SmartZone-2: Single-Stage, 2-Zone Controller KIT w/ Temperature Sensor - Replace Honewell, ewc, zonefirst HVAC Zone Control Panels

I began research last week to replace my circa 1987/88 Mastertrol HVAC Control Board. I found EcoJay on line and then saw the great reviews. I was up early before work one day at 6:30AM and emailed the company a few questions. Imagine my shock when Jeff emailed me back within 5 minutes and said would it be OK for a call. At 6:45AM, I was shocked but impressed. Jeff could not have been more accommodating, friendly and full of technical information. After we Hung up I immediately ordered and it arrived yesterday and was installed and fully functional within 1 hour. Directions are super easy and clear and the board works fantastic even with my 3 wire T-Stats, although I think I will run new 5 wire as the Common or "C" wire seems important for the board to operate correctly. Great and easy product and even better people supporting it. I wholly recommend. PS: A local HVAC Company quoted me the Honeywell system which they said would need new thermostats and dampers. (SmartZone works great with all my existing equipment) The Honeywell quote was $2,250, this unit and the extra T-Stat wire cost me about $150. Saved me a small fortune and works GREAT!

Exactly what we needed to fix our problem. Super easy fix!

Worked perfectly easy setup

I want to share my experience because this caused me several days of unnecessary frustration. After installing this zone board, the system did not work correctly. Heating would start and then randomly stop or switch behavior. I spent almost 4 days checking every wire, every connection, continuity with a multimeter, thermostat configuration, furnace operation, and even swapped thermostats, thinking something was wrong with my wiring or equipment. Everything was wired correctly. The real issue turned out to be the supply temperature sensor, which the manual clearly states is “optional.” I initially did not install it because of that wording. Once I finally installed the sensor, the system worked perfectly immediately and all the strange behavior stopped. In my case, the sensor was NOT optional at all. Without it, the board logic did not behave correctly and caused heat cycling and shutdowns that looked like wiring or thermostat problems. I strongly believe calling this sensor “optional” is misleading, especially for zoned systems. It should be clearly stated that: • The sensor is required for proper operation in many setups • Not installing it can cause false troubleshooting, wasted time, and confusion The product itself works well once installed correctly, but the documentation needs to be clearer to prevent others from going through the same frustration.

Our existing 2 zone controller quick working. I ordered this one hoping it would work and it did. Observations: 1) This needs a separate 24V AC power supply to work. I bought a 24V AC power supply from the Home Depot (where they sell sprinkler controllers). So don't forget to order one of these if you don't have one. Remember to get one with the right VA (amps) for your application. The manual has a pretty clear table one the size you need based on the number of external relays/solenoids/etc you need to power. 2) I really like that the wiring on this unit doesn't require a tiny screwdriver. The wire connections are accomplished using spring loaded push connections. Nice touch. 3) The circuit board is nicely labeled. You can tell this was designed in the USA (I assume). Someone from the marketing side must have insisted the engineers make this device be understandable by non engineers or HVAC folks. 4) I also like the clear cover so you can see what's lit up on the circuit board. this thing goes into the attic and if you're going up there to look at tings it's probably because heating / AC has failed which means it's really hot or really cold up there. Being able to see through without needing to remove cover is nice. However, the cover does remove easily if need be. 5) Included documentation on configuring / operating was clear and well written. Thanks again marketing guys for proof reading and editing engineer speak. the only negative was my surprise that external power supply was needed. The unit I replaced didn't need this. But then again that unit had failed...maybe because it didn't have external power. :) Overall... nice product!

Super easy to install and the included schematic makes wiring it up super easy. I used this to replace a thermostat that had integrated damper controls. It was terrible. I grabbed two Ecobees and this zone c9ntrol board and boom, I have two new thermostats (upstairs zone/downstairs zone) and each one controls its own damper. This board is probably one of the best home upgrades.

It is always a challenge to replace something that is not an identical, drop-in unit to the original. With about 20 wires to move over and a different mounting screw location, this would at first glance appear to be a handyman challenge contest. However, the wiring terminals are labelled well and the connections are push in wire keepers. If in doubt, label every wire with its old letter code and which subgroup it came from (and proper wire color code should your wire color not match the diagrams). In a few locations where I had two wires to the same terminal, I found it best to twist the wires together, leaving one at least 1/4" longer than the other so that the single wire would fit in the keeper. Be sure to give each wire a little tug to make sure it is captured by the keepers. In my installation, the old failed controller used power from the furnace, so the recommendation for a dedicated 24V transformer delayed my project until I could procure one. In the end, all worked as advertised with plenty of prompt patient help along the way from their support team. They answered all my questions and made for a high-confidence installation project that worked perfectly from the moment I finished. I like the LED display for operating feedback too.

saved my acient HVAC. VERY GOOD product.