Controlling home heating from my phone !

sunny2004

OK, I know home automation has been mentioned, I went and searched before posting, the results showed quite an extensive range of comments and options but that was 6 months ago as far as I can see and this tech changes fast..

WHAT I WANT TO ACHIEVE...
Simple, control the on and off and timer of my oil central heating system, the reality, I want to switch it on from my phone on my way home...

I am asking 2 questions,
First, what are the options ?
Secondly, any ideas on installation, is there any companies installing this tech ?

Thanks..

tonc76

sunny2004 wrote: »

OK, I know home automation has been mentioned, I went and searched before posting, the results showed quite an extensive range of comments and options but that was 6 months ago as far as I can see and this tech changes fast..

WHAT I WANT TO ACHIEVE...
Simple, control the on and off and timer of my oil central heating system, the reality, I want to switch it on from my phone on my way home...

I am asking 2 questions,
First, what are the options ?
Secondly, any ideas on installation, is there any companies installing this tech ?

Thanks..

Climote available from electric Ireland for free if you switch to them on 2 year contract. Tado also has the remote functionality. Honeywell system can also do this but is €€€

Nest also available

https://www.electricireland.ie/residential/products/smarter-living

fred funk }{

What alarm system do you have at home?

sunny2004

fred funk }{ wrote: »

What alarm system do you have at home?

Why? are you intending on breaking in ? haha

I have a self monitored system, one that phones me...

fred funk }{

sunny2004 wrote: »

Why? are you intending on breaking in ? haha

I have a self monitored system, one that phones me...

Some systems can be controlled via an app. Your heating can be connected to your alarm system thus being able to switch heating via alarm app.

sunny2004

tonc76 wrote: »

Climote available from electric Ireland for free if you switch to them on 2 year contract. Tado also has the remote functionality. Honeywell system can also do this but is €€€

Nest also available

https://www.electricireland.ie/residential/products/smarter-living

I like the idea of nest, I don't really know how expensive the switch will be, and Im not happy with paying by direct debit, old school I suppose, I prefer if there is ever an issue with my bill, that the money isn't paid


So I guess Im looking to get whatever system will control the heating installed as a once off payment if possible....

sunny2004

fred funk }{ wrote: »

Some systems can be controlled via an app. Your heating can be connected to your alarm system thus being able to switch heating via alarm app.

Didn't know you could get app enabled alarms, but I guess it makes sense..

Wearb

I use a Wemo Insight and it does just what you requested. Wemo Switch will do almost the same and is cheaper.

Robbie.G

sunny2004 wrote: »

I like the idea of nest, I don't really know how expensive the switch will be, and Im not happy with paying by direct debit, old school I suppose, I prefer if there is ever an issue with my bill, that the money isn't paid


So I guess Im looking to get whatever system will control the heating installed as a once off payment if possible....

You can go with Climote directly contact them and they can arrange installation
Or as mentioned either electric Ireland and airtricity are offering them free of charge if you sign up

Bog Man 1

Get a Wi fi smart plug . My brother bought a few of them in Harveys Normans and uses them for turning on lights and heating .

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Remote-Control-Socket-Automation-Android-White/dp/B00N2YE02K

17larsson

Nest is probably the most expensive but by far the coolest. It learns your habits so it controls the heating for you. There is a list of local installers on their website

Low Energy Eng

Bog Man 1 wrote: »

Get a Wi fi smart plug . My brother bought a few of them in Harveys Normans and uses them for turning on lights and heating .

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Remote-Control-Socket-Automation-Android-White/dp/B00N2YE02K

How do you get it to control the boiler? Eg, does your bro kill the power to the boiler?

ninja 12

sunny2004 wrote: »

OK, I know home automation has been mentioned, I went and searched before posting, the results showed quite an extensive range of comments and options but that was 6 months ago as far as I can see and this tech changes fast..

WHAT I WANT TO ACHIEVE...
Simple, control the on and off and timer of my oil central heating system, the reality, I want to switch it on from my phone on my way home...

I am asking 2 questions,
First, what are the options ?
Secondly, any ideas on installation, is there any companies installing this tech ?

Thanks..

I'm replacing an APT time clock with a Heatmiser Smartstat next week .

https://www.heatmiser.com/smart-thermostat/

It's a thermostat / timer but also connects to Wi-Fi , and can be controlled by an app on a phone .

It's a standalone unit , no fees , subscriptions etc .



I'm just waiting on Amazon to ship it to me ( hopefully tomorrow)

HeidiHeidi

I had a Nest installed recently, by Electric Ireland. I was already with them so paid €99 for it but if you switch to them it's free - but you have to sign up for a two year contract at full price with no discounts. So it's not cheap.

It took a bit of head-wrecking getting-used-to to go from a clock timer to thermostatic control, and I'm still getting the hang of it. And its main selling point - that it learns your habits - is wasted on me as I don't have any habits, i do shift work and have a completely random lifestyle!

But I can switch the heating on an hour before I head home from work (which most days could be any time, I have no way of knowing when I'll finish a lot of the tiem) and this is what I was after. It's an absolute gift!

The Climote was also an option, but there's an ongoing SIM payment with that which put me off it. That seems to be more of a conventional switch-on/switch-off operation. The Nest works off your home wi-fi.

I'm sure there are many more options out there for those who are up on these things, but I have to say that so far (apart from initial software teething problems which the Nest support people were great to deal with about) I'm delighted with it.

sunny2004

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

I had a Nest installed recently, by Electric Ireland. I was already with them so paid €99 for it but if you switch to them it's free - but you have to sign up for a two year contract at full price with no discounts. So it's not cheap.

