Predictika · Thermostat and sensor orders

An AI sales agent's thermostat and sensor order, checked before it goes out

An AI sales agent prepares an order for UEI and Ecolink climate-control products: which thermostat, the HVAC system and its stages, the power supply and wiring, TIDE Bridges and peripherals, the control platform, Z-Wave and Zigbee sensors, and the unit count it states. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of what the public UEI and Ecolink sheets say and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.

Scope: UEI TIDE Dial, TIDE Touch and TIDE Bridge, Ecolink TBZ500 and TBH300, UEI TW780 thermostats, with Ecolink Z-Wave and Zigbee sensors: HVAC system, stages, power and wiring, zone and bridge limits, control platform. See everything this validator covers

This validator models orders for the thermostats named here based on the public UEI product sheets and the Ecolink Home Automation catalog, not just the scenarios shown below.

  • HVAC system and stages — TBZ500 and TW780: standard gas/electric up to 2 stages of heating and 2 of cooling, heat pump up to 3 and 2; other system types and the TBH300 on anything but a conventional system need a person to confirm.
  • Power supply and wiring — TBZ500 on four AA batteries or hardwired 24 VAC (another supply needs a person to confirm); TW780 on wired 24 VAC; the common (C) wire for 24 VAC operation; removing the RC/RH jumper when heating and cooling have separate transformers (TBZ500); no automatic changeover mode on the TW780.
  • TIDE family — up to 8 Comfort Line thermostats in multi-zone control, up to 10 peripheral devices per TIDE Bridge, the bridge as an accessory for TIDE Dial and TIDE Touch, 230 and 277 VAC listed as works with TIDE Bridge.
  • Control platforms and sensors — the panels and hubs listed for the TBZ500, the platforms listed for the TBH300 and the TIDE thermostats, and the hubs listed for Ecolink Z-Wave Plus and Zigbee sensors.
  • Stated unit count — the total the order states must equal the thermostats, bridges and sensors ordered.

Any order for these products that touches these rules is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: prices (UEI does not publish prices, so this page shows no price build-up), other UEI remotes, thermostats and sensors, Ecolink security-panel products, and anything the sheets do not state.

The AI sales agentBuilds the thermostat and sensor order from the conversation and says it is ready.
Predictika validatorChecks every rule at once and returns the verdict, each finding, and the computed figures.

7 scenarios in 3 groups · each group runs from the agent’s first attempt to the outcome · click one to switch

What the agent proposes

The AI sales agent says

Illustrative agent statement. The validator receives the structured request below.

Proposing agent: AI sales agent (scripted)

Before sending, the agent must call Recorded run

Predictika validator


      

        
        
        
      

      
Waiting for the call.

      
    

  

  
  

    
Where rules-based CPQ gets it wrong
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Our assessment of what a typical rules-based CPQ (product rules, price rules and validation rules, as in Salesforce CPQ) does with the same cases. It is a judgment about effort and reliability, not a claim that nothing can be built.

    
What the validator caughtTypical rules-based CPQPredictika
Limits that depend on the system typeOnly with care
Stage limits differ for heat pumps and standard systems and apply only to some thermostats, so each needs a rule that reads both the thermostat and the system type.		The thermostat, system type and stages are one request and are checked together.
Wiring conditionsOnly with workarounds
A required common wire depends on the supply chosen, and the jumper rule on the transformer setup, so each is a conditional rule written per thermostat.		Supply, wiring and transformer setup are checked against the thermostat on every call.
A stated total that must equal a sumOnly with care
The unit count the order states must be compared with a sum over thermostats, bridges and sensors that rules must maintain.		The stated total is a field in the request and is compared with the computed sum.
Platforms that are not on a product listOnly with workarounds
Each product has its own list of compatible panels and hubs; anything off the list must be routed to a person rather than rejected.		Lists are checked per product and unlisted platforms are routed for approval.
Every problem returned in one answerOnly with workarounds
Rules tend to fire as the order is saved or a step is completed, so a person often fixes one error and meets the next.		All findings come back together, whatever order the choices arrived in.

  

  

    
What this validator catches: findings from its test cases
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Every rule is checked on every call, in any order the choices arrive; one problem never hides another. Blocking findings stop the quote; approval findings need a person to sign off; everything else is computed.

