In the past, I've always used Aprilaire flush sensors painted to match the wall. I have a current project where the wall surfaces are clay plaster. I'd like to flush the sensor an have them cover it with the final (thin) finish coat. I'm assuming this will create a delay in sensing temperature changes but not sure if there are any more drawbacks.

Has anyone done this in the past? Any tips?

Thanks



This is the sensor I'd use.

[Link: tekmarcontrols.com]

With any embedded sensor you'll be measuring wall temperature, not air temperature. The Aprilaire sensors should have a small air gap between the sensor case and the wall.

We didn't spec or install it, but we did install Crestron in a house that also had these installed. I was skeptical that a totally hidden sensor even existed at first. Not sure if it's slower or any other drawbacks, but there have been no complaints from the client at all.

We've had limited (no) luck using sensors that weren't specific to the manufacturer of the thermostat, though we haven't tried it too much. Are here going to be compatible with your tstat?

What tstat? Most, if they allow for remote temp sensors, allow you to adjust the temperature variance by +/- 5 degrees to compensate for installations such as this. If yours doesn't, your readings will be off. If it does make sure your adjustments are made when the mud/paint is fully dried and cured otherwise it won't be accurate.

It would be best if the sensor is embedded in an inside wall. Otherwise the temperature gradient in the wall will vary by season. Some of the more sophisticated control systems will work with outside temperature and have have a lag setting. The lag setting is intended to deal with fundamentally different systems, such as hot air and hot water. In a hot air system the heating starts and stops almost instantly after the temperature set point is reached. Hot water, on the other hand can lag considerably, for example, when the radiators are filled with cold or hot water.