Step warmfloor EPI-LX-TC User manual

The New Step® Touch Thermostat

The Ideal Way to Control Your Warmfloor

Installation &

Operation Manual

Do not use this equipment before reading this manual!

Model Number: EPI-LX-TC

Printed in the U.S.A.

Note: This manual contains important warnings

and instructions. Please read and retain

for reference.

The new Step Touch thermostat from Electro Plastics is

the elegant way to control your Step Warmoor system.

Perfectly suited and designed from the ground up

to work seamlessly with all Step Systems.

Features:

• Clean, simple two control design for ease of operation

• Three digit auto-dimmable LED Display

• Touch sensor controls that are maintenance free

• Clear, totally at acrylic surface for a clean contemporary look that works

well with any decor

• Elegant stainless steel perimeter housing

• Displays in Fahrenheit or Celsius

• Interfaces to an external temperature sensor

• Works with Step Warmoor, Step Snowmelt and Step Deicing systems

• Standard colors: black and white. Custom colors available at additional cost

• Capable of interfacing with smart home systems

• No batteries needed. All settings are stored in permanent memory for

instant recovery in the event of a power failure

• Step Warmoor logo is lit when system is heating

• Green friendly low power design

Specications:

Set Range: 40ºto 90ºF • 4ºto 32ºC

Internal Ambient Temp Range: 0ºto 99ºF, +/-1ºF • -9ºto 37ºC, +/-0.5ºC

External Sensor Temp Range: 0ºto 99ºF / -9ºto 37ºC

Power: 9-24 VAC/VDC @ <10mA (without external temperature sensor)

Physical Description

The New Step® Touch Electronic Thermostat is a zone control device specially designed for use with the STEP Warmoor™ radiant heat system.

The Step® Touch provides a pulsed output that complements the self-regulating nature of the STEP Warmoor™ heating elements to oer the

homeowner the highest energy eciency while providing better zoned control over personal comfort.

Thermostat

The thermostat is the operator interface for the Step Warmoor System.

It is designed to be ush wall mounted in a place that will be most

representative of the zone it controls.

The thermostat consists of a digital display that indicates the measured

air temperature or set temperature, touch sensitive switches for control

of the set point, the air temperature sensor and indicators for the

external sensor mode, snowmelt mode and logo illumination.

Regulator

The regulator is an intelligent switch that enables/disables the line

voltage in such a way that does not harm the transformer(s) and gently

applies the load to the power system. It is designed to be surface

mounted adjacent to the transformer(s) that it controls. The regulator

consists of a printed circuit board mounted inside the power supply

housing or in a junction box w/ heat sink. Each regulator is designed to

handle up to 1,500W of load.

The thermostat and power supply are connected together using a 20 foot length of

3 conductor shielded cable. For control of a zone with a load larger than 1,500W, up

to 20 power supplies can be connected to one thermostat for a total controlled load

of 30,000W.

Functional Features

Interface:

UP/DOWN capacitive sensing proximity switches (no membrane

switches)

These switches are used to modify the “Set Temperature”.

Normally the display will show the ambient temperature, however

when any switch is pressed, the Set Temperature is displayed for 3

seconds and the units (F or C) digit is ashed. If a switch is pressed

again, while the Set Temperature is displayed the Set Temperature is

modied.

If both the UP/DOWN switches are held for more than 4 seconds,

the unit will go into shutdown mode and completely turn the system

o. While these switches are held the display will count down, ie:“3”,

“2”, “1”,“OFF”. During this time all setting information is saved in

memory and recovered on power-up. To re-activate, the switches

must be held down again for 4 seconds.

All settings are permanently stored in ash memory (no batteries)

so that in the case of a power failure, there will be no need to modify

any settings. This also includes shutdown mode, ie: if you are out of

town and the unit is in shutdown mode a power uctuation will not

cause the unit to re-enable.

Output:

When the temperature measurement from either the ambient

sensor or the oor sensor (depending on the mode of operation) is

below the Set Temperature, the unit will trigger the system to

activate and the Step logo will illuminate indicating heat is being

called for.

Internal Temp Sense:

Ambient temperature is sensed via the three vent slots on the

front panel.

External Temp Sense:

The unit also provides for the sensing of temperature externally

via the EPI-LX-TS sensor supplied. This could be necessary,if the

thermostat is located in an area that has a falsely high temperature

(ie: near a large piece of machinery on a factory oor) or can be used

as a oor temperature sensor. It would also be used in the case of

SnowMelt mode where the sensor would need to be installed in the

concrete that is being sensed.

This connection is made via a very common 6 position 4 contact

modular connector and allows the sensor to be extended to a

maximum distance of 50 feet. Try doing that with a platinum RTD?

The external sensor has a small micro-controller built in and digitally

transmits the temperature data so there is no loss in accuracy with

distance.

Home Control Shutdown:

It is also possible, via the modular jack on the rear of the unit, that

the unit can be shut down via a relay closure from an external Home

Control system. If Pins 1 and 6 are shorted together the unit will

shutdown.

Illustration 1 - Thermostat Features

External

Sensor

Indicator

SnowMelt

Mode

Engaged

Temperature

Units

Temperature

Display

Down

Ambient

Temperature

Sensor

Illuminated Logo

Installation

Interface:

UP/DOWN capacitive sensing proximity switches (no membrane

switches)

These switches are used to modify the “Set Temperature”.

Normally the display will show the ambient temperature, however

when any switch is pressed, the Set Temperature is displayed for 3

seconds and the units (F or C) digit is ashed. If a switch is pressed

again, while the Set Temperature is displayed the Set Temperature is

modied.