    
1UEI lists multi-zone control for up to 8 Comfort Line thermostats; the order has 9 TIDE thermostats.
2The sheet says multi-zone control supports up to 8 Comfort Line thermostats and TIDE Bridges; the order has 8 TIDE thermostats and 1 TIDE Bridges, so a person should confirm how the limit counts bridges.
3The TBZ500 and TW780 support up to 2 stages of heating on this system type; the order asks for 3.
4The TBZ500 and TW780 support up to 3 stages of heating on this system type; the order asks for 4.
5The TBZ500 and TW780 support up to 2 stages of cooling; the order asks for 3.
6The TBZ500 sheet lists four AA batteries or hardwired 24 VAC; this supply is not listed, so a person should confirm it.
7The TW780 needs wired 24 VAC power; the order specifies another supply.
824 VAC operation of the TBZ500 and TW780 needs both the R wire and the common (C) wire from the HVAC system; the order has no C wire.
9With separate heating and cooling transformers the factory-installed RC/RH jumper of the TBZ500 must be removed; the order leaves it in place.
10The TW780 datasheet lists the HVAC modes Off, Heat and Cool; automatic changeover is not among them.
11The TBZ500 and TW780 sheets list standard gas/electric and heat pump systems; this HVAC system type is not listed, so a person should confirm it.
12The TBH300 is listed for conventional HVAC systems; this HVAC system type is not listed, so a person should confirm it.
13The TBH300 is listed with 24 VAC power wiring; this supply is not listed, so a person should confirm it.
14Battery supply is not among the supply options listed for the TIDE Dial and TIDE Touch; a person should confirm it.
15The TIDE Dial and TIDE Touch sheets list 230 VAC and 277 VAC as works with TIDE Bridge; the order has no TIDE Bridge, so a person should confirm it.
16UEI describes the TIDE Bridge as an accessory for the Comfort thermostat line (TIDE Dial and TIDE Touch); it is not listed for this thermostat, so a person should confirm it.
17A TIDE Bridge supports up to 10 peripheral devices; 1 bridges give room for 10 and the order pairs 11.
18The order pairs 3 Zigbee peripheral devices to a TIDE Bridge but includes no TIDE Bridge.
19This control platform is not on the TBZ500 list of compatible panels and Z-Wave hubs; a person should confirm it.
20The Ecolink catalog lists the TBH300 with Zigbee products compatible with Samsung SmartThings and Alexa Echo Hub; this control platform is not listed for the thermostat, so a person should confirm it.
21The TIDE sheets list Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit and the Google Assistant; this control platform is not listed, so a person should confirm it.
22The Ecolink catalog lists Z-Wave Plus products as compatible with Samsung SmartThings, Vera and HomeSeer; this control platform is not listed, so a person should confirm it.
23The Ecolink catalog lists Zigbee sensors as compatible with Samsung SmartThings and Alexa Echo Hub; this control platform is not listed for the sensors, so a person should confirm it.
24The order states 7 units in total; the items ordered add up to 5.
25The order states 44 units in total; the items ordered add up to 40.

  

  

    
Scenarios and results
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The recorded result of the validator for each scenario on this page: the request the AI agent sent, the verdict, and every finding, in the order they appear above.

    
1. Hotel TW780 order: 96 TW780 thermostats for a hotel

    
The agent's request. Please prepare an order for 96 x UEI TW780. The HVAC system type is heat pump, with 2 stages of heating and 2 of cooling, powered from 24 VAC, without a common (C) wire; heating and cooling use a single transformer. Mode: automatic changeover. Control platform: none. The order states 96 units in total. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Common (C) wire missing. 24 VAC operation of the TBZ500 and TW780 needs both the R wire and the common (C) wire from the HVAC system; the order has no C wire.
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  • Automatic mode on TW780. The TW780 datasheet lists the HVAC modes Off, Heat and Cool; automatic changeover is not among them.
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2. Hotel TW780 order: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please prepare an order for 96 x UEI TW780. The HVAC system type is heat pump, with 2 stages of heating and 2 of cooling, powered from 24 VAC, with a common (C) wire; heating and cooling use a single transformer. Mode: standard. Control platform: none. The order states 96 units in total. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. 96 units: 96 thermostats, 0 TIDE Bridges, 0 Z-Wave sensors and 0 Zigbee sensors.
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3. Dealer TBZ500 order: 24 TBZ500 thermostats with 30 Z-Wave sensors

    
The agent's request. Please prepare an order for 24 x Ecolink TBZ500, 30 Ecolink Z-Wave Plus sensors. The HVAC system type is conventional (standard gas/electric), with 3 stages of heating and 2 of cooling, powered from 24 VAC, with a common (C) wire; heating and cooling use separate transformers, RC/RH jumper in place. Mode: standard. Control platform: Alexa Echo Hub. The order states 54 units in total. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Stages of heating. The TBZ500 and TW780 support up to 2 stages of heating on this system type; the order asks for 3.
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  • RC/RH jumper left in place. With separate heating and cooling transformers the factory-installed RC/RH jumper of the TBZ500 must be removed; the order leaves it in place.
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  • Control platform not on the TBZ500 list. This control platform is not on the TBZ500 list of compatible panels and Z-Wave hubs; a person should confirm it.
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  • Z-Wave sensors on a platform not listed. The Ecolink catalog lists Z-Wave Plus products as compatible with Samsung SmartThings, Vera and HomeSeer; this control platform is not listed, so a person should confirm it.
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4. Dealer TBZ500 order: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please prepare an order for 24 x Ecolink TBZ500, 30 Ecolink Z-Wave Plus sensors. The HVAC system type is conventional (standard gas/electric), with 2 stages of heating and 2 of cooling, powered from 24 VAC, with a common (C) wire; heating and cooling use separate transformers, RC/RH jumper removed. Mode: standard. Control platform: Alexa Echo Hub. The order states 54 units in total. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Needs approval.

