3 heating zone circuits - upgrade to smart controller

carkk2023

hi all,

as always, I’ve trawled through so much useful reading on boards but haven’t managed to find an exact answer to what I’m hoping to find out.

we currently have three heating circuit zones, one downstairs in living areas, the second in downstairs bedrooms and the third being upstairs. It’s all being controlled by a Horstmann channel plus, h37xl. It’s okay but not the most ideal controlled as we have no room thermostats, and it’s limited in its program-ability for what we need. Our hot water cylinder is controlled by a separate analogue timer which can switch the oil boiler on in a more traditional way. The current controller is designed for three zones, ideally 2 heating and 1 hot water, however functions fine as 3 heating zones as the hot water is taken care of separately.

So I’ve done a lot of reading and am hoping to change to a smart system. Drayton Wiser seems good. However I cannot find out if their three zone system will work. Like the Horstmann we have, It is also designed for two heating circuits and a hot water circuit. It comes with two zone thermostats for the wall to signal back to the two heating circuits, and obviously nothing for the hot water. I’m trying to find out can I buy a third room thermostat, and make the controller operate it as a third heating zone circuit? I understand I can add ‘zones’ using TRVs etc, but when the circuit with valves etc is already there, from the old controller it makes sense to use it if possible.

If that works, it’s my understanding that I can get an ‘electrical heat switch’ designed for an electric heater to replace the analogue timer on the hot water system that’s currently alongside the Horstmann controller in the utility.

im hoping that my question makes sense! Many thanks in advance!

NewClareman

Your question makes perfect sense, if you ask on this thread you should get lots of help.

In my last house I had separate zones for upstairs and downstairs with timed thermostats in the living room and landing. This allowed me to have heating on in the bedrooms morning and evening and downstairs during the day. You can now achieve the same, for multiple zones, using wireless wall thermostats.

However, have smart thermostats on each radiator gives lots more flexibility. We have a large house, with only two of us living there. We can heat the room/rooms we want and it saves us a fortune. It might be worth your while biting the bullet and going down that route. I had to replace all my radiator valves first and I reckon it paid for itself in under two years.

I used the Honeywell/Resideo Evohome system because it works without the internet (or even WiFi) and has been around a good few years. However many people swear by the systems you mention and they are cheaper.

Good Luck!

declan b

Secure took over Horstmann. Have a look at the Secure [ horstmann ] h3747 and do a bit of research on it.it is the replacement for the x37xl. The horstmann h37 channel plus xl is no longer being made

NewClareman

One option is to use three sets of Honeywell Home DT4R Wireless Room Thermostats paired to Bdr91's wired in parallel. The Thermostats and one BzdR91's can be reused if you want to move to individual room zones using the Evohome system.

SeanElec1

Hi Carkk2023

I've installed a drayton wiser 4081v today, 2 radio thermostats for the rooms and timer only for the cylinder.

Rewired it myself taking out a dead EPH 3 zone controller, have n't done the configuration yet but will get it done this week. I'll update you later this week.