Michigan Best Thermostat for Climatemaster Tranquility 2 stage with elect aux heat

We have a Climatemaster Tranquility 2 stage with elect aux heat, we have been using Climatemaster Thermostat ATP32U03 since the Geo was installed Oct 2013. I noticed that when we lose power the thermostat does not have a memory to turn the GEO back on. I talked with Climatemaster tech support and they told me they rely on Capacitor built in the thermostat for memory setting, with about 2 hours of memory. This has been OK in the past but, we are planning to be gone for 2 to 3 months at a time in the future , so this thermostat will not work for us now. Looking for what would be the best replacement and I do think I would like the system that can be monitor from a computer or cell. I say "think" because I don't want it if it is more trouble then its worth.

 

An ecoBee

 

I'm with Chris

 

Thank You Chris and Joe for taking the time to comment.

 

I have two ClimateMaster units: a 3 ton with an Auxiliary gas furnace for my first floor and a 4 ton split system with the 15kw electric auxiliary heat for my 2nd/3rd floor. I'm using two Ecobee3 thermostats and I really like them.

Two Questions:
1. I like it 66F at night (beginning at 11P) in the winter and 69F during the day/evening (beginning at 7A). Is there a strategy for scheduling my temperature changes (I can fully customize this: e.g., raise the temperature 1F every 30 minutes) that maintains the efficiency and cost effectiveness of Geothermal or am I stuck with at most a setback to 68F at night if I run the unit at 69F days/evenings?

2. Concerning my 1st floor unit with aux gas furnace: does anyone know the best thermostat settings for ClimateMaster? Here's my Ecobee options and current settings:
Compressor Min Cycle Off Time – 300 sec
This enforces a minimum time that the compressor must be off between cycles. This ensures the compressor does not short cycle (which could negatively affect the operating life of the system). This time is adjustable from 240–900 seconds.
Heat Differential Temp – 0.5F
The minimum difference between the current temperature and set temperature before the system calls for heat. A smaller difference means shorter cycle times, whereas a larger difference results in longer cycle times. The temperature range is adjustable from 0 to 3 °F (0 to 1.7 °C) in 0.5°F (0.3°C) increments.
Heat Min On Time - 5 min
Sets the minimum equipment run time in heat mode: 1 to 20 min (default is 5 min).
Cool Differential Temp – 0.5F
The minimum difference between the current temperature and set temperature before the system calls for cool. A smaller difference means shorter cycle times, whereas a larger difference results in longer cycle times. The temperature range is adjustable from 0 to 3 °F (0 to 1.7 °C) in 0.5°F (0.3°C) increments.
Cool Min On Time - 5 min
Sets the minimum equipment run time in cool mode: 1 to 20 min (default is 5 min).
Compressor Reverse Staging - Off
If enabled, the thermostat will cycle down from the higher stages so that as it approaches set point it will only be running in stage 1. The thermostat calculates which stage to start the HVAC equipment in depending on the indoor and set point temperature delta. . As the stage 1 temperature delta is exceeded, the second stage will engage. Once the equipment has brought the current temperature back to within the heat or cool differential setting, stage 2 will disengage and stage 1 will remain running until the set point is reached.
Compressor Stage 2 Temp Delta – 1F
The minimum difference between the current temperature and the set temperature that will activate the auxiliary heat (regardless if the maximum run time of the previous stage was reached). Options are Auto (default) and 1 to 10 °F (0.6 to 5.6 °C).
Compressor Stage 1 Max Runtime - 15 min
The maximum amount of time stage 1 will run before engaging the next stage. Options are Auto (default) and 10 to 120 minutes.
Compressor to Aux Temp Delta – 2F
The minimum difference between the current temperature and the set temperature that will activate this stage (regardless if the maximum run time of the previous stage was reached). Options are Auto (default), Disabled, and 1 to 10 °F (0.6 to 5.6 °C).
Compressor to Aux Runtime – 20 min
The maximum amount of time this stage will run before engaging the next stage. Options are Auto (default) and 1 to 10 °F (0.6 to 5.6 °C).
Aux Heat Reverse Staging - Off
If enabled, the thermostat will cycle down from the higher stages so that as it approaches set point it will only be running in stage 1. The thermostat calculates which stage to start the HVAC equipment in depending on the indoor and set point temperature delta. . As the stage 1 temperature delta is exceeded, the second stage will engage. Once the equipment has brought the current temperature back to within the heat or cool differential setting, stage 2 will disengage and stage 1 will remain running until the set point is reached.
Aux Heat Stage 2 Temp Delta – 3F
The minimum difference between the current temperature and the set temperature that will activate the auxiliary heat (regardless if the maximum run time of the previous stage was reached). Options are Auto (default) and 1 to 10 °F (0.6 to 5.6 °C).
Aux Heat Stage 1 Max Runtime - 15 min
The maximum amount of time stage 1 will run before engaging the next stage. Options are Auto (default) and 10 to 120 minutes.

Thanks!

 

Ballietf,

Are you just looking for a strategy to reduce the chance of your auxiliary coming on?

There is a setting in which you can just not have any auxiliary above a certain outdoor temp.

 

I'm new to Geothermal. Of course I want Geo to maintain my set point temp rather than auxiliary heat whenever possible, but I also want my home to be comfortable and not go from 69F (Set point) to 66F because Geo stage 1/stage 2 can't keep up. I don't mind aux coming on when appropriate.

I want to know the best settings for my Ecobee 3 thermostat: the settings, above, are my options and I stated the current settings, but I don't know if I have the correct settings.

Thanks for the help!

 

I set the Ecobees to activate stage 1 at .5F below set point, 2nd stage at 1 below set point and auxiliary at 2F below set point.

 

Thanks. I made the change.

Thank you. I made the change. Also, do you know if my ClimateMaster Tranquility 27 Digital TEV038 3 ton geothermal heat pump supports "Compressor Reverse Staging"?

Here's the definition for "Compressor Reverse Staging"

-- If enabled, the thermostat will cycle down from the higher stages so that as it approaches set point it will only be running in stage 1. The thermostat calculates which stage to start the HVAC equipment in depending on the indoor and set point temperature delta. . As the stage 1 temperature delta is exceeded, the second stage will engage. Once the equipment has brought the current temperature back to within the heat or cool differential setting, stage 2 will disengage and stage 1 will remain running until the set point is reached.

 

This compressor is made to shift on the fly. It doesn't "support" reverse staging, it does whatever the thermostat demands of it. It is quite comfortable staging up and down. It's your thermostat that is "supporting" the staging.

 

Thank you, Joe! I made the change.