, it will cut off the liquid supply.
This will not only relieve housing from the threat of flooding, but also prevent possible way out failure of the floor heating structure.

How to choose

When choosing temperature controller sensors, you should be guided by the recommendations of thermostat manufacturers

In addition, when choosing sensors, you should pay attention to its purpose. So, if it is designed to measure the floor temperature, it cannot be connected instead of a temperature sensor to measure the air temperature in the room, and vice versa

You also need to take into account the features of the sensor. For example, The appliance is intended for indoor installation and should not be installed in an open space..

When choosing, we must not forget that the measurement error can be influenced by external factors.

Sensors whose measurement error will be affected by drafts and infrared radiation must be protected from such influences. Sensors without protection from these influences must be protected artificially or installed inside structures.

The floor heating thermostat sensor is a thermal resistance with connected copper conductors. The manufacturer usually supplies sensors with short wires.

The conductors from the temperature sensor to the thermostat can be lengthened or shortened. Extension of the conductors from the temperature sensor to the regulator is allowed up to 50 m. When extending the wire, remember that the longer it is, the greater the error in temperature measurement will be.

During the installation of the temperature sensor, it must be placed in an insulated corrugation, which is usually included with the product. In addition to protection, the corrugation is also necessary for subsequent removal in the event of sensor failure.

Its use is mandatory, and if it is not included in the kit, it must be purchased separately, following the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Having chosen a warm floor with water heating, use a thermal head with an external sensor. It is designed to control heating elements and maintain the coolant temperature within specified limits in automatic mode. It is selected according to the recommendations of the heating element manufacturer.

In addition to thermal heads with remote sensors, the systems use submersible sensors. They allow you to control the temperature of the coolant.

Underfloor heating systems are very popular, and this is understandable, because they significantly improve indoor comfort and make the home more cozy. And in order to maintain and optimally regulate this comfort, you need to be able to adjust the temperature of the floors. For this, a thermostat is used, which must be installed when installing a heated floor.

The warm floor begins to perform its main function immediately after connecting to the power supply. However, working at full power, it will not last long and will significantly hit your pocket, spending too much energy. In addition, it will be too hot, which may not be very comfortable. To avoid all the troubles and ensure the most pleasant operating conditions for the heated floor, you need a temperature regulator.

Classification of thermostats

According to the operating principle

This classification is the most understandable and accessible. There are several types of thermostats:

It works on the same principle as the heating regulator of a regular iron. It is impossible to set any specific temperature value. The principle of operation of a mechanical regulator is as follows: its wheel rotates, being set to the desired position, the temperature of the floors changes and is maintained. Based on your feelings, you can lower or increase the temperature, setting it a little more precisely - in general, like in the shower. This type of regulator is the cheapest and simplest.

In its essence it is similar to mechanical, only regulation is carried out using keys or a touch screen. Another difference is the ability to set the exact temperature with an accuracy of up to tenths of a degree.

The most technologically advanced type. As the name implies, it allows you to store certain programs in the device’s memory that regulate the temperature as conditions require. For example, when there is no one at home, the regulator turns off the heating, turns it down at night, warms up the floor in advance before the owners arrive, etc.

By location

Based on this feature, there are only two obvious groups: regulators located inside the heated room or outside it, for example, in an electrical panel. Standard practice is to locate the floor heating thermostat in any place that is convenient for access, with the exception of bathrooms - electronic devices should not be installed in them.

Another limitation is power. A standard thermostat is designed for no more than 3 kW. As a result, you need to carefully correlate the number of sensors and their type with the installed heating system. If it exceeds the permissible power, you will have to install a dual-zone thermostat or two regulators for separate areas of the room.

Such two-zone regulators can also be used to adjust the temperature in two rooms at once, if the total power of floor heating systems does not exceed permissible limits.

By sensor type

It is worth noting that the thermostats are compatible with different types sensors As standard, the device has only one temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the heated floor, which may often not be enough. In conditions where underfloor heating is the only heating system, a sophisticated room temperature control scheme may be required.

In this particular case, you can regulate the overall temperature, and not just the degree of heating of the heated floor, and then an air heating sensor will come in handy, which can also be connected to the thermostat.

There are cases when, on the contrary, precise adjustment of the temperature of the floor covering is necessary - for example, if flammable materials are used as finishing materials: wooden or laminated parquet, or linoleum. In this case, it is extremely dangerous to allow the coating to overheat above 26 degrees.

Thus, there are two types of thermostats:

  • with built-in temperature sensor;
  • compatible with outdoor sensors.

Installation of temperature sensors and regulators

The installation diagram of devices depends on the selected type. Usually you will need a niche in the wall into which the thermostat will fit. The heated floor system will be connected to it according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

Power can be provided either by connecting to a wall outlet or by connecting directly to the mains using a special wire.

Sensor installation

This issue should be treated with special attention, since it is through the sensors that the thermostat receives information about the temperature, and errors in their installation can lead to both incorrect readings, which will lead to a decrease in the efficiency of the system, and to complete inoperability of temperature regulation.

The basic underfloor heating system usually consists of the heating element itself, although there are options with a thermostat included.

The sensor and wires for the thermostat are passed through the corrugation and placed in a groove punched in the wall. This is necessary so that in the event of a malfunction, parts of the system can be replaced without breaking the wall. This tube will allow you to pull out all the wires even from completely filled concrete floors.

