Thomas Jackson, CEO of Jackson Systems LLC, takes the time to explain zoning products at his booth during the AHR Expo. His company’s latest product is the Comfort System™ Z-1600.
CHICAGO - Zoning product manufacturers showed off their new wares at the 2006 International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo).

Airzone USA Corp. (www.airzone.es), a subsidiary of the Spanish company Airzone S.L., unveiled a new zoning system to the American market. "InnoBus combines zoning, integration, and communication," stated Javier Herranz, area manager USA.

The control system includes dampers/grilles and thermostats that are connected to the main/universal board via a communication bus. Designed for residential heating and cooling applications, the system also can be used for office buildings and other light commercial applications.

EWC Controls Inc. (www.ewccontrols.com) featured two new products this year at the AHR Expo. The UZC4 zoning system is equipped for four-stage heat and two-stage cool, complete with automatic changeover and LED display for total system readout. The unit controls up to 20 zones.

The company also showed its MA-ND4. This clear actuator allows visual detection of damper lights from any angle. Red and green LEDs are used for directional diagnostics. The actuator has Halomo brushless ECM motor technology.

Jackson Systems LLC (www.jacksonsystems.com) introduced its Web-based communicating thermostats for the Comfort Systemâ„¢ Z-1600 commercial variable air volume and zone control system, which is fully modulating and can have up to 16 zones.

The thermostats also work with other zoning systems and traditional HVAC equipment. No programming or special software is required; the thermostats can be controlled from any computer via a standard Web browser.

Zone-A-Trol (www.trolexcorp.com) introduced a zoning system with a unique wiring system. The new zone control panels have color-coded wiring terminals.

Each thermostat connection has a yellow-green-white-red-blue push-in terminal for simple, fast thermostat wiring. Technicians no longer have to search for the proper Y-G-W-R-C terminal connections while separating each of the thermostat wires. Simply match the wire color to the color-coded terminals.

In addition, the company's zone dampers now feature low-voltage DC motors with modular connections that use 25 feet of telephone cord. These new damper motors have a built-in two-color LED to indicate the damper position, either open or closed. Up to 10 dampers can be controlled on each zone without any additional power requirements.

Publication date: 02/13/2006