Review on 🌡️ Optimize Your HVAC with SmartZone 2X Controller by Honeywell Zonefirst Durozone by Dan Chunn

I bought a pair of Nest thermostats to replace my main Beutler programmable thermostats in hopes of reducing my energy bills. Before purchasing any thermostats I ran all the compatibility checks to ensure it was an 'easy' replacement. After installing the Nest thermostats, I found that despite installing the common wire, they were not getting the required 24v power supply. After hours of troubleshooting and discussions with a Nest support engineer, the local HVAC company came out to check the installation and they confirmed it was because the Beutler/Z-Tech regulator was only providing 12-14v to the thermostat and received 24V. If you have a Beutler thermostat/HVAC system with the patented "SmartVent” system, it appears the controller output is 12V on purpose as that is all Beutler thermostats require. The HVAC guy said if I wanted to keep the Nest thermostats I would have to replace the 12V outlet regulator with a 24V outlet regulator, which would cost at least $1,000. To me this sounds like a brilliant scam on the part of Beutler, because by running their stock controllers/thermostats at 12V they still get an upgraded 24V controller in exchange for losing their thermostat business in favor of better smart thermostats like Nest . This prompted me to look for a controller that I could replace myself in order to lose control of the bagger and save $1,000. All of the other controllers had mixed reviews, so I was hesitant to believe what other reviews said about how easy it was. It was easy to install and get started. Well I'm glad I took the risk and bought the SmartZone controller. It comes with a very clear and simple installation guide that includes great illustrations and color coding. After spending at least 15 hours and the expense of an HVAC company telling me my controller wouldn't work, it took me less than an hour and a half to install the SmartZone controller and get my thermostats working perfectly. Most of the time was spent figuring out the normal location of my air connections, not installing and connecting the controller. This controller has many LED indicators that tell you exactly what the controller is trying to do (start fan, open diverter, turn on oven, etc.) so you can troubleshoot if it's a problem with the controller or the HVAC hardware trades. So if you have a Beutler HVAC system and controller with 12V on the R power connector and want to install Nest or other smart thermostats, this is the easiest and most cost effective solution to get the required 24V for the thermostat. They don't have to spend money on an HVAC company to charge you for a Z-tech POS controller and several hundred for installation. Simple tools and a little intelligence are all you need to get SmartZone up and running.