The temperature sensor should be located no further than one meter from the regulator, between the heating elements of the system.

There are no other requirements for the sensors, so the control device can be used with any type of heated floors, including those based on hot water heating.

It is important to keep in mind that heated floors and devices for regulating their temperature are complementary components of a single system, and only by working together will they ensure real comfort of living in the room and long-term, impeccable heating service. Thermostats should not be neglected, especially since the variety of their types will allow you to choose the right option for any person.

Thermal sensor for heated floors: classification and installation


It is through the temperature sensor that the thermostat receives information about the temperature, and errors in their installation can lead to incorrect readings.

Warm floors are gaining growing popularity as additional or main heating for apartments and private houses. Even if the owner does not have the opportunity to provide his entire home with this useful system, it is possible to heat only a small area, for example, in the bathroom. In this case, the costs will not be so high, and comfort during water procedures will increase noticeably. It is much more pleasant to stand barefoot on warm tiles than on cold tiles.

In addition, the bathroom, which is usually not included in the home heating system, will receive an additional source of air heating. Self-installation is a great way to cut costs, but it is important to do all the work correctly. The thermostat for heated floors requires special attention. It is not difficult to install it yourself, but you will need to carefully study the instructions.

How does a thermostat work?

The thermostat, as the name suggests, regulates the heating temperature of the heated floor. This is an electrical device that needs to be connected, firstly, to the heating system and a temperature sensor, secondly, to the power supply. If the thermostat is connected correctly, it operates as follows:

  • receives data from the temperature sensor about the current heating temperature;
  • compares them with the specified value specified in the settings;
  • turns off heating when the set temperature value is exceeded;
  • turns on heating if the floor temperature is lower than specified in the settings.

The cycle is constantly repeated, which ensures uniform heating of the floor and room, as well as optimal consumption of thermal energy.

For residential premises, the floor heating temperature is usually set at about 26 degrees, and in kindergartens and other similar institutions 24 degrees is sufficient. The heating temperature readings are also affected by the type of floor covering.

Electrical systems laid under laminate usually operate at 27 degrees, but heated floors placed under parquet can heat up to 30 degrees. Excessive heating of the elements can lead to deformation of the floor covering and system failure.

What types of thermostats are there?

There are several types of modern thermostats designed specifically to work with electric floor heating systems. It is worth noting that underfloor heating is not always installed with water systems.

Sometimes owners prefer to adjust the heating manually. But for mats, cables or other electrical systems, a thermostat is required, since it is an effective way to save energy, as well as an opportunity to significantly increase the safety of using a heated floor. A water-heated floor rarely overheats, but electrical systems require a high degree of control.

There are both extremely simple models of thermostats and devices equipped with one or more additional functions. Among them it should be noted:

  • The presence of a programmable timer that allows you to set different temperature conditions for different times of the day. As a result, the intensity of thermal energy consumption can be reduced for specific periods of time and full operation of the system can be restored the rest of the time.
  • Built-in energy saving mode, which provides a significant reduction in heating temperature during periods of absence of residents in the house, which makes it possible to significantly reduce electricity bills.
  • The presence of a limit sensor that allows you to pre-set heating temperature limit values ​​for specific air temperatures in the room, which prevents accidental overheating of system elements, as well as the floor surface.
  • An intelligent programming function that allows you to almost arbitrarily, depending on the situation in a particular home, set the duration and mode of changing periods of saving and intensive heating.

It should be borne in mind that to install a heated floor in a small bathroom there is no need to purchase an expensive programmable model. In small areas, the simplest models successfully cope with the task of regulating the operation of a heated floor: electronic or even mechanical.

But on a large footage, i.e. in a spacious bathroom, it may make sense to install a more “advanced” thermostat to reduce electricity costs.

When choosing a thermostat, you should focus on the power and size of the heating system to which it will be connected. The power of a household thermostat for heated floors, as a rule, does not exceed three kilowatts. Although thermostats can vary significantly in type and feature set, the way they are connected usually does not differ significantly. Typically, thermal sensors are used with underfloor heating systems, which are located under the floor covering.

The thermostat can also be adjusted to read the air temperature in the room, but for this you need to carefully choose the location of the sensors, since their data can be distorted by a variety of factors: drafts, furniture position, household electrical appliances, etc.

Installation and connection procedure

For an experienced electrician, installing any thermostat is not particularly difficult. Regardless of the model, the manufacturer usually provides the device with detailed instructions. In addition, the connection diagram is usually located directly on the panel of the device.

But for a home craftsman who has difficulty understanding the specifics of an electrician’s work, the task may prove difficult to complete. Knowing the details and important nuances when installing a thermostat will help you avoid mistakes and the need to redo the entire job.

Preparing the device and installation site

The first thing you need to do before installing a thermostat is to study the instructions and recommendations provided by the manufacturer. It will usually tell you how to remove the front panel to make the connection. Remove the control panel carefully so as not to damage the device.

Then you need to prepare a place to install the thermostat. It is usually chosen when designing a heated floor system. It is recommended to place the device at a height of approximately 0.6-1.0 m from the floor. It is advisable to have electrical outlets nearby, which will make connecting the power supply much easier.

In a suitable place, you should make a niche in the wall, the dimensions of which allow you to install a mounting box for the thermostat into it. An alternative option is to mount the mounting box directly on the wall, but this solution does not look very good in the interior.

