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Vari-Brooder and Vari-Heater Settings
Vari-Heaters and Vari-Brooders work differently than standard, fixed output heaters. For variable heating devices, a
Target temperature is set, which the heater tries to maintain by varying the gas/heat output. The purpose of this is to
try and maintain the temperature in the building as close to the Target temperature as possible and eliminate the
wild swings seen with fixed output heaters. The longer the temperature stays below the Target temperature, the
higher the heat output will be. As the temperature approaches the Target temperature the heat output will decrease.
Over time the heater will find a heat output that allows the temperature to hover within a degree or two of the
Target temperature.
One thing to remember is variable heaters will rarely turn off. Unlike fixed output heaters, where they
turn on and off as needed causing wide swings in temperature, a variable heater will work to maintain
the temperature at the Target temperature and will only turn off if the temperature in the barn is
increasing due to factors other than the heaters running. This can be confusing to some, as the heater
is always running. But if you check the Current Equipment Status for the heater, you will notice that it
rarely runs at maximum output, which helps save gas and money.
When adding a Vari-Heater and Vari-Brooder to the controller’s device list, the Module and Channel
numbers entered need to be the module and channel number of the output relay where the heater’s
power supply is attached to.
CONTROL
SETTINGS
DEVICE / EQUIPMENT SETTINGS
Z1-S01
PRESS ENTER TO VIEW SETTINGS
The Heater and Brooder Settings are listed under the DEVICE / EQUIPMENT SETTINGS menu.
Enter the Module and Channel number of the Analog Output board where the Gas Regulator of the heater is
attached.
NOTE:
When first installed, this is the first menu and has to be set before the other menus will appear.
Once you have entered, this menu is the last menu in the heater list.
Gas Regulator
VARI-BROODER GROUP #1 SETTING Z1-S01
Gas Regulator: Module: 2 Channel: 1
ENTER
When the Toggle switch is set to the On position, the actual output of a variable heating device will be
set based on the temperature of the zone. If temperature is high enough where the heater should be
off, the heating device will operate at either minimum output or maximum output, depending on which
make of heater is being operated. Otherwise, the output will be set to the required output needed to
reach and maintain the temperature of the zone at the Target Temperature.