Abstract: A damper assembly for use in a round forced air duct feeding a register vent through a register boot includes a damper frame having a frame periphery with a first side and a second side that is at least substantially parallel with the first side, the first side and the second side each having a length that is greater than a distance between the first side and the second side. A damper blade is pivotable relative to the damper frame about an axis of rotation, at least substantially parallel with the first side and the second side, between an open position and a closed position. A flexible outer seal extends outwardly from the frame periphery of the damper frame and is at least substantially circular in order to seal against an inner surface of the round forced air duct.

Abstract: A damper assembly for use in a forced air duct feeding one or more air register vents includes a damper frame having an outer frame periphery and an inner frame periphery, the inner frame periphery defining an air flow aperture, and a damper blade that is pivotally secured relative to the damper frame and is pivotable between an open position and a closed position. An outer seal extends radially outwardly from the outer frame periphery of the damper frame and is configured to make a seal against an inner surface of the forced air duct when the damper assembly is deployed within the forced air duct.

Abstract: A modular damper system is configured for installation in a ductwork of a building that supplies conditioned air through a register vent of the building and includes a damper unit, a control module and a power module. The damper unit is mountable upstream of the register vent and includes a damper that is movable between a closed position and an open position. The control module includes a controller that provides control commands to the damper unit and includes a housing that is configured to be secured to the ductwork at a position between the register vent and the damper unit. A power module is electrically coupled to the control module to provide power to the control module and includes a housing that is configured to be secured to the ductwork at a position between the register vent and the damper unit.

Abstract: A damper system is configured for placement within a ductwork system having a duct that supplies conditioned air through a register boot to a register vent within a room of a building. The damper system includes a damper that is configured to be secured within the duct of the ductwork system upstream of the register boot and is rotatable between a closed position and an open position. The damper system includes one or more sensors and a control module that is operably coupled to the damper and the one or more sensors and is configured to be secured within the register boot downstream of the damper, the control module including a controller configured to control operation of the damper and to report one or more sensed conditions to a building controller located outside of the ductwork system.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing having contact channels with electrical contacts received therein each having a poke-in spring beam configured to engage an electrical wire when poked-in to the housing. The electrical contact is movable between a resting position when no wire is present in the wire channel and a clearance position where the electrical contact allows the electrical wire to be removed from the wire channel. Pivot levers are held by the housing and are coupled to corresponding electrical contacts with a pivot end pivotably coupled to the housing and a push button end having a push button pressed to move the corresponding electrical contact to the clearance position. When the electrical wire is loaded into the wire channel, the electrical contact is positioned in a pinching position in which the spring beam pinches against the electrical wire in physical contact with the electrical wire.

Abstract: An HVAC controller and/or server may be programmed to determine if ventilation of a building is desired based, at least in part, on the one or more user-specified air quality thresholds stored in a memory, and one or more of a measure of indoor air quality and a measure of outdoor air quality. The air quality parameter threshold may relate to an air quality index, an air pollutant concentration, a smog alert, a pollen count, a dew point, a chance of precipitation, and/or the like. In addition, the HVAC controller and/or server may take into account current or future weather conditions when determining the ventilation needs of a building. Upon determining that ventilation is needed or recommended, the HVAC controller may send or display a message to the user. The message may recommendation that the user open a window or operate a ventilation system, as desired.

Abstract: A thermostat that is configured to be releasably secured to a wall mountable connector, wherein the wall mountable connector includes a jumper switch that permits an installer or other professional to easily form an electrical connection between different wiring terminals of the wall mountable connector in accordance with how particular field wires are connected to the wiring terminals of the wall mountable connector. The thermostat is further configured to automatically determine the position of the jumper switch of the wall mountable connector, and in some cases, change the control of at least some functionality of the thermostat and/or HVAC equipment depending on the position of the jumper switch.

Abstract: An HVAC actuator configured to actuate an HVAC component may include a rotatable output shaft having a full range of rotation between a first end position and a second end position, a drive mechanism configured to selectively drive the output shaft, and a housing having a front side that faces away from the HVAC component. The HVAC actuator may include a range adjustment lever manipulatable from the front side of the housing that allows a user to selectively limit rotation of the output shaft to a reduced range that is a subset of the full range. In some instances, the range adjustment lever allows the user to select between two or more predetermined reduced ranges. The two or more predetermined reduced ranges may each include the first end position but have a different second stop position, or include the second end position but have a different first stop position.

