APNT-57 - Using the Secure SCS317 Programable Thermostat with VERA

This guide shows how to use the Secure SCS317 Programmable Wall Thermostat and Boiler receiver with VERA.

The Secure Programmable Wall Thermostat (SCS317) and the Secure Boiler Receiver (SSR303) work as a pair of
Z-Wave devices to control a boiler or other heating equipment. The SCS317 Thermostat can also be used with any
Z-Wave relay such as the Fibaro single (FGS-211) and dual (FGS-221) relays.Secure SCS317 Programmable Thermostat (C-Stat 17)

Note: The Secure SCS317 is also know as the Horstmann C-Stat 17.

The SCS317 is a programmable thermostat. It operates as a normal thermostat - sending an On/Off Z-Wave command to the receiver when the room temperature is above/below its Setpoint temperature.

It also includes a 7-day program controller that controls the heating based on setpoint and time of day. It can have six different time/setpoint schedules each 24-hour period, and each day is individually programmable, so you can have different settings for each day of the week.

Adding the thermostat and receiver to VERA is straightforward so long as you follow the instructions and wait for the thermostat to wakeup so that configuration settings are saved correctly.

Add the SCS317 Programmable Thermostat to VERA

  • Make sure the Thermostat is within 1m of VERA and put VERA into Inclusion mode
  • Put the Thermostat into 'Learning' mode:
    • In the SCS317's menu this is 'Setup > Set up Z-Wave > Learn'
    • Press the Thermostat's 'ENTER' button twice
    • Scroll through the menu by pressing the '+' arrow button until 'Setup' appears in the display
    • Press 'ENTER'
    • Scroll to 'Set Up Z-Wave' and press 'ENTER'
    • Scroll to 'Learn' and 'ENTER'
  • Allow VERA to save the device, follow any instructions on screen and name the Thermostat if you wish
  • In VERA's DEVICES tab you will see the Thermostat as a new device
  • The Thermostat may have a message "Waiting for wakeup to configure device"
  • Wake-up the Thermostat - 'Setup > Set up Z-Wave > Send NIF'
  • If it still shows the 'Waiting for wakeup to configure device' message, go to the device's 'Settings' tab and click 'Configure node right now' and then wake up device again
  • For further information on adding devices to VERA, take a look at APNT-48: Adding Devices to VERA
  • VERA uses a generic thermostat icon for the Secure SCS317 - this displays the room temperature (blue) and the setpoint temperature (red). It also shows a variety of other buttons - these do not work as the Secure Thermostat is just a thermostat without any switching elements

SCS317 icon in VERA

Configuration

The SCS317 requires very little configuration. However, it is easier to test the thermostat's operation if you reduce the Wakeup and Poll intervals (these can be changed back to their defaults when you are satisfied it is working correctly).

  • Click the Thermostat's 'Wrench' Icon and go to the Settings tab
  • Wakeup Interval: 600
  • Poll: 300
  • Close the Window and click the red 'SAVE' button
  • When VERA has finished saving it's settings you will need to wake the Thermostat (as above)

Receiver (SSR303 / ASR-ZW)

  • Install the Secure Receiver into the electrical system following the wiring instructions in the products user manual
  • Switch the power on
  • Put VERA into 'Inclusion' mode
  • Press the Receiver's 'Network' button marked '>||<' the network LED will flash green and then the Off LED will become red
  • The Z-Wave controller should now confirm that the Receiver has been added to the network, wait while the controller saves details
  • VERA uses a generic thermostat icon for the Secure Receiver - the 'Off' and 'Heat' buttons work, but the temperature label has no function

VERA SSR303 Receiver

Association

To get the most out of the Thermostat and enable easy use within scenes and rules it is best to directly associate the Thermostat with the Receiver. This means that the thermostat can directly control the receiver without having to communicate via the Z-Wave controller. It also means that the Thermostats's TPI control software is used to efficiently control your heating, help to save money and reduce wasted energy (see TPI Configuration below).

To associate the Thermostat with the receiver:

  • On the Thermostat's icon click the 'wrench' and go to the DEVICE OPTIONS tab
  • In 'Associations' enter '2' in 'Group ID' - the thermostat sends it's control commands to Z-Wave Group 2
  • Click 'Add Group'
  • Click 'Set'
  • Choose the Receiver from the list of devices - Device ID 179 in this example
  • Click 'Back to ZWave options' (you will need to scroll down)
  • Close the DEVICE OPTIONS tab and click 'SAVE' in the main VERA Window
  • Wake up the Thermostat so that it accepts the changes
  • If it still shows the 'Waiting for wakeup to configure device' message, go to the device's 'Settings' tab and click 'Configure node right now' and then wake up device again
  • Wait for VERA to complete the configuration

SCS317 Association in VERA

Operation in VERA

As the SCS317 is a programmable thermostat, it will control the heating automatically. It will adjust the setpoint and control the boiler based on the schedules you have programmed via it's menu system.

These programmed schedules are not accessible by VERA, however, it does report it's room temperature and setpoint to VERA and VERA can change the Thermostat's setpoint.

  • Temperature: reports the room temperature to VERA on each wakeup, this is displayed in the Thermostat's icon
  • Setpoint: reports the room temperature to VERA on each wakeup, this is displayed in the Thermostat's icon
  • Setpoint Control: VERA can change the Thermostat's Setpoint
    • Set manually on the Thermostat's Icon or from a Scene.
    • New setpoint will be transferred to the Thermostat on next wakeup
    • Thermostat will over-ride this setpoint on the Thermostat's next programmed setpoint/schedule
    • You can create a VERA 'Boost' scene that changes the setpoint to a higher setting for period of time

TPI Control Software

The Secure SES317 Programmable Thermostat includes TPI (Time Proportional Integral) software algorithms that enable the thermostat to control the heating much more efficiently than a simple On/Off thermostat. The TPI algorithms reduce over temperature over swing and reduce the times the heating is turned On and Off, helping to reduce heating costs and wasted energy.

This is one of the reasons we recommend operating the Secure thermostat in a direct association mode so that it can directly control the boiler or heating source.

To ensure you use the correct TPI algorithm you need to set the DIL switches to fit your type of heating system - gas boiler, oil boiler or electric heating.

Fail Safe Mode

The Secure Receiver includes a Fail Safe mode that prevents the receiver staying ON if it loses contact with the Secure Thermostat. The receiver can only enter Fail Safe mode when the receiver is On - it does not get activated when it is OFF.

In normal operation the Secure Thermostat sends a signal to the receiver every 45-50 minutes. If the receiver does not receive this signal, it will go into Fail Safe mode after 60 minutes.

If you are using the receiver without a thermostat, such as for hot water control, then you need to be aware of this Fail Safe mode.

For instance, if you turn the receiver On via a Scene, the receiver will enter Fail Safe mode after 60 minutes.

Therefore, for these types of scenes, you should have the scene set the receiver to 'On' every 30-45 minutes during its 'On' schedule period.

One way to do this is to use "Delays" in the scene - configure delays to repeatedly send 'on' throughout the duration of the scene's schedule.

Related Information

 
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