Connecting power supply and temperature sensor

First, power wires must be connected to the device. It is necessary to determine the wire with the phase. It is usually dark: black or brown. You can check the presence of voltage using a tester. The working wire with zero voltage is usually blue. The difference between zero and phase should be 220 V.

Color coding of cables greatly simplifies the process of installing the thermostat. Here is some useful information about this labeling:

  • the phase wire is usually white, black or brown and is marked with the letter L;
  • the neutral wire is designated by the letter N, most often it is a blue wire;
  • The ground wire is usually yellow or green (optionally yellow-green).

The process of connecting the thermostat to the electrical network and heating cable can be viewed more clearly using the diagram:

First you need to connect the power cable to the appropriate sockets. A phase wire, designated as L, is connected to contact 1. Wire N is connected to socket 2, i.e. zero. Then connect the contacts of the heating cable to sockets 3 and 4. The neutral wire (N) is connected to socket 3, and the phase wire (L) is connected to socket 4.

After this, connect the temperature sensor to the thermostat through sockets 6 and 7. At this stage, there is no need to observe any polarity.

After this, connect the temperature sensor. The sensor itself must be housed in a length of corrugated pipe and laid out in such a way as to transmit adequate temperature data. The temperature sensor wires are brought to the thermostat housing and connected to it.

Features of connecting a heating cable

The heating cable for underfloor heating can be two-core or single-core. In the first case, under the insulation there are two wires through which current flows, as well as another wire intended for grounding the device. The diagram below shows how to connect such a heating cable.

Brown and blue wires are conductive. The brown wire has voltage (phase), the blue wire has zero. Green marked ground wire. The brown, blue and green wires are connected to sockets 3, 4, and 5 respectively.

When installing a thermostat of this type, you will need a special terminal for the ground wire. It is not always included in the delivery package, so you should check the availability of the terminal in advance or purchase required part before installing the device.

It is believed that connecting a two-core heating cable to a thermostat is easier than a single-core one, since the latter must be connected to the device on both sides.

Under the sheath of a single-core cable there are two wires. According to one of them comes electricity, the second is necessary for grounding the device. Usually the current-carrying wire is made white, and the ground wire has green color. In the diagram you can see how to connect such a cable to the thermostat. A live wire is connected to sockets 3 and 4, and grounding is connected to socket 5.

The connection diagrams described above allow you to get a general idea of ​​how to connect the thermostat to the heated floor, temperature sensor and electrical network. However, when executing installation work in each specific case, you should pay attention to the design of the selected device and its features heating element warm floor.

In addition, it is necessary not only to follow the instructions of the device manufacturer, but also to adhere to safety regulations when carrying out electrical installation work.

Installing the device into the box

After this, the thermostat is installed in the installation box. You should act carefully so as not to damage individual elements of the device. The thermostat should fit into the box freely; it is not recommended to use force to install it.

Checking and setting

After this, all that remains is to check the correct position of the device using a level so that it stands level. If all operations are performed correctly, you can hang and secure the front panel with the control unit with screws.

After the thermostat is closed with the lid, you should turn on the machine and apply power to the device. Then check the power indicator on the control panel. If the thermostat is equipped with an LCD screen, the corresponding values ​​will appear on it.

In simple models, the presence of power supply can be indicated by a conventional diode indicator.

Another way to check the serviceability of a programmable thermostat and that it is connected correctly is to set the device to the minimum possible heating temperature, and then turn it on. Then you should set the maximum possible temperature and check that the heating circuit is closed, which will be indicated by a characteristic click.

The device must then be adjusted to the appropriate temperature data. If by this time the work on laying the heated floor is completely completed, and the concrete screed has already dried (in the case where its installation is provided for by the technology), you can test the operation of the heated floor and make sure that the thermostat is working correctly.

  • set the time to turn the device on and off;
  • set suitable temperature data;
  • run the heated floor and monitor its operation throughout the day.

Modern thermostats, equipped with a large number of electronic components, must be installed very carefully and carefully. Such devices are very sensitive to voltage surges, and if the wires are connected incorrectly, the device can simply burn out. Therefore, if in any doubt, a novice electrician should consult a more experienced specialist.

Thermostat for heated floors: types, do-it-yourself installation


Recommendations for the correct installation of a heated floor thermostat and its connection to the system, temperature sensor and power supply. Diagrams, photos and detailed video.

Thermostat for heated floors

  1. How to choose a thermostat for a heated floor
  2. Mechanical thermostat
  3. Electronic thermostat
  4. Programmable thermostat
  5. Thermostat for electric heated floors
  6. Installation of a thermostat
  7. Setting up the thermostat

To control modern heating systems that can maintain a constant comfortable temperature, a thermostat for heated floors is used. Together with an external temperature sensor, it monitors and regulates not only the heating of the floors themselves, but also the air in a given space. Thermostats can be installed in each room where there are heated floors and regulate the degree of heating in each of them. Some models are equipped with touch controls, additional temperature sensors, and can be programmed for different temperature values ​​at certain times of the day or days of the week.

How to choose a thermostat for a heated floor

Normal operation of a heated floor is impossible without a thermostat, which allows you to save a significant amount of energy and Money. When performing the assigned tasks, this device only turns the heating on and off at a set period of time or in accordance with the readings of the thermometer. When choosing a thermostat, it is necessary to take into account its power, which must correspond to the power of the heated floor.

