Best Wifi enabled thermostat

[chockymonster]

I've gone for the tado option. I like the geofencing idea, it works for the way we work from home on random days and seeing as we are apple sheep we have no compatibility issues!
It will be interesting to see if it can save the money promised

[pills]

I'm using the Salus iT500 with no problems.
Simple user interface from either iphone, android or remote thermostat. We can turn heating on or off from just about anywhere with an internet connection and so far no issues with wireless thermostat.

[Tiggsy]

If you use a stat that is programmable....what do you of with your normal water/heating programmer already there?

My current set up is just that, unit at the boiler to set on/off tines and stat in the dining room. Does the old programmer cease to be used. (For heating at least)

[fargo747]

pills said:

I'm using the Salus iT500 with no problems.
Simple user interface from either iphone, android or remote thermostat. We can turn heating on or off from just about anywhere with an internet connection and so far no issues with wireless thermostat.

Did the Salus need a new controller on the boiler or does it 'talk' to existing kit (ie the Honeywell controller I have for heat)? I haven't found their website the most helpful. A quick look around suggests that the remote stat is quite nice, but unless permanently powered (not sure that's even an option), the display is blank unless you prod it. Actually, that kind of explains why the Nest is hard wired, it's always going to need a power feed for its display.

Need to get over the obsession with how good the Nest looks and just by a Tado. Maybe there's a nice digital thermometer on the market somewhere as a consolation prize...

[bogie]

on the Salus you have a box that goes on the boiler and replaces existing box. It can control the water too. It has manual override in case you lose the wireless box or power is out etc

the wireless box is black until you touch it to save power (runs on AA batteries)....the only time you touch it is really to see the temp and to do temporary override. You could use your phone too...depends what you have to hand in the room you are sat in

[Tiggsy]

so the salus does away with both the old hard wired room stat and the 7 day programme unit for water/heat sat by the boiler?

[bogie]

Tiggsy said:

so the salus does away with both the old hard wired room stat and the 7 day programme unit for water/heat sat by the boiler?

yes, the stat is replaced by wireless you put in your room of choice, it can go on a wall mount too. It does the 7 day program thing or you set it via the internet or phone app. You can see a demo on their website. It takes a few mins to program

Im really happy with it so far, does just what I wanted

[HoHoHo]

bogie said:

Tiggsy said:

so the salus does away with both the old hard wired room stat and the 7 day programme unit for water/heat sat by the boiler?

yes, the stat is replaced by wireless you put in your room of choice, it can go on a wall mount too. It does the 7 day program thing or you set it via the internet or phone app. You can see a demo on their website. It takes a few mins to program

Im really happy with it so far, does just what I wanted

I've just ordered one so I hope you're correct!

I'll leave the heating on constant on the timer (which is used for the water as well), keeping the water on timed. The Salus will then be in control of the heating as I need it.

If I want it to control the water, how does that work?

I understand the heating currently has a remote temp which sends a signal to a box near the boiler, but the hot water is switched on and off by the electronic timer in a cupboard in the utility room and therefore doesn't have a junction box in the boiler room.....does that make any sense?

[bogie]

Without seeing the wiring diagram of your existing setup its hard to say. There are lots of wiring diagrams in the install guide. You can download from the Salus website and get reading

It will replace any or both hot water and heating programmers and the thermostat. Just read the instructions and study your existing wiring to figure it out

...if you get stuck im sure an electrician can do it in 30-60 mins ...

[RossP]

I've been mulling this over and have now placed an order for the Tado. Interesting review by Ben Lovejoy (of 'ring fame) here: http://9to5mac.com/2013/11/25/review-europes-answe...

[HoHoHo]

My Salus arrived yesterday and my sparky installed whilst completing our generator switch (different topic, but worth having IMO)

Initial impressions are.......

