TRANE ComfortLink II zoning panel ZZONEPNLAC52ZB

A single central system for the whole house, and yet a different temperature on every floor: that is the promise of zoning. The Trane ComfortLink II ZZONEPNLAC52ZB is the communicating zone panel that makes this promise possible. It controls modulating motorized dampers in the ducts, distributes air according to each zone's demand and monitors static pressure to protect the system.

Communicating zoning for even comfort on every floor

Who it is for

This panel is for owners of multi-storey homes, large residences or homes with a finished basement, where a single setpoint is not enough to make every room comfortable. It suits homes equipped with a Trane ComfortLink II system with a variable-speed indoor unit, or with conventional 24 V equipment connected through the BAY24VRPAC52DC interface relay panel.

Four zones, expandable to eight

The ZZONEPNLAC52ZB manages four zones. With the ZZONEEXPAC52ZA expansion panel, the system goes up to eight zones. A typical home can thus separate the basement, the ground floor, the bedroom floor and a specific room, such as a home office or a bedroom above the garage.

Modulating dampers, not all-or-nothing

The panel controls 24 V power-open/power-close modulating dampers, up to four 1.5 VA dampers per zone. Unlike all-or-nothing dampers, modulating dampers can open partially, which makes it possible to meter the air delivered to each zone. The panel automatically detects the installed dampers and automatically sets the maximum airflow (CFM) per zone, which avoids sending too much air into a small zone and reduces noise at the grilles. The damper motor travel time can be set from 15 to 60 seconds.

System protection

When a single small zone calls for air, pressure can build up in the ducts. The panel comes with a discharge air temperature sensor and a static pressure transducer with an enclosure and supply and return probes. These sensors let the system monitor actual conditions in the ducts and adjust its operation accordingly.

Compatible controls and sensors

The panel works with the Trane XL1050 and XL950 controls. Each zone can be equipped with an XL1040 zone sensor or a TZONE940, with a screen, or with a ZZSENSAL0400AA wired indoor sensor. Zone sensors connect with 2 or 3 wires, depending on the model.

Easier installation and service

A backlit LCD screen on the panel is used for configuration and service. The removable low-voltage terminal blocks simplify wiring. The panel requires a field-supplied 24 V AC power supply of 1.4 A. 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.

Zoning during the Quebec winter

In winter, warm air rises and the bedroom floor tends to overheat while the basement stays cool. Zoning corrects this imbalance by sending more air where it is lacking. It also lets you reduce heating in unoccupied zones, such as the bedrooms during the day or a little-used basement, instead of heating the whole house to the same level.

Day to day

Once zoning is in place, you adjust each zone from its zone sensor with a screen or from the main control, just as you would with an ordinary thermostat. The panel, installed near the indoor unit, works in the background: it opens and closes the dampers, meters the air and monitors the pressure. You do not need to touch it after commissioning.

Main panel and expansion panel

The ZZONEPNLAC52ZB is the main panel: it contains the zoning logic, the screen, the discharge air sensor and the pressure transducer. The ZZONEEXPAC52ZA works only with it and adds four more zones. For a home with four zones or fewer, the main panel is enough.

Technical specifications

• Communicating zone panel, 4 zones (expandable to 8 with ZZONEEXPAC52ZA)
• Systems: Trane ComfortLink II zoning with variable-speed indoor unit (24 V systems through the BAY24VRPAC52DC relay panel)
• Controls 24 V power-open/power-close modulating dampers, up to four 1.5 VA dampers per zone
• Automatic detection of installed dampers
• Automatic setting of maximum airflow (CFM) per zone
• Damper travel time adjustable from 15 to 60 s
• Included: discharge air sensor, static pressure transducer with enclosure, supply and return pressure probes
• Backlit LCD screen for configuration and service
• Removable low-voltage terminal blocks
• Communicates with 2-wire and 3-wire zone sensors
• Compatible with: XL1050 and XL950 controls; XL1040/TZONE940 and ZZSENSAL0400AA zone sensors
• Power: 24 V AC, field-supplied, 1.4 A
• 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

A zoning project led by AirGreen

The assessment

Our technicians analyze the house, the ductwork and the existing equipment. They determine how the zones are divided and where the dampers and sensors go, and they check that the ducts can take the dampers in the right places. The end result depends on this step.

The installation

The dampers are fitted in the ducts, the panel is mounted near the indoor unit with its 24 V power supply, and the discharge air sensor and the static pressure transducer are put in place. The zone sensors and the main control are connected, then each zone is configured and tested using the panel's screen.

Maintenance

Replace the filter regularly: a clogged filter raises static pressure. Have the operation of the dampers checked during the system's annual maintenance.

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 with a focus on even comfort throughout the house.

For the purchase and professional installation of the Trane ComfortLink II ZZONEPNLAC52ZB zone panel, contact AirGreen. We serve Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, the North Shore and the South Shore.