The creation of the most comfortable conditions in the room, as well as the safety of the floor covering, largely depends on the operation of the thermostat. If the temperature is too high, the floor covering may become deformed, crack and lose its quality. Therefore, which thermostat is best to choose for a heated floor is an important issue when installing heating systems.

Among the huge number of models and designs of thermostats, experts distinguish several main groups:

  • Devices that provide an economical mode of operation, allowing to reduce energy consumption in the absence of owners. At this time, the heating power decreases by several degrees.
  • Models with a programmable timer that allows you to set any time intervals during which the room will be heated with given intensity. All commands from the timer are transmitted to the thermostat, which, in turn, maintains the required temperature level.
  • There are highly intelligent designs where entire operating modes can be programmed and set, in which periods of heating and saving alternate. The command from the device goes directly to the heating element at a set time, depending on external factors and specified settings.
  • Thermostats using a built-in limiter, which is a special sensor that protects the floor covering and the heating element itself from overheating. Such devices are most effective for laminate, which should not heat above 260C. Otherwise, the release of harmful toxic substances will begin.

The choice of thermostat for a particular room depends on its area. For a small room, a regular device without programming or installation will be sufficient. The use of more complex programmable devices is best suited for larger spaces. Most often in such cases, electronic thermostats with temperature sensors installed inside the floor are used.

Mechanical thermostat for heated floors

The simplest devices include room mechanical thermostats equipped with a manual control panel. This panel in most models is made in the form of a rotary regulator, around which there is a temperature scale. The device is turned on and off using a special key.

When deciding which thermostat to choose for a heated floor, it is necessary to take into account the lack of mechanical devices any electronics. These devices do not require electrical energy to operate, although many models have indicator lights on the panels that indicate the status of the heating process. Some designs are equipped with a mechanical timer that sets the operating time of heated floors at a certain time.

The air temperature in the room is measured by a special built-in temperature sensor for a heated floor thermostat, the operation of which is based on the properties of gases or bimetallic elements. Under the influence of the environment, they are able to change volume or shape. That is, upon reaching desired temperature, the electrical circuit begins to close or open. In this case, the temperature of the heating elements themselves is not controlled.

Thus, the mechanical control device is able to maintain the desired temperature until it is turned off. If necessary, just turn on the thermostat again and wait for the heated floor elements to heat up.

Electronic thermostat for heated floors

The most widely used are non-programmable electronic thermostats, which allow you to control the temperature level with an accuracy of 0.5 degrees.

The liquid crystal display of the device displays the current and set floor temperature, as well as the room temperature. In addition, a special symbol appears on the screen when the heating system is on. Displayed periodically different kinds technical messages, symbols indicating malfunctions in the underfloor heating system. This function allows you to perform diagnostics in electronic thermostats. Direct control of the device is carried out by three small keys located on the external panel.

Power is supplied to the heating elements in the same way as with mechanical thermostats. It should be borne in mind that an electronic device can constantly change on and off cycles, which allows saving about 30%. Its work will continue until the warm floors are forcibly turned off by the owners.

Programmable thermostat for heated floors

When heating large areas Energy savings are of great importance, especially when using heated floors. This problem is easily solved with the help of a programmable thermostat, used not only with cable, but also with film systems.

The operation of programmable thermostats is carried out according to the same schemes as in conventional electronic devices. The fundamental difference is the ability to configure operating modes in accordance with the calendar. In this case, all necessary time intervals and temperature values ​​are set for each day of the week, which leads to a reduction in electricity consumption by up to 70%.

To do this, periods are assigned when the heated floors must operate at full capacity or, conversely, be turned off for a certain time. All adjustment processes occur automatically, after all the necessary settings. For example, days from Monday to Friday and Saturday and Sunday are configured separately. The cycle will be repeated continuously until the settings are changed.

Thermostat for electric heated floors

Thermostats or thermostats are equipped with a temperature sensor, which allows you to maintain a set temperature by periodically turning the circuit on and off. The thermostat for infrared heated floors operating from the electrical network works in exactly the same way.

In most cases, heated floors are initially equipped with thermostats. If such devices are not included in the kit, they can be selected individually, since they are all standardized and suitable for all electrical underfloor heating systems.

Standard room devices have a power of 3-3.5 kW and are designed for a current of 16 amperes. If the power of the floors is higher than the power of the thermostat, the connection should only be made using a contactor. Each device is equipped with two temperature sensors - internal and external. The first measures the temperature of the floors, and the second measures the air temperature in the room.

In order to choose the best thermostat for a heated floor, you must be guided by certain criteria. First of all, the maximum power of the floor should be taken into account. Otherwise, the lack of power will cause the heating temperature of the cable to drop. If necessary, the devices are connected to a single network and freely provide a total power of over 3 kilowatts. They are installed separately at different ends of the room.

Another factor is the type of installation, that is, the regulators can be surface-mounted or built into the wall. Installation features of each device are reflected in the instruction manual. When choosing, you should also take into account the type of control. For example, devices that are simultaneously equipped with built-in and remote sensors are considered the most accurate. Great importance given functionality and ease of use.

