Smart Thermostat

Shane732

Could we setup a sticky for smart thermostats?

I've asked a couple of question before but in the end the plumber I was using was promoting putting in a smart thermostat - mainly because I don't think he was comfortable with it.

So here's my setup -

Gas boiler that heats both heat and water. The boiler is controlled by a CTC thermostat unit located under the gas boiler. The CTC can operate as 24 hours, 5/2 day or 7 day. I hate the thermostat - can't get it to work at all. In addition to this I also have a thermostat you turn which supposedly determines the heat of the property.

I also have an immersion.

So I was set on getting a Heatmiser Neo but my plumber managed to put me off it. He says that if I was to get the Heatmiser the heating system would operate differently in that the boiler pump would always be on. Is this correct? Does the Heatmiser Neo not have the ability to actually turn the heating on or off?

When I showed him the Climote he seemed to think it would work fine. The climote is expensive and there's an annual sub.

Would the Heatmiser work?

Does the Nest have the ability to turn the heating on and off?

Any advice would be greatly welcomed as the CTC is doing my nut in.

Shane732

I think I've answered my question in relation to the Nest.

I think the Heat Link was the part of the equation I was missing.

antoinolachtnai

All of these gadgets, cheap or expensive, simple or complicated, thermostats or timers, just have relays (electronically controlled switches) to turn an electricity supply to something-or-other on or off. This is how they control the boiler or whatever.

You really need to work out how your system is wired. It can be a bit tricky. Sometimes plumbers are pretty vague on the details too.

Shane732

antoinolachtnai wrote: »

All of these gadgets, cheap or expensive, simple or complicated, thermostats or timers, just have relays (electronically controlled switches) to turn an electricity supply to something-or-other on or off. This is how they control the boiler or whatever.

You really need to work out how your system is wired. It can be a bit tricky. Sometimes plumbers are pretty vague on the details too.

At the moment I basically have a CTC digital programable switch wired to the gas boiler (which controls water and heating) and then I have one of those only dial thermostats

antoinolachtnai

I don't know this particular switch. The critical thing though is how it is wired. Is it wired to the boiler? Or to the pump? Or to the pump and the boiler? And is there an actuator valve on the system to switch between hot water only and heating + hot water? Is there a way to get heating only, but no hot water (unusual, but sometimes happens)? Can you control the hot water from it?

Shane732

antoinolachtnai wrote: »

I don't know this particular switch. The critical thing though is how it is wired. Is it wired to the boiler? Or to the pump? Or to the pump and the boiler? And is there an actuator valve on the system to switch between hot water only and heating + hot water? Is there a way to get heating only, but no hot water (unusual, but sometimes happens)? Can you control the hot water from it?

Yes, it's wired to the boiler.

I'm told there is no actuator valve on the system. There is no water to get hot water only.

antoinolachtnai

Then it should be really simple. There is only one thing to switch. Any of the systems on the market should do what you need. I don't see why the heat miser would work any worse than the Climote.

But your plumber is the guy on the ground, and he may be seeing something that I am not.

Shane732

antoinolachtnai wrote: »

Then it should be really simple. There is only one thing to switch. Any of the systems on the market should do what you need. I don't see why the heat miser would work any worse than the Climote.

But your plumber is the guy on the ground, and he may be seeing something that I am not.

Is concern was that the Heatmiser Neo would only turn the boiler burner on or off and that the pump would be on constantly.

To be honest the whole thing is an absolute pain in the as* - I wanted a smart thermostat but he managed to put me off I'm now left with something that I actually can't work! The thing I have at the moment is a joke.

Anyway I have a service tomorrow so I will question the guy installing it up and down.

I would have thought that installing the Heatmiser was a case of connecting the wires and that would be it.

antoinolachtnai

Why would the heat miser not be able to turn off the pump, and the climote or CTC would be able to turn off the pump? That is what I don't understand.

Shane732

antoinolachtnai wrote: »

Why would the heat miser not be able to turn off the pump, and the climote or CTC would be able to turn off the pump? That is what I don't understand.

I have no idea. I think the guy I was talking to didn't fully understand the Heatmiser - he was of the opinion that it was a stat and didn't actually have a switching function I guess.

