Replacing Horstmann 37xl with a smart controller

mcinernm

Hi,

I have a 3 channel Horstmann. It controls water, upstairs rads, and downstairs rads. So 3 channels/ 3 zones. No thermostats in any rooms. Oil fired condensing boiler.

I want to replace the Horstmann with a smart system that I can build onto. To start with I simply want to replace the controller with a wifi enabled controller that can handle 3 channels/zones and I can use to turn heating/water on from my phone. Later I can look at smart rad controllers and thermostats.

I'm finding it a challenge to see what is out there. The Drayton Wiser 3 channel seems to be an option but is almost impossible to buy in Ireland. Not sure if I'm keen on replacing it with multiple single channels like Nest.

Are there any other options out there?

Any help would be gratefully accepted.

eurokev

I replaced the same controller last year with an eph rf 3 zone controller.

I use it to have the facility to turn the heating on via my phone from anywhere. It has never failed me and I am very happy with it.

eurokev

mcinernm

Thanks for the info on the EPH system. Can I ask you what parts you had to put in place to get it to be app controlled. From what I see the EPH r37 controller replaces my Horstmann on the wall. I can't see that this is wifi enabled though? Did you have to put in other components to get phone control?

Wearb

Maybe a couple of Hive thermostats.

You would have two thermostats, one heating only, the other heating and hotwater. Roughly €370 without installation.

The other cheaper option would be a couple or 3 simple wifi switches. This wouldn't give you temperature control.

eurokev

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118418994#Comment_118418994

I already had the 3 actuated valves installed, so I just wired them up to the new eph time clock, which as far I as remember was wired more or less the same way as the horstmann controller. Eph supply you with an easy to follow wiring diagram anyway.

The only additional components were the 3 thermostats. In my case 1 for upstairs, one for downstairs, and one for the hot water cylinder. These are battery powered so required no wiring. You have to pair these then with the timeclock, which is very simple to do.

The last component then is the gateway, which needs a power supply and a connection to your router to allow the system access to the internet.

I bought the ember pack 8, which is probably what you would be getting also, as it seems like you have the same set up

eurokev

There's some good easy to follow videos on YouTube too

mcinernm

Thanks for that. It does seem like we have the same setup including the valves. My stat on the immersion tank is wired as it is used to close a valve for the oil boiler going through the cylinder. I assume EPH have a wired stat for this.

I have been in touch with EPH and they are helping me through this so hopefully it should all work out.

Thanks again.

eurokev

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118421047#Comment_118421047

I replaced my old wired stat on the cylinder with a wireless rf one.. there is a temperature sensor wired to the stat that you stick on to the cylinder with tape provided. I am not sure if it is possible to have a mixture of wired and non wired stats on the eph controller??

Deanicus

I replaced my horstmann several years ago with the Tado system

Full house control required 3 x room thermostat and their extension box. I eventually added radiator thermostats for individual room control. My HW tank still uses the wired thermostat so all I can do is set it to ON in Tado and the wired stat takes care of the temp

System works great and I installed it myself. When you order Tado you give them details of your existing system and they generate bespoke instructions for you

It's been working great for me but I don't pay any monthly costs for all the features (geofencing etc), which is now required for newer customers

Deanicus

One thing to note too about individual radiator stats is how it might affect the return temperature of the water. If only 1 rad is calling for heat, the return temp would likely be hotter than when you would heat a whole zone. If you have a condenser boiler this would affect efficiency but I don't know if the reduced efficiency is offset by the likely lower on time since you're only heating a single room