How to install a thermostat for a heated floor

Before installing the device, be sure to read the attached operating instructions. It indicates the procedure for removing the front panel, that is, the control panel. This procedure must be carried out correctly, otherwise the device will become unusable. For built-in models, a recess is prepared into which the mounting box is inserted. It is recommended to place the thermostat close to outlets at a height of 0.6-1.0 m from the floor. Before starting work, the home network must be de-energized.

Installation of a heated floor thermostat begins with connecting the power wires to the installation box. Next, a temperature sensor is connected between the thermostat and the heating element, which is placed in a corrugated pipe.

The connection of wires to the thermostat must be carried out according to established scheme connections. The phase and neutral wires are connected to the corresponding terminals, and the wires from the sensor are connected to separate sockets labeled sensor. The device itself fits neatly into the mounting box. If there is interference in the form of wires or corrugated tubes, they must be eliminated. The thermostat is located exactly level. After this, the control panel is installed in its place and secured with screws.

Setting the floor heating thermostat

Various models of thermostats can operate in manual and automatic mode. This factor must be taken into account when choosing a thermostat for a heated floor. All necessary adjustments depend on this. The hours and days of the week are set, and in-depth setup and calibration is also performed. If necessary, one of the temperature sensors can be disabled.

All adjustment steps are described in detail in the instruction manual. Separately, there is a lock against children, who may accidentally change the settings out of curiosity. To do this, press the “up” and “down” keys simultaneously. You need to unlock the thermostat using the same keys.

Which thermostat for heated floors is better to choose?


Types of thermostats for heated floors. The best thermostat for heated floors. Installation, installation and adjustment of a thermostat - thermostat.

How to install a heated floor temperature sensor?

Design and purpose of a temperature sensor

So, the temperature sensor for a heated floor system is a thermistor protected by a glass bulb, and also has a copper conductor about 3 meters long for connection to the thermostat. In addition to the glass bulb for tile floors, the temperature sensor itself is also protected by a gel shell. The conductor is insulated with high-quality PVC (polyvinyl chloride) to protect it from external influences and damage. The length of the conductor can be increased, and naturally, reduced, up to 50 meters, the main thing is that there is an undamaged sensor at the end of the conductor.

To easily replace it in the future, it is recommended to place this structure in a metal-plastic tube, even if the manufacturer included a plastic corrugation with a diameter of 16 mm. The metal-plastic pipe has a smoother inner surface, so it is much easier to remove and install, as well as connect a new temperature sensor in case of failure. These types of temperature sensors are installed in hard floor coverings (under tiles or porcelain stoneware).

The principle of operation of the temperature sensor is very simple; when the temperature changes, its resistance changes, thereby giving a signal to the thermostat to turn on or off the heated floor system from 220 V, the most common network in everyday life.

Installation sequence

Let's move on directly to the installation of the heated floor and temperature sensor. First you need to determine the location of the thermostat, which will be located outside. It is most often located at a height of about 1 meter from the floor. Its mounting is similar to a regular socket.

Then you need to make grooves or grooves for laying two plastic pipes. One for the power wire leading to the heating element, the other for the electrical wiring of the sensor. The tube for the temperature sensor will be located on the floor. Such a gasket will make it possible to carry out repair work without removing the tiles, at least to replace control elements. It is not possible to completely replace the heating element if it is installed in a screed. It is important that when laying a pipe or cable corrugation there are as few bends and turns as possible. This will simplify the replacement of a failed temperature sensor in the future.

The next step is thermal insulation, it is performed individually for different types of heating elements, for example, for a heating cable it serves damper tape or other insulation, the thickness of which is at least 1.5–2 cm. After this, the heating element is installed and fastened with the wires connected to the thermostat box.

Installing and connecting a heated floor temperature sensor has its own subtleties. In order to prevent solution from getting inside the tube where the sensor is located, its end on the floor is securely sealed with electrical tape or tape. It is not recommended to connect the entire system through an outlet; it is better to supply power from a circuit breaker and through a contactor (starter).

The temperature sensor should be installed at a distance of 0.5 to 1 meter from the wall on which the thermostat is installed, and also exactly in the middle between two adjacent turns of the heating cable. After installation, it is recommended to fix the temperature sensor mounting tape or foil tape.

If a film heated floor is being laid, the temperature sensor must be installed under the heater sheet, as shown in the photo below. Please note that thermal insulation must be laid under the temperature sensor, otherwise the heating system will not be effective.

Important point! The location of the temperature sensor should be selected so that it is away from other heating sources. Otherwise, errors will occur and the warm floor will not work as it should.

The connection diagram for the heated floor temperature sensor is as follows:

Before making a screed, you need to check the functionality of the heated floor and the temperature sensor itself. As a rule, the resistance of both elements is measured. The system is considered operational if the resistance differs by no more than 10% from the passport data.

In order for the assembled circuit to be as safe as possible, it is recommended that in rooms where electric floor heating is carried out, protective shutdown devices are installed, which, in the event of a breakdown, will disconnect the circuit from the voltage, thereby protecting a person from falling under electrical potential. In wet areas it can be deadly.

Selecting a thermostat

I would also like to touch upon the thermostat itself, which plays a very important key role in this heating system. There are the following types of temperature controllers for heated floors:

  • Electromechanical. The clarity of such adjustment is approximate, so achieving a specific set temperature is quite problematic. The main advantage of such a device is its low price.
  • Electronic. The set value is set using touch buttons and has fairly clear settings and the ability to set the temperature limit down to one degree.
  • Programmable electronic. By installing such an element, you can not only regulate the temperature in the room, but also turn on the heating according to a schedule, or only when there is a person in the room.