    
    
      
  • Control platform not on the TBZ500 list. This control platform is not on the TBZ500 list of compatible panels and Z-Wave hubs; a person should confirm it.
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  • Z-Wave sensors on a platform not listed. The Ecolink catalog lists Z-Wave Plus products as compatible with Samsung SmartThings, Vera and HomeSeer; this control platform is not listed, so a person should confirm it.
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  • Order summary. 54 units: 24 thermostats, 0 TIDE Bridges, 30 Z-Wave sensors and 0 Zigbee sensors.
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5. Dealer TBZ500 order: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please prepare an order for 24 x Ecolink TBZ500, 30 Ecolink Z-Wave Plus sensors. The HVAC system type is conventional (standard gas/electric), with 2 stages of heating and 2 of cooling, powered from 24 VAC, with a common (C) wire; heating and cooling use separate transformers, RC/RH jumper removed. Mode: standard. Control platform: Samsung SmartThings. The order states 54 units in total. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. 54 units: 24 thermostats, 0 TIDE Bridges, 30 Z-Wave sensors and 0 Zigbee sensors.
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6. Resort TIDE order: 10 TIDE Touch thermostats on 2 bridges

    
The agent's request. Please prepare an order for 10 x UEI TIDE Touch, 2 x UEI TIDE Bridge. The HVAC system type is conventional (standard gas/electric), with 1 stage of heating and 1 of cooling, powered from 24 VAC, with a common (C) wire; heating and cooling use a single transformer. Mode: standard. Control platform: Apple HomeKit. 24 Zigbee peripheral devices are paired to the bridges. The order states 12 units in total. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Too many TIDE thermostats for multi-zone control. UEI lists multi-zone control for up to 8 Comfort Line thermostats; the order has 10 TIDE thermostats.
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  • Too many peripherals for the bridges. A TIDE Bridge supports up to 10 peripheral devices; 2 bridges give room for 20 and the order pairs 24.
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7. Resort TIDE order: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please prepare an order for 6 x UEI TIDE Touch, 2 x UEI TIDE Bridge. The HVAC system type is conventional (standard gas/electric), with 1 stage of heating and 1 of cooling, powered from 24 VAC, with a common (C) wire; heating and cooling use a single transformer. Mode: standard. Control platform: Apple HomeKit. 20 Zigbee peripheral devices are paired to the bridges. The order states 8 units in total. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Order summary. 8 units: 6 thermostats, 2 TIDE Bridges, 0 Z-Wave sensors and 0 Zigbee sensors.
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Narration transcript
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The text of the narrated walkthrough, step by step.

    
    
      
  1. Welcome to a demo of Predictika's Validator. An AI sales agent prepares an order for UEI and Ecolink climate-control products: which thermostat, the HVAC system and its stages, the power supply and wiring, and more. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of what the public UEI and Ecolink sheets say and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.
    2. 
      
  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
    3. 
      
  3. The agent says. Please prepare an order for 24 x Ecolink TBZ500, 30 Ecolink Z-Wave Plus sensors. The HVAC system type is conventional (standard gas/electric), with 3 stages of heating and 2 of cooling, powered from 24 VAC. The rest of the request is on screen.
    4. 
      
  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
    5. 
      
  5. Blocked, with two findings and two approvals, all in one answer. The TBZ500 and TW780 support up to 2 stages of heating on this system type; the order asks for 3. With separate heating and cooling transformers the factory-installed RC/RH jumper of the TBZ500 must be removed; the order leaves it in place.
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  6. The validator returned two blocking findings and two approvals in one answer. A check that reads one field at a time would pass most of this; it shows only when the choices in the quote are checked against each other.
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  7. What this shows: for platforms that are not on a product list, a rules-based CPQ can do this only with workarounds.
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  8. Now the agent resubmits.
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  9. The corrected request. It changes the stages of heating to 2 and the RC/RH jumper removed to yes.
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  10. It calls the validator again.
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  11. Not blocked, but held for a person.
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  12. The two blocking findings are cleared; two approvals remain for a person: control platform not on the TBZ500 list and Z-Wave sensors on a platform not listed.
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  13. The agent resubmits once more.
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  14. The revised request. It changes the control platform to Samsung SmartThings.
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  15. It calls the validator once more.
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  16. This time the validator clears it.
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  17. Both earlier findings are cleared.
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  18. Four problems caught in one call, fixed in two passes, and a clean quote. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before they reach the customer. Now you can try the other scenarios yourself.
    19.