Chet T16

I had a nest to play with for a few days and installed it at home replacing the existing single thermostat.

What I didn't realise is that the thermostat was controlling the pump and the boiler would be coming on all the time. That seems nuts when the heating would probably only be on for a handful of hours.

I'd nearly be tempted to wire it in to the mains power to the boiler but i've no idea if that's viable for all types of boilers - the last place was controlled like that.

Shane732

So the plot thickens.... I have 2 zones - which appear to be operated by the manual thermostat. If I turn the manual thermostat to zero then it'll heat the water only. If I turn it up to a temperature it'll heat both water and the radiators.

antoinolachtnai

Does turning the thermostat up make the pump go on?

Or is there a zone actuator valve somewhere?

You could rewire so that the heat miser (or whatever) turned on the pump and the boiler. You need the neo2 model so you can control two things. I don't know what the wiring details would be and you would need to consider where you were going to locate the various parts of the device. Similarly, the climate allows up to three zones (including hot water). I am just going by the specs on the websites, I don't have any hands-on experience with these particular devices.

Gerry1995

I've been messing with these various thermostats over the last while. In an effort to control our heating costs I had the old Gas boiler replaced with a new combi Gas boiler, I think pump must be integral to this boiler as I can't see it. Along with this new boiler I had the house zoned, Hot water, Upstairs heating and downstairs heating. I also got two wireless thermostats for the Heating zones,the make was Celect (Sauter I think!) and they were working fine for 12 months then one wet on the blink and found it very difficult to get it right again.
At Christmas my son bought us three Nest thermostats and although we only installed them over the last three days they seem like the real deal. They connect to the internet so as well as manual control at he thermostat I have complete control on my iPhone app from anywhere I have internet access. The third Nest was for installation in a country cottage with an Oil boiler and it means I can control the heating from Dublin or again anywhere I have internet access, this is especial useful for when weather really turns frosty I can just turn on the heating remotely. As I get used to using them I will report on the good and bad. One last thing so far my wife is able to use this no bother which is a big benefit.
https://nest.com/ They can also be bought at Harvey Norman, Arnotts and CompuB

Shane732

antoinolachtnai wrote: »

Does turning the thermostat up make the pump go on?

Or is there a zone actuator valve somewhere?

You could rewire so that the heat miser (or whatever) turned on the pump and the boiler. You need the neo2 model so you can control two things. I don't know what the wiring details would be and you would need to consider where you were going to locate the various parts of the device. Similarly, the climate allows up to three zones (including hot water). I am just going by the specs on the websites, I don't have any hands-on experience with these particular devices.

Turning the thermostat up puts both the hot water and the rads on.

There appears to be a manual valve in the hot press.

I was told today that the current CTC switch is faulty.

yankinlk

@gerry is it easy enough to install?

i have oil boiler, newly replaced, 2zones only, rads and water.

i have a seperate device for boost, each zone, and a thermostat in another room hard wired. am i right in thinking i just replace the lot with the nest?

17larsson

yankinlk wrote: »

@gerry is it easy enough to install?

i have oil boiler, newly replaced, 2zones only, rads and water.

i have a seperate device for boost, each zone, and a thermostat in another room hard wired. am i right in thinking i just replace the lot with the nest?

You would leave your existing time-clock to control your hot water and the Nest would control your heating. If you do it yourself just be careful not to connect 240volt to your new stat

eddiej

Current setup similar to op - gas condenser boiler 3 zones upstairs downstairs hot water. CTC controller (time clock plus boost function) and two stats. Just changed one of the original stats (flash mechanical) to a digital and plan to do similar to second when cash flow allows.

Looking at all these various internet stats etc but apart from being able to switch heating remotely what is advantage to above and op setup.

Do you get more benefit from zoning, boiler maintenance and possibly upgrading insulation etc. than one of these thermostats. I see the big advantage for the remote cottage but would a simple frost stat not over come that to kick in the boiler there.

Anyways op this is what I would do and keep it as simple as possible but I stand corrected

yankinlk

fair question. i thot the main adv of the nest is its ability to learn your behaviour rather than having to program it manually for each season.

also it detects when u arent home and turns off.