Add a NEST control to my system?

SoupyNorman

With the launch of the NEST controller soon

I was wondering how I could get this installed considering my boiler does not have a digital control panel, it looks like this:

freddyuk

Have you got zoned heating? Have you already got programmable room thermostats for each zone? If not don't bother. You will never control your heating with your smart phone once the novelty has worn off and if you are not zoned it is all pointless. Spend the money on making what you have more efficient.

Graham

freddyuk wrote: »

You will never control your heating with your smart phone once the novelty has worn off and if you are not zoned it is all pointless.

The point of the Nest is not to control your heating with a smart phone. The nest is essentially an intelligent programmable thermostat.

With a normal programmable thermostat you set your on/off times and temperature and off it goes. If you want additional heat during an off period, you probably hit the boost button. If you're not at home during an 'on' period, the empty house stays nicely heated unnecessarily.

With the nest, you set your initial timetable/temperatures but that timetable adjusts automatically as it learns your behaviour. If you're out of the house during a previously defined 'on' period, the nest realises and sets itself to 'away' which turns the heating off. If you turn the heating up at 9pm every evening, the nest learns that too and adjusts the timetable. The ability to set different temperatures for different times of the day also give you scope to reduce your energy consumption further. Being able to turn the heating on (from the App) while you're on your way home is a nice bonus.

Like any heating/heating control system, multiple zones contribute significantly to energy efficiency when controlled properly. If you have a multi-zone heating system, you can use nest controllers in as many of the zones as you wish.

There are other similar systems on the market (Climote etc) but the Nest is the only one that I can see evolving into a piece of an overall home energy management system.

Thispoorpanda

@OP I have a similar set up to you and would love to know if I can get a NEST to work with my boiler. There doesn't seem to be much in the way of contact information on their website but looking at the installation guide it seems possible..?

Graham

Thispoorpanda wrote: »

@OP I have a similar set up to you and would love to know if I can get a NEST to work with my boiler. There doesn't seem to be much in the way of contact information on their website but looking at the installation guide it seems possible..?

I have seen posts from people who have a Nest even with systems like the OPs

Does your current system have a separate timer/thermostat/programmer or is it just what's on the boiler?

Thispoorpanda

Graham wrote: »

I have seen posts from people who have a Nest even with systems like the OPs

Does your current system have a separate timer/thermostat/programmer or is it just what's on the boiler?

I have a separate, very basic, analog timer wired in to the boiler but the temperature is controlled from a dial on the actual boiler. I'm hoping we can just replace the timer in its current position with the NEST without too much hassle.

NEST are offering free installation if you purchase before Sept 24th too which is pretty sweet.

Graham

Thispoorpanda wrote: »

I have a separate, very basic, analog timer wired in to the boiler but the temperature is controlled from a dial on the actual boiler. I'm hoping we can just replace the timer in its current position with the NEST without too much hassle.

Sounds like the setup I had, boiler with one of these connected to it:



That was removed and replaced with the HeatLink that comes with the Nest. Job done.

Does your hot water come from a separate source?

Thispoorpanda

Yup that's the exact timer we have!

Our hot water is heated by the boiler as well.

Graham

Thispoorpanda wrote: »

Yup that's the exact timer we have!

Our hot water is heated by the boiler as well.

I think you're out of luck if you like having hot water.

The nest only controls the heating, unless you can separate control of the hot water from the heating it wouldn't work properly for you.

Thispoorpanda

Graham wrote: »

I think you're out of luck if you like having hot water.

Well we do have an immersion as well so I suppose we could just use that full time for water instead.

Graham

Thispoorpanda wrote: »

Well we do have an immersion as well so I suppose we could just use that full time for water instead.

You'd need to do your sums, that might work out costing more than you'd save on the heating.

fbradyirl

Just found this link for free install...

https://nest.com/ie/welcome/

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