Arzel Zoning
Which zoning system is best? Spoiler alert: we don’t really have an answer for that. The best zone control panel for your application depends on what you need. Here are 3 main questions to keep in mind:
In this blog, we’ll explore these questions and explain the key differences between the Pro Panel, MPS, and AirBoss zone control panels. We’ll help you decide which zoning system is best for your application.
The Pro Panel and AirBoss can both control any standard 24v-controlled HVAC equipment. (The MPS is limited to single-stage equipment.) The key difference between the Pro Panel and the AirBoss is how the panels respond to the calls they receive from the thermostat. If staging is important in your application, here’s how to figure out which zoning system is best.
The AirBoss controls the system’s staging based on what the thermostat calls for. The zone control panel follows the thermostat’s lead and outputs accordingly. For example, if your thermostat calls for second stage heat, the panel will output a second stage heat call to your HVAC equipment.
AirBoss’s operation is great for customers who want high-end thermostats to track fuel usage and energy efficiency. It also works well for those who want to know exactly how their equipment is operating day by day.
The Pro Panel takes this a step further and removes the staging from the thermostats, giving the panel complete control. Because of this, you can use 1H/1C thermostats for any application, even while the panel provides up to 4H/2C on the outputs. The panel just needs a heat, cool, or fan call from the thermostat. Then it uses a combination of run time and supply air temperature (SAT) readings to deliver the desired call in the most efficient way possible.
With the Pro Panel, you can adjust both the staging timers and the staging temperatures. The Pro Panel has a large range of temperature possibilities, which makes it work well with modern heat pumps. And with so many settings possible, the Pro Panel’s app-driven setup makes it quick and painless to set up a new install by configuring default settings for all of the adjustable parameters when you select your equipment type.
When you’re designing a zoning system, be sure not to micro-zone, or create zones that are too small. This can be detrimental to the HVAC equipment. However, we have a few features that can help you create smaller zones. Zone weighting locks in first-stage operation when a small zone is calling alone. With the Pro Panel, you can also designate a non-calling zone, which will only receive conditioning when another zone is also calling. For more design information take a look at the 5 Rules of Zoning System Design, and see our webinar on Proper Zoning System Design.
So which zoning system is best for your number of zones? Here are the details.
The Pro Panel comes in 2, 3, and 4 zone configurations, and that makes it perfectly suited for residential applications. Most single-family homes can be zoned with one Pro Panel. However, the Pro Panel also supports daisy-chaining, or connecting multiple panels together. You can create up to 16 zones by daisy chaining up to four Pro Panels. That makes the Pro Panel an excellent choice for light commercial applications that require more zones. An additional Pro Panel feature that makes it great for light commercial zoning is the ability to turn any zone into a slave zone, or a zone that doesn’t turn on the equipment. When you designate a zone as a slave zone, it will have its own thermostat but will not be able to turn on the equipment on its own. It will wait for another zone to call, and will open its dampers to take advantage of the heating or cooling it needs. This feature allows you to create a zone that is too small for traditional zoning, but since it always piggybacks off of another zone, you won’t have any static pressure issues.
The AirBoss can be optimized for cases where more zones are needed. AirBoss is available in 2, 3, 4, 6, or 8 zone configurations. For light commercial applications, the AirBoss is often the appropriate choice because you can create a system with more than 4 zones in one panel. AirBoss also features a master setback switch, which building occupants can use to set back the temperature in the entire building when it’s unoccupied. The AirBoss does not have as many capabilities for heat pump systems, so we usually recommend the Pro Panel for those systems.
The MPS panel is an economical choice for simple zoning applications. MPS can only control single-stage equipment, and it is available in 2 or 3 zone configurations. MPS can be a great option for new construction applications, or for any simple zoning system with a tight budget. It does not offer all of the features of the other panels, but it will provide a simple zoning system at a price point that makes zoning possible when there’s not much space in the budget.
Any of these panels can take advantage of our Smart Zone or slave zone feature as well. A Smart Zone adds another zone to the panel, but these zones cannot activate the HVAC equipment. They rely on any other zone to call before equipment operation is activated. They work in the same way as a non-calling zone on the Pro Panel, but they are not built in. We can factory-install a Smart Zone, or send a field kit for field installation.
The final thing to consider is what features you need. An application may have specific needs, and your customer may want certain features too. Here are some of the differences between Pro Panel, MPS, and AirBoss.
The Pro Panel is our most feature-rich panel, with the most streamlined setup. It’s designed to optimize any type of equipment for smarter HVAC control in addition to the better comfort you get with zoning.
As previously mentioned, the AirBoss relies on the thermostats and has less logic built into it than Pro Panel. Still, AirBoss does come with a few key features that you need to know.
The MPS offers simple zoning for an economical price. It lacks many of the features our other panels have, but it still comes with these benefits:
If you need help with application design or anything else, please contact us at techsupport@arzelzoning.com or at (800)611-8312.
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