By the way, some thermostats already have a built-in sensor, which makes it possible to control not only the temperature of the floor, but also the air in the room as a whole.

As a result, I would like to remind you about the rules for working with electrical equipment; all connection work is carried out with the power turned off. At the same time, it is necessary to ensure that no one, except the person performing this work, accidentally supplies voltage dangerous to human health and life. This is where our technology for installing a heated floor temperature sensor with your own hands ends. We hope the information provided was useful to you!

Installing a heated floor temperature sensor


How to install a heated floor temperature sensor. Diagram for connecting the temperature sensor to the network. Installation errors, which are demonstrated in the video example.

1.
2.
3.
4.

For normal operation Underfloor heating systems require a thermostat and sensor. These devices allow you to maintain a comfortable temperature while reducing. You can see what a temperature sensor for a heated floor looks like in the photo.

Features of the thermostat and sensor

A temperature sensor for a heated floor is a device that determines the temperature of the floor or air and transmits information to the thermostat, which is a three-meter long copper conductor connected to a thermal resistance. To protect it from external influences, the sensor is protected by a glass bulb, and the wire is covered with PVC insulation. The length of the device can be reduced or increased up to 50 meters.

As the temperature rises, the resistance of the sensor decreases. Information about this is sent to the thermostat. Depending on the current and set temperature, the heating system turns on and off. Usually, the heated floor begins to heat up again when the temperature becomes 0.5 degrees below the set one (read also: " "). For example, if the temperature on the thermostat is set to 28 degrees, then when this indicator is reached, the system turns off. When the temperature drops to 27.5 degrees, the heating turns on again. In this way a comfortable environment is maintained. The cycle of switching on and off depends on the air temperature in the room, the thickness of the floor screed, and the quality of insulation.

Most often, if a sensor for a heated floor thermostat breaks, it is not repaired, but a new one is purchased. If one of the components is incorrectly replaced, it often happens that the interval between turning on and off the heating system increases to 5 degrees.

Thermostat selection and functions

The thermostat performs the following functions:
  • turning heating on and off;
  • maintaining the specified temperature;
  • power supply control;
  • saving electricity by optimizing system operation.
The energy consumption of a heated floor system is usually equal to half its capacity. If a programmable thermostat is selected and it allows you to set additional settings, then energy consumption will be even less.
Installing a heated floor sensor and thermostat is not necessary, but without these devices it will be impossible to control the degree of heating. In addition, a system without a sensor and thermostat is not covered by the manufacturer's warranty. Some types of flooring, for example, linoleum, carpet, laminate, should not be heated to temperatures above 30 degrees, otherwise they will quickly deteriorate and begin to release toxic substances into the air.

When choosing a thermostat, you need to pay attention not only to its appearance, but also for other characteristics:
  • device power - it must correspond to the load of the heated floor; if the system is more powerful, then a magnetic starter is installed between it;
  • type of sensor (it can measure air or floor temperature, some devices detect both);
  • possibility of programming - such models are more expensive, but allow you to use additional settings and save on electricity;
  • installation method.
Before moving on to how to install a heated floor sensor, you should choose a location for its location. You cannot bury it in a screed - this will complicate the replacement of the device if it breaks.

Installing a thermostat for a heated floor, watch the video:

Installation of thermostat and sensor

Installation of a warm floor sensor begins by making a hole in the wall and floor - it will be routed to the junction box. This is convenient to do with a special hammer drill chisel.

The wire must be protected with a corrugation - usually it is included with the device. It is recommended to smooth the transition between the wire and the sensor using electrical tape wound in several layers - this will allow you to easily pull out the device if necessary. When installing corrugations, it is better to make turns and corners smooth. In order to make sure that the sensor can be easily removed, first install the corrugation, and only then the device.

It will be easier to insert the sensor into it if you use a trimmer line. It has good elasticity, but at the same time has a thickness of only 3 millimeters. The end of the wire is connected to the fishing line using electrical tape and inserted into the corrugation.

Before moving on to how to connect a heated floor sensor, you need to position the device correctly. The sensor must be placed parallel to the heating conductors, and in the middle between them. To prevent the screed solution from getting into the corrugation, it is closed with a plastic stopper.

Ending the connection

Then the heated floor sensor is connected to the thermostat. The circuit depends on the device model, but usually 2 wires from the sensor, phase, zero, ground and 2 wires for the circuit load are connected to the regulator. When performing this work, it is better to follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Installation is carried out only with the electricity turned off.

Warm floors are often installed in rooms where it is not possible to lay a carpet on the floor, and the cold surface causes inconvenience. To save on electricity and at the same time make the system operate as efficiently as possible, you need to install a thermostat and sensor.

Home heating installation warm floors, in our climate is becoming increasingly popular. This system must have a thermostat for a water heated floor, since such a heating system is very demanding on the degree of heating.

Regardless of whether heating using a water floor is the main or auxiliary method of maintaining acceptable temperature conditions in the room, it is subject to specific requirements.

The fact is that it must have a limited maximum temperature. In any room there is always dust and it is located, in accordance with the laws of physics, on the floor. It has been established that when the surface of a heated floor is heated, convection currents of heated air are formed.