It took a bit of head-wrecking getting-used-to to go from a clock timer to thermostatic control, and I'm still getting the hang of it. And its main selling point - that it learns your habits - is wasted on me as I don't have any habits, i do shift work and have a completely random lifestyle!

But I can switch the heating on an hour before I head home from work (which most days could be any time, I have no way of knowing when I'll finish a lot of the tiem) and this is what I was after. It's an absolute gift!

The Climote was also an option, but there's an ongoing SIM payment with that which put me off it. That seems to be more of a conventional switch-on/switch-off operation. The Nest works off your home wi-fi.

I'm sure there are many more options out there for those who are up on these things, but I have to say that so far (apart from initial software teething problems which the Nest support people were great to deal with about) I'm delighted with it.

I would be interested to know exactly how much it actually costs over the 2 years.. thanks for the info

HeidiHeidi

sunny2004 wrote: »

I would be interested to know exactly how much it actually costs over the 2 years.. thanks for the info

It's €99 for the install, and then whatever EI charge without discounts for their electricity. If you leave before the two years are up you basically have to pay the full price of the device which is about €300/350 (can't remember exactly).

sunny2004

Time for a dumb question,

Exactly how can any of these options switch on the hot water, but not the heating ? say during the summer.. USING AN APP .....

Stoner

I'm using lightwave happy with it.

One of the lads here has set it up to deal with just hit water etc using electronic valves

tonc76

sunny2004 wrote: »

Time for a dumb question,

Exactly how can any of these options switch on the hot water, but not the heating ? say during the summer.. USING AN APP .....

Zoned heating system with a hot water only option. The boiler will fire but only to heat the water. The Climote which I'm considering installing can be controlled by an app, website or text message. http://www.climote.ie/products/at-home/

sunny2004

tonc76 wrote: »

Zoned heating system with a hot water only option. The boiler will fire but only to heat the water. The Climote which I'm considering installing can be controlled by an app, website or text message. http://www.climote.ie/products/at-home/

that system requires a subscription each year ?

Bruthal

Stoner wrote: »

I'm using lightwave happy with it.

One of the lads here has set it up to deal with just hit water etc using electronic valves

Yea I have that done as well, A motorised valve for cylinder, and one for rads. Control each with a lightwaverf relay, and the motorised valve contacts bring on the gas boiler.

Never had a bother with it. Some lights and sockets on it as well.

2011

sunny2004 wrote: »

that system requires a subscription each year ?

Yes it does.

It is worth noting that modern intruder alarms can be used to switch on/off multiple devices (via dry contacts) at no additional subscription cost. It is also possible to see the on/off status of various devices.

sunny2004

2011 wrote: »

Yes it does.

It is worth noting that modern intruder alarms can be used to switch on/off multiple devices (via dry contacts) at no additional subscription cost. It is also possible to see the on/off status of various devices.

Im only interested in a system that I pay for once, and that uses an app..
that still leaves me with the issue of installation.

2011

sunny2004 wrote: »

Im only interested in a system that I pay for once, and that uses an app..

An intruder alarm only has to be paid for once.
If the alarm is self monitored (rings the owner directly when activated) there is no recurring charge. Some of these alarm systems can be used to control heating via an app on a phone also free of charge.

that still leaves me with the issue of installation.

This applies to whatever system you choose.

2011

Nest sell a high quality standalone device that you only "have to pay for once" which can be used to control your heating from an app.

See link:

https://store.nest.com/ie/product/thermostat/?gclid=CjwKEAiAmNW2BRDL4KqS3vmqgUESJABiiwDTw_T1cOHzNsrkP0BiGaWC9HW3MROocaU4xMKB8TOWLhoCmubw_wcB

Stoner

The lightwave system bruthal and I use is once off, free app.

The timer is about 80 Euro as is the wireless stat . Then it's 80 for the head unit very easy to set up. Their other bits are very cheap

M5

The electric Ireland deal is far from free folks. You lose any other discounts and merely pay for it over 2 years. (if you compare with the cheapest plans)

I do use a nest thought and I am pretty happy with it. Very user friendly and easy to set up.

The wifi plug option also needs care as it may not be rated to the wattage of the boiler. Lightwaverf do a 3kw relay but it needs a Base station to function. The thermostat and boiler switch option with it is very expensive when compared to nest. It does have further expansion options though, unlike nest

Wearb

M5 wrote: »

The electric Ireland deal is far from free folks. You lose any other discounts and merely pay for it over 2 years. (if you compare with the cheapest plans)

I do use a nest thought and I am pretty happy with it. Very user friendly and easy to set up.

The wifi plug option also needs care as it may not be rated to the wattage of the boiler. Lightwaverf do a 3kw relay but it needs a Base station to function. The thermostat and boiler switch option with it is very expensive when compared to nest. It does have further expansion options though, unlike nest

The Wemo is rated at 13 amps. The heating system would require about a 1/10th of that.

M5

Wearb wrote: »

The Wemo is rated at 13 amps. The heating system would require about a 1/10th of that.

I want referring specifically to the wemo. There are hundreds of different wifi switchable sockets, some are well under 13 amps. Best to check before investing

Bruthal

M5 wrote: »

I want referring specifically to the wemo. There are hundreds of different wifi switchable sockets, some are well under 13 amps. Best to check before investing

It would want to be a seriously weak device to not be able to switch a gas or oil boiler.

2011

Bruthal wrote: »

It would want to be a seriously weak device to not be able to switch a gas or oil boiler.

Correct, besides if switching a larger load than the device is rated for is a requirement then installing a relay / contactor provides a simple solution.