TRANE ComfortLink II zone expander ZZONEEXPAC52ZA

Four zones are enough in most homes. But in a large residence, a house with several wings or a project that combines a basement, ground floor, upper floor, mezzanine, office and primary suite, more are sometimes needed. The Trane ComfortLink II ZZONEEXPAC52ZA is the expansion panel that adds four zones to the ComfortLink II zone panel, for a maximum of eight zones on a single system.

Up to eight zones on a single ComfortLink II system

Its role

The ZZONEEXPAC52ZA is not a stand-alone panel: it works only with the ComfortLink II ZZONEPNLAC52ZB zone panel, with which it communicates. The main panel keeps the zoning logic, the configuration screen and the pressure and discharge air sensors; the expansion panel adds the outputs needed to control the dampers of four additional zones.

Modulating dampers

Like the main panel, the expansion panel controls 24 V power-open/power-close modulating dampers. These dampers open partially as needed, which makes it possible to precisely meter the air sent to each zone through the ducts. The four new zones thus get the same fine control as the first four.

Power and operating conditions

The expansion panel requires its own field-supplied 24 V AC power supply. It operates from -40 to 150 °F and from 5 to 95% relative humidity, non-condensing, and measures 8.0 in wide, 9.3 in high and 1.9 in deep, the same format as the main panel, which makes a neat side-by-side installation easier.

Which projects it suits

The expansion panel suits large multi-storey homes, residences where some rooms have very different needs, such as a south-facing sunroom, a basement home theatre or a bedroom above the garage, and projects where the goal is to give almost every main room its own setpoint. It also suits an existing four-zone system that you want to expand after the house is enlarged or the basement is finished.

Zoning and the Quebec winter

The more zones there are, the easier it is to fully heat only the occupied rooms. In winter, the bedrooms can stay cooler during the day, the office can be heated only during working hours, and little-used rooms can stay at a reduced setpoint. The central system then works for the rooms where you actually are.

An add-on without redoing the system

Because the expansion panel connects to the main panel, expanding an existing zoning system does not require replacing the logic already in place. The first four zones keep their settings, and the new zones are added to the configuration. It is a gradual way to improve the home's comfort as renovations progress.

Technical specifications

• Expansion panel: adds four zones to the ComfortLink II zone panel
• Brings the maximum number of zones per system to eight
• Controls 24 V power-open/power-close modulating dampers
• Communicates with the ZZONEPNLAC52ZB zone panel
• Power: 24 V AC, field-supplied (required)
• Operating range: -40 to 150 °F, 5 to 95% RH non-condensing
• Dimensions: 8.0 in W x 9.3 in H x 1.9 in D

Design and installation by AirGreen

Planning eight zones

An eight-zone system requires rigorous planning. Our technicians study the ductwork, determine where each damper goes and check that each zone will be able to receive adequate airflow. They also plan where the two panels and their 24 V power supplies will go.

The installation

The expansion panel is installed next to the main panel and connected to it. The dampers for zones five to eight are wired, then each zone is configured and tested from the main panel. We check that the whole system works properly with the main control and the zone sensors.

Maintenance

The panel itself needs no special maintenance. Have the operation of the dampers checked during the system's annual maintenance, and replace the filter regularly to avoid a rise in pressure in the ducts.

Why AirGreen

AirGreen Inc. is a family-owned HVAC company established in Montreal for more than 15 years, holding an RBQ licence, with a showroom in Boucherville. We design and install central systems and zoning solutions, and we take the time to plan each project properly.

For the purchase and professional installation of the Trane ComfortLink II ZZONEEXPAC52ZA expansion panel, contact AirGreen. We serve Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, the North Shore and the South Shore.