If the heating exceeds 30 degrees Celsius, then air currents raise dust, and we have to breathe it. This circumstance does not have a favorable effect on the general condition of the human body, as a result of which thermostats began to be used to maintain the desired temperature.

To control the temperature regime, a thermostat for the water floor is connected, which belongs to the control devices.

Device and principle of operation

The comfort of staying indoors largely depends on the heating system used. The temperature of the water heated floor is controlled using special devices - thermostats.

Many designs of such systems are used, but in most cases they use only a few fundamentally different adjustment methods.

Watch video - setup process

But, before considering the operating principle and design of thermostats, you need to understand the object of regulation.

What is heating wiring

Heating of the room with a water floor can be carried out different ways. One of them is the use of heat from heated water, which acts as a coolant. The transmission is carried out through pipes. Previously, steel pipes were mainly used for heating; now they have been replaced by modern ones made of plastic materials.

The heating circuit can be located along the walls in the form of radiators, or it can be located under the surface of the floor, heating it and the air in the room.

Hot water or antifreeze is heated in the boiler, after which, using a circulation pump, it is supplied to the heating circuit of the water floor.

Passing through its pipes, the coolant transfers heat into the enclosed surrounding space, heating the surface. The cooled liquid is returned to the boiler system. Depending on the temperature of the “return” in the mixing unit, it is heated or cooled by mixing in colder water from the tank.

And this is where a thermostat is installed, reacting to the amount of heating of the return flow and giving a command to perform one or another action.

In circuits with heated floors, which are connected by a separate circuit, a thermostat is installed for each of them, since they all have their own thermal regime. And the radiator heating circuits heat up to a temperature almost twice as high as for a warm floor.

How does the principle of temperature control work?

The main elements of heating control are servos, temperature sensors and thermostats. This composition of the equipment allows the temperature of the water heated floor to be adjusted steplessly in continuous automatic mode. This happens as follows:

  1. If a signal about insufficient temperature is received from the temperature sensor, the servo drive opens the valve and more hot water enters the heating circuit.
  2. When the coolant overheats, the cooled water mixing valve opens, reducing the degree of heating in the circuit.
  3. However, manual adjustment is also possible by setting the tap to a certain position. But this method requires constant visual monitoring, since the factors on which the heating mode depends change repeatedly during the day. Despite the relative cheapness of such devices, they are very inconvenient to use, since each condition in the room requires intervention in the heating operation.

Adjustment options

Watch video - adjusting the power of the temperature sensor unit

Thermostats in the heating system can regulate the following parameters:

  1. The degree of heating of the floor covering. In this case, the heating sensor is installed in close proximity to it. This type of floor heating device is best suited for small rooms and low-power heating circuits, which are used only as auxiliary, in particular for heated floors.
  2. Room air temperature - with this control scheme, sensors are used that are mounted directly in the thermostat housing. Correct operation of such a device can only be achieved if all the requirements for insulation of the heated building are met. Otherwise efficient work heating is difficult to achieve - significant energy losses are inevitable. A properly built home with an extensive heating system and thermostat can provide up to 30% resource savings.
  3. Combined control systems, in which water heated floor temperature sensors are installed both in the heated room and on the mixing unit system. The parameters are adjusted to ensure the most comfortable temperature in the house. Such equipment with a thermostat is used in large rooms. Both sensors or one of them can be used for control.

Types of thermostats

Watch the video - review of sensors for water floors

To create these devices, various principles and Constructive decisions. Let's look at them.

Some manufacturers install an open-closed valve on the thermostat. The disadvantage of this device is the need for constant monitoring - it only works in manual adjustment mode.

Some manufacturers allow serious inaccuracies in the calibration of the temperature scale, so it is necessary to additionally check the device using an accurate calibrated thermometer.

  1. For a touch-sensitive floor heating remote temperature controller, control and adjustments are performed from the corresponding panel or remote control. These models provide more accurate and reliable heating control, but in some cases these indicators depend on the manufacturer. You should not consider the price of the device as the main selection parameter; in some cases this approach is not justified.


Such a device allows settings for a day, a week, as well as the ability to operate in automatic mode with support for an economical mode when people are away from the house. This allows you to save up to a third of your costs on energy resources.

Such devices allow you to automatically maintain the temperature in individual circuits of a complexly branched heating system with water heated floors. The disadvantages of the device include the high cost and complexity of adjustments. Before commissioning, you need to carefully study the instructions for connection, installation and settings; errors lead to failure of a complex, expensive system.

  1. Radio-controlled sensors can be considered exclusive due to their high cost. When using them, there are no low-voltage control circuits, since adjustments are made via a radio signal. Each device is equipped with a radio transmitter and a radio receiver for signals that control the operation of the servos. Such devices may be appropriate in luxury cottages to regulate the temperature of a warm water floor if the owners do not want to have bundles of control circuit wires.

How to regulate the temperature in the house - 3 ways and determining the optimal mode

The main task of maintaining temperature conditions is to create comfortable living conditions, subject to optimal use of resources. This can be achieved in several ways.

First one of them is to set the optimal degree of heating of the coolant in the underfloor heating circuits. The second is the complete cessation of its entry into it.

The easiest way is to use pipes with a maximum operating temperature of 90-95 degrees for the heating circuit. This allows you to install a circular pump with a thermostat in the system, as well as a reverse valve.

