Zone system not working with heat.

deliriousga · 12-29-2006, 04:52 PM

I have a 4 zone controller (RCS Model ZC4) with three zones currently set up. My HVAC system is a standard forced air Heating-A/C system (no heat pump). There are 3 RiteTemp 8050 thermostats connected to the controller and a single 12" damper on each zone. The system works perfectly with A/C, but it's giving me trouble with the heat.

I can connect everything and the system runs for a few days, but then it quits. None of the thermostats will start the heat until I remove the wiring and then reconnect everything. I can bypass the zone controller by connecting one of the thermostats to the HVAC wires and it works without zoning so I know it's not the HVAC system.

Has anyone experienced this and/or have any ideas of where to go next?

TIA!

acefurnacefixer · 12-29-2006, 04:57 PM

Your zone control is going into lock out mode...........as far as why, well thats anyones guess.

deliriousga · 12-29-2006, 05:13 PM

I've been reading about putting in a "dump zone" to keep from creating back pressure when only one zone is open. I don't have one so is that something that would cause a zone controller to go into lock out mode? I can add one pretty easily in a room we don't use if needed.

redline · 12-29-2006, 05:22 PM

How old is the system?

deliriousga · 12-29-2006, 05:26 PM

The house was built in '96. It's a Ruud system (2 ton I think). The same system is on the third floor with one thermostat and no problems. Since I'm finishing the basement, I added ducts and put the zone in to help even out the air flow.

trollmastergeneral · 12-29-2006, 07:04 PM

does your zone control panel have a light that blinks any codes or stays on. the zone controler is most likely locking out.next time it goes out try reseting the power to the damper system and see if that restarts it. remember to get the flashing codes first if your zone controler has a led.