If both the UP/DOWN switches are held for more than 4 seconds,

the unit will go into shutdown mode and completely turn the system

o. While these switches are held the display will count down, ie:“3”,

“2”, “1”,“OFF”. During this time all setting information is saved in

memory and recovered on power-up. To re-activate, the switches

must be held down again for 4 seconds.

All settings are permanently stored in ash memory (no batteries)

so that in the case of a power failure, there will be no need to modify

any settings. This also includes shutdown mode, ie: if you are out of

town and the unit is in shutdown mode a power uctuation will not

cause the unit to re-enable.

Output:

When the temperature measurement from either the ambient

sensor or the oor sensor (depending on the mode of operation) is

below the Set Temperature, the unit will trigger the system to

activate and the Step logo will illuminate indicating heat is being

called for.

Internal Temp Sense:

Ambient temperature is sensed via the three vent slots on the

front panel.

External Temp Sense:

The unit also provides for the sensing of temperature externally

via the EPI-LX-TS sensor supplied. This could be necessary,if the

thermostat is located in an area that has a falsely high temperature

(ie: near a large piece of machinery on a factory oor) or can be used

as a oor temperature sensor. It would also be used in the case of

SnowMelt mode where the sensor would need to be installed in the

concrete that is being sensed.

This connection is made via a very common 6 position 4 contact

modular connector and allows the sensor to be extended to a

maximum distance of 50 feet. Try doing that with a platinum RTD?

The external sensor has a small micro-controller built in and digitally

transmits the temperature data so there is no loss in accuracy with

distance.

Home Control Shutdown:

It is also possible, via the modular jack on the rear of the unit, that

the unit can be shut down via a relay closure from an external Home

Control system. If Pins 1 and 6 are shorted together the unit will

shutdown.

The Step® Touch thermostat can be used in conjunction with all

the EPI-LX-R power supply series and the STEP DC Controllers. Be sure

to install the thermostat on an interior wall away from direct sun and

drafts. Measure the distance from the power supply to the thermostat

to identify the length of the thermostat wire. The low-voltage (24)

thermostat is connected to the power supply using a 3-conductor

shielded cable and can control up to 20 power supplies or 20 DC

Controllers.

The process of installing the EPI-LX-TC involves preplanning of

mounting locations and roughing in of the necessary hardware. The

installation of the EPI-LX-TC typically occurs during new construction

or a remodel project where access to the walls is possible for the

rough in work. If access to the walls is not possible, as during some

remodel projects, the EPI-LX-TC installation may require the use of

surface mounted raceway products such as those manufactured by

Wiremold® (www.wiremold.com).

Plan mounting Locations

Thermostat – Locate the thermostat approximately 60” o the

oor in a location that is most representative of the zone that it

controls. Do not install where exposed to direct sunlight or drafts.

Rough In

The thermostat is designed to be ush mounted on a single gang

junction box. Install such a box at the desired mounting location.

Install the supplied 3-conductor shielded cable between the

housing and the power supply. The cable can be installed in the wall

without the use of conduit as it only carries a low voltage signal. If the

cable is not long enough, acquire a suitable length of an equivalent

cable sucient to run the full length between the boxes. Do not

splice the cable – only use a full new length. If an additional power

supply will be connected, install the supplied 3-conductor shielded

cable between the supplies.

Thermostat

Terminate the 3-conductor shielded cable to the thermostat. Trim

back the shield ush with the outer cable jacket and do not ground

the drain wire at the thermostat. Only ground the drain wire at the

regulator. Remove the face plate from the housing to expose the

mounting holes. Push the excess cable into the box and install the

Thermostat using the screws provided. Reinstall the face plate on to

the housing.

Dip Switches:

FACEPLATE REMOVAL: The faceplate is retained via high power

magnets. Illustration 2 shows proper technique to remove the

faceplate and gain access to the dip switches and connections. In

order to remove, rst grasp the top edge of the acrylic faceplate with

your rst three ngers, with your thumb on the bottom edge of the

faceplate, rotate the display away from the housing until it is free.

Dip switches are extremely easy to access via the magnetically

attached front panel. No fasteners or annoying plastic clips. Electrical

connection between the front panel and the base are made via

gold-plated, spring-loaded contacts ensuring extremely long life. The

4 position dip switch is located on the inside of the front panel PCB.

1. C/F:

Simply changes the units of measurement between Fahrenheit

and Celsius.

2: AUTODIM MODE:

Many people do not like a bright LED display to be on all the time,

especially at night. The AutoDim feature simply dims the display

when the unit is not being modied. If a switch is pressed, the display

is brightened and stays bright for several seconds after modications

have been completed. When AutoDim mode is not enabled, the

display is bright all the time.

3. EXTERNAL TEMPERATURE SENSOR:

When this switch is enabled the unit will make decisions based on the

temperature reading from the external sensor. The display will always

show the temperature of the external temp sensor, however if the

user wishes to check the ambient temperature, they can simply press

and release both the UP/DOWN switches within 1 second and the

ambient temperature will be displayed for several seconds after

which it will revert to the temperature of the external sensor. If, by

mistake, both the External Temperature Switch and the SnowMelt

switch are activated, the SnowMelt switch is dominant and this mode

will be enabled. Whenever the external sensor is active the dot in the

upper left-hand corner of the display will be illuminated.

4. SNOWMELT MODE:

This mode is enabled when the thermostat is being used with the

snowmelt elements. The external temp sensor is installed in the

concrete and the Set Temperature is adjustable between 32-41F/0-5C.

This value is maintained in ash memory. The display will show this

measurement and, as with external mode, when both the UP/DOWN

switches are pressed and released within 1 second, the display will

show the ambient temperature for a short period after which it will

revert to the external temperature sensor. When in SnowMelt Mode,

the snowake logo on the front panel will glow blue.