The installation location of the pump is the return pipe, and the temperature of the coolant in this place is no more than 70-80 degrees Celsius. If the heating of the coolant reaches critical values, the thermostat turns off the pump and the heating goes into standby mode.

As the floor cools, the circulation pump turns on again, supplying a new dose of hot water into the circuit pipeline. Practice shows that this method is the most effective and reliable for stable heating operation with heated floors.

Second way adjusting the degree of heating involves the inclusion of a three-way valve or mixing valve in the system. With this approach, chilled water from the return to the hot supply is mixed through a three-way valve. That is, the maximum temperature of hot water from the boiler is reduced by adding cooled water.

If a 3-way valve is used, adjustment can be made manually or via a servo drive. The mixing valve regulates the temperature of the coolant according to a pre-entered control value.

Third way adjusting the heating of the coolant in the home heating system
consists of using a mixing unit. Such a device can be made from the following components:

  • 3-way valve;
  • circulation pump;
  • bypass jumper;
  • thermometer;
  • thermostatic head;
  • maximum temperature control relay.

Considering the composition of the components used, the unit for adjusting the degree of heating in the heating system turns out to be quite expensive.

But the temperature change in it occurs very quickly, because it is produced by mixing water from the return pipe into the main coolant flow. In this case, the combustion intensity in the boiler automatically decreases.

In accordance with the established regulations, the fuel consumption mode is always optimal.
The number of nodes in the combined system can be any, and each will work autonomously in accordance with the established settings.

Thus, it is possible to maintain a higher air temperature, for example, in a children's room and at the same time a lower one in the bedroom of adult members of the family. Such a unit is especially effective for controlling the temperature in the installation of water floors.

To use this method of adjustment there is only one requirement - the entire heating circuit must be arranged in accordance with European requirements. The temperature of hot water from the boiler should not exceed 67 degrees.

And now we will consider the method of adjusting the thermal and hydraulic conditions using a thermostat. It is installed in a room, and adjustment is made by setting this device to the desired temperature for that particular point. Heating is controlled by a servo drive on a specific circuit.

Watch the video

Such a device works successfully in conjunction with a homemade manifold, a three-way valve and a mixing unit. Its popularity is due to the ease of adjusting the heating mode and the relative cheapness of the device.


Connection diagram for thermostat for water heated floors

In an apartment building in the city, installing heated floors is an almost impossible task. The fact is that the low-temperature heating circuit of the floor can only be included in the return pipe and often leads to a critical decrease in temperature in the general heating network.

This becomes the reason for refusal to approve changes in the design of heating systems. This issue is much easier to resolve for individual developers, who are complete owners of their own heating system.

Watch the video - functions and differences of thermostats for screed circuits

In them, the hot coolant from the boiler enters the collector and from there is distributed throughout the rooms by separate pipes. Having given off heat in the radiators, the coolant again enters the collector, completing the full cycle.

The control equipment in such devices is installed directly on the collector. It controls servos that receive a signal to operate from thermostats.

A temperature control method is also used using a signal from a sensor located directly in the room where the temperature is controlled.

This method is certainly more accurate, but it is associated with greater costs when installing low-voltage control systems. This will require a large amount of wall gating, because such wires will have to be pulled from each heated room.

And some of them have two, when a combined heating circuit with a radiator part and a heated floor system is installed in the room. When installing a thermostat on the manifold, this is no longer necessary, and the end result is the same.

The pipeline for a water heated floor is quite complex in design, and errors in design and installation are costly. Therefore, it is better to entrust such work to experienced specialists.


Before connecting the water heated floor thermostat, you need to decide on its location in the heating system.

How to choose thermostats for water heated floors

Modern heating devices are controlled using special thermostats. Being combined with a remote temperature meter, this device controls not only the temperature of the floor surface, but also the degree of heating of the air in the room itself.

After all, in the end, all efforts to create a reliable heating system are aimed at creating comfortable living conditions.

Normal use of a heated floor is almost impossible if control equipment is not used. The thermostat circuit for a water heated floor allows you to effectively maintain its temperature in the required range, allowing you to lead a healthy lifestyle.

There are many models of these devices on the market, which experts roughly divide into the following categories:

  1. Devices that help save energy resources by temporarily turning off the heating system and heated floors in the absence of the owners.
  2. Devices with programmable timers that allow you to configure the “smart mode” of the heating system depending on the state of the influencing factors. All adjustments from the timer are transferred to the thermostat, which sets the temperature.

The choice of thermostat directly depends on the size of the heated room. For a small room, an inexpensive mechanical device with simple and accessible adjustments is quite sufficient.

But most often used electronic thermostats with programming capabilities. In this case, the adjustment accuracy is 0.5 degrees.

The liquid crystal display of this device reflects the set surface temperature and its actual value at a given time. In addition, a special symbol is displayed while the heating system is operating. There is also a malfunction indicator in case of malfunction of the thermostat or the heated floor system as a whole.

The heating operation is controlled by pressing three keys located on the front panel of the display.

Watch video - water floor automation

Water heating continues to be the most popular method of heating homes, including private ones. Therefore, its management systems continue to develop and improve.

This allows you to significantly save energy resources for heating. Install and connect the thermostat sensor in a system with heated floors when the power supply is de-energized.

Posts
Share