What's the point or wireless TRVs?

[WabbitPoo]

Maybe I'm being thick.....what advantage does LightwaveRF TRVs bring into your life? I cant imagine why just bendig over and turning the existing TRV is worse than sitting in a chair and doing it via your phone.......

Please tell me there is a point to it, as I really like the idea of tech in the home!

 

[Diyisfun]

Honeywell say
WIRELESSLY CONTROLLED TRVS


Wireless controlled TRVs provide the facility, through two-way communication via a controller, to regulate the flow of water through a radiator by opening valves when necessary while maintaining boiler interlock.
http://www.honeywelluk.com/products...c-Radiator-Valves/Wirelessly-Controlled-TRVs/

 

[WabbitPoo]

Yes, I know what TRVs are, I just don't understand why you'd benefit from phone-controllable ones! Is it because you can program them to be different settings at different times of the day?

 

[cjard]

I'd like to see you bend over and turn a TRV from an airport lounge because you just got back from Spain to freezing cold England and want a nice warm house when you get in!

 

[WabbitPoo]

lol fair enough. So that's once a year then. Any more?

I'm not trying to be obtuse - I just can't see past the notion of a solution looking for a problem.

 

[HERTS P&D]

It is so that when you go to the pub, you can turn the heating off.

Let her put a jumper on when she is home alone!

Andy

 

[bernardgreen]

I'd like to see you bend over and turn a TRV from an airport lounge because you just got back from Spain to freezing cold England and want a nice warm house when you get in!

What did one do before central heating.

Phone the neighbour who had a key and ask them to light the fire in the lounge.

 

[WabbitPoo]

I'd like to see you bend over and turn a TRV from an airport lounge because you just got back from Spain to freezing cold England and want a nice warm house when you get in!

There's no point in a TRV for this - you'd need to switch on the CH too.

 

[Mr Gear]

I'm presuming you'd be able to set different programmes, so for instance in a morning just heat those rooms you'll be using (bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen) to comfortable temperatures and less so in the other rooms, but for the evening you'd perhaps want to heat the lounge more and have slightly cooler bedrooms if that's your preference?

If so then I could certainly see the benefit and a step forward from the "on or off" smart thermostats that do nothing to control individual rooms.

 

[WabbitPoo]

yes, that makes sense. This assumes the boiler won't bother to heat CH water if lots of TRVs are closed...? We don't have a roomstat at all, just TRVs on most rads.

 

[SimonH2]

I'm presuming you'd be able to set different programmes, so for instance in a morning just heat those rooms you'll be using (bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen) to comfortable temperatures and less so in the other rooms, but for the evening you'd perhaps want to heat the lounge more and have slightly cooler bedrooms if that's your preference?

Yes, that's exactly it. You can set individual schedules by room - not just on-off but multiple temperatures (eg maintain bedrooms at a lower level during the night). With 2 way radio, they can control the boilers - so boiler only runs when at least one rad needs heat.

Note that some of the radio systems are one-way (controller to valves) with no feedback at all.

If so then I could certainly see the benefit and a step forward from the "on or off" smart thermostats that do nothing to control individual rooms.

Indeed.

Personally, I'm waiting for the first OpenTRV units to be available - which hopefully isn't too far off now. I believe they are aiming for about £150 for a pack of 6 TRV heads and a boiler interface.

 

[SimonH2]

Oh yes, no need to (and indeed plenty of reasons not to) connect anything to the internet.

 

[WabbitPoo]

I'm presuming you'd be able to set different programmes, so for instance in a morning just heat those rooms you'll be using (bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen) to comfortable temperatures and less so in the other rooms, but for the evening you'd perhaps want to heat the lounge more and have slightly cooler bedrooms if that's your preference?

Yes, that's exactly it. You can set individual schedules by room - not just on-off but multiple temperatures (eg maintain bedrooms at a lower level during the night). With 2 way radio, they can control the boilers - so boiler only runs when at least one rad needs heat.

Note that some of the radio systems are one-way (controller to valves) with no feedback at all.

Thanks.

Which system currently offers this 2-way talk, any idea?

 

[SimonH2]

Sorry, I haven't been keeping track. Having seen the prices of the commercial systems around, they wen't on the "not paying that much" list. I've been looking at DIY options, and the only one I've seen that looks promising is OpenTRV.
IIRC there was some discussion of the available systems on the Navitron forums - though I've not been there for quite some time*.

* If you go there, it's a good idea to avoid suggesting that windmills aren't the greatest thing since sliced bread and can supply all our lecky needs, or suggest that nuclear has a place in a rational lecky supply. Lets just say that there are some "interesting characters" over there.