Abstract: A thermostat that is configured to be releasably secured to a wall mountable connector, wherein the wall mountable connector includes a jumper switch that permits an installer or other professional to easily form an electrical connection between different wiring terminals of the wall mountable connector in accordance with how particular field wires are connected to the wiring terminals of the wall mountable connector. The thermostat is further configured to automatically determine the position of the jumper switch of the wall mountable connector, and in some cases, change the control of at least some functionality of the thermostat and/or HVAC equipment depending on the position of the jumper switch.

Abstract: An illustrative damper system includes a damper blade that is configured to be positioned within a duct, such as a bypass duct of an HVAC system. A shaft is in communication with the damper blade, and an actuator or force adjustment mechanism is in communication with the shaft. The actuator or force adjustment mechanism may include a housing and a spring therein, where the spring is in communication with the shaft. The shaft, the damper blade, and the spring may be configured such that the shaft may affect movement of the damper blade about a rotation axis offset from a diametrical axis of the damper blade.

Abstract: An HVAC actuator coupleable to an HVAC component is disposed in or at an insulated duct. The HVAC actuator may include a housing and a taping flange. The taping flange may be spaced from the outer surface of the duct and adjacent to an outer surface of an insulated layer of the duct when the HVAC actuator is coupled to the HVAC component, and may be configured to facilitate taping of the HVAC actuator to the outer surface of the insulating layer. It may be shaped to provide a front-facing surface that is suitable for receiving tape to provide a seal between the taping flange and the outer surface of the insulating layer. In some cases, the taping flange may extend outward from the housing around the entire perimeter of the housing. The taping flange may be formed integrally with the housing, or it formed separately and coupled to the housing.

Abstract: An electrode humidifier device having a cartridge and a reconfigurable steam nozzle, connected to the cartridge that may be changeable between a direct and a remote mounting. Fill and drain valves on a manifold may be operated to add or drain water, respectively, in the cartridge. A sensor may indicate a water level in the cartridge. A controller may be connected to the sensor, and the fill and drain valves. A steam output capacity of the cartridge may be maintained at a predetermined magnitude by controlling the level of water with a controller. The cartridge may have one or more handles for easily inserting or removing the cartridge in a housing. The manifold may be installed in the drain pan for easier cartridge replacement. The humidifier device may be directly mounted on an air duct of a heating system or can be installed remotely.

Abstract: A wall mountable connector may be secured to a wall in order to provide mechanical and electrical connections to a thermostat. In some cases, the wall mountable connector and the thermostat may, in combination, be configured to permit the thermostat to attach to the wall mountable connector only when the thermostat is in a particular orientation relative to the wall mountable connector. In some cases, the wall mountable connector includes a plurality of pin terminals that are configured to accommodate a plurality of pins extending from the thermostat. The interaction between the pins and the pin terminals may provide a lock and key arrangement between the wall mountable connector and the thermostat.

Abstract: An adapter plate may be used to secure a wall mountable connector to a junction box by engaging mounting features of the wall mountable connector. In some cases, the wall mountable connector may be directly secured to a wall via fasteners that extend through the same mounting features of the wall mountable connector. In some cases, the adapter plate may be configured such that the wall mountable connector can be secured to the adapter plate simply by pressing the wall mountable connector into position on the adapter plate, where mounting latches of the adapter plate engage the mounting apertures of the wall mountable connector. The wall mountable connector may be an HVAC wall mountable connector that provides an electrical connection between a plurality of field wires of an HVAC system and corresponding terminals of a removably mounted thermostat.

Abstract: A wall mountable connector assembly with an optional wall covering plate is disclosed. The wall mountable connector provides electrical connections to each of a plurality of field wires and is configured to provide electrical connections to a thermostat secured to the wall mountable connector. The optional wall covering plate is configured to fit over the wall mountable connector and provide a pleasing appearance.

Abstract: A wall mountable connector configured to facilitate a user in removing a first thermostat from the wall mountable connector and installing a new, different second thermostat on the wall mountable connector without having to do any wiring work. The field wires remain coupled to the wall mountable connector, and the wall mountable connector provides the appropriate electrical connections between the field wires and the first and second thermostats. In some cases, the wall mountable connector may include a memory for storing data communicated by a first thermostat, and to communicate the stored data to a subsequently installed second thermostat. In some instances, the first and second thermostats may be selected from a line of compatible thermostats.

Abstract: An illustrative damper system includes a damper blade that is configured to be positioned within a duct, such as a bypass duct of an HVAC system. A shaft is in communication with the damper blade, and an actuator or force adjustment mechanism is in communication with the shaft. The actuator or force adjustment mechanism may include a housing and a spring therein, where the spring is in communication with the shaft. The shaft, the damper blade, and the spring may be configured such that the shaft may affect movement of the damper blade about a rotation axis offset from a diametrical axis of the damper blade.