Easy to install mains box
The wall unit is well made and easy to program, back plate uses same holes as standard thermostat....handy!
The router unit connected to their server immediately and within 2 minutes I was controlling the unit remotely having created an account
Very easy to adjust/override the heating from your iPhone etc. and also easy via the wall unit
You have 6 daily programs and they are there for good. You can't remove any only simply set the temperatures.........that's not a problem but I don't need 6!
Choice of 5/2, 7 or daily programming
Wall unit does have a child lock which is fortunate having an inquisitive 4 year old!

All in all worth the money and seems to do the job.

Screen grab of the home screen



Programming page

[Mr Whippy]

Hmmm interesting stuff.

So I assume with these smart thermostats good TRV setting is still essential for the very best system of heating?

Or can you maybe use some different strategies?

Hmmm

Dave

[HootersGsy]

Having been looking into this myself this new system from Honeywell, due out shortly, looks like it combines the best bits of several of the other systems. http://www.evohome.info so each room is zoned and controlled separately as well as having central control.

[HoHoHo]

Mr Whippy said:

Hmmm interesting stuff.

So I assume with these smart thermostats good TRV setting is still essential for the very best system of heating?

Or can you maybe use some different strategies?

Hmmm

Dave

I've left ours as they are, some rooms are naturally hotter than others in our house and providing the location if the unit is either at 21 or whatever, the rest of the house is fine.

The main reason for 'upgrading' to this unit was simply because our existing one seemed far too complex simply to increase or decrease the temperature to the point where we didn't simply bother, having either a cold or boiling house!

This is easy to use with benefit of being available via the net (however, I'm not entirely sure when we'll use it whilst out of the house )

[bogie]

you still need TRV to balance out room settings

of course you could carry around the stat from room to room, but it would take too long to take the temp up/down for you , easier to have the stat in the living room and have all trvs open in there and then adjust trvs in bedrooms/dining room etc

[HoHoHo]

HootersGsy said:

Having been looking into this myself this new system from Honeywell, due out shortly, looks like it combines the best bits of several of the other systems. http://www.evohome.info so each room is zoned and controlled separately as well as having central control.

That looks interesting and giving good control on an individual basis if not however an excuse to have the boiler working longer on occasion!

[sbirt]

HoHoHo said:

HootersGsy said:

Having been looking into this myself this new system from Honeywell, due out shortly, looks like it combines the best bits of several of the other systems. http://www.evohome.info so each room is zoned and controlled separately as well as having central control.

That looks interesting and giving good control on an individual basis if not however an excuse to have the boiler working longer on occasion!

The evohome appears to be standard RF rather than using a mesh system like z-wave. In a larger property I see this being a problem - we have RF thermostats in our house and they have infuriatingly poor range which renders them almost unworkable. The other issue with radiator based zoning is of course the initial outlay at £50+ per radiator for the cheaper systems and I suspect somewhat more for the Honeywell one.

[HoHoHo]

£50 per radiator, feck me, I'd be bankrupt!

[HootersGsy]

HoHoHo said:

That looks interesting and giving good control on an individual basis if not however an excuse to have the boiler working longer on occasion!

There's also this system, though a UK start up vs. Honeywell...

Yes, the boiler may be firing for longer but should only be powering the rads that need it so you would hope less overall.

They look like a combination of something like the House Tech and Tado solutions already mentioned. Hence the price tags!

[Mr Whippy]

I'm sure the old Honywell Evohome system TRV's were about £240 for an eight pack when I just looked.

So not so bad maybe now? The new one is probably a fortune though. Colour screen, iPhone control... gotta be expensive


We're just about to move into a house with an oil burner and electric immersion heater. I'm not sure at all on the system in place but I think it's probably the most inefficient config going, so a £500 investment would get a much better ROI than someone with an already fairly good system looking to upgrade at a similar total cost.


Starting to wonder if this is something you could run with Raspberry Pi type system with a web-type interface. I'm surprised no one is making some cheaper systems given how much energy/money you could save if you appropriately manage your heating.

Hmmm

Dave