I have recently had my CH system upgrade to include a VRC 700/4. Previously, I had a VRC 430 and quite liked it. Most of the pros and cons listed here are my thoughts on how it compares to the VRC 430.
Pros.
1. The VRC 700 has a heat curve for each zone, rather than one heat curve for all zones.
2. The menu system is much more intuitive, with a single rotating knob to change options and two buttons, which are context sensitive based on the information shown on the display.
3. It's possible to view a lot more information about the CH system on the controller.
Cons.
1. The VR 91's are designed to look identical to the VRC 700. This means they are much larger than the old VR 81 I had. I don't mind the look of the VRC 700, except that it is MUCH too deep i.e. it stands off the wall too far. I'm sure they could have designed it to have been a lot slimmer.
2. The VRC 700 only allows 2 different temperatures to be programmed; desired temp and setback temp (used outside the desired temp times). Whichever Vaillant employee decided on this should be sacked! This is a massive step backward from the VRC 430, which allowed three different temps to be programmed as well as the setback temp!
3. I hate the temperature override functionality, which applies for an arbitrary 6 hours or is made permanent. So, it's 22:00 and the house is a little cold and I therefore increase the temperature by a couple of degrees. This increase will apply for 6 hours unless I remember to cancel it. So I go to bed at 23:00, which is the end of the timed period and "normally" the system would revert to the setback temperature, but it doesn't because of the override. I'm woken at 02:00 in the morning by the boiler still maintaining the temperature I set at 22:00. This is just bad design!
The VRC 430 would revert to the next temperature setting, so at 23:00 it would end the current overridden temperature setting and revert to setback during the night. Perfect! Why did they change this?
I believe the version of the VRC 700 has moved on from V4, since mine was purchased. Anyone know what the current version is? Can the software be upgraded? If so, is it worthwhile upgrading i.e. are there some better features? I believe the crappy override feature has been "improved", but not sure how.
There are a LOT of settings on the VRC 700 and even now I am finding settings that should be changed eg. I noticed that when overriding the temperature on the VRC 700, it also overrode the other two UFH zones controlled by two VR 91's. Vaillant explained there's a setting to turn this off so the override of the VRC 700 only affects its zone. Why would you want it to do anything other than this? Surely, if you have a thermostat per zone, you want THAT thermostat to control THAT zone?
I would appreciate your thoughts/experiences and advice on using the VRC 700 controller. As things stand, I feel I have made an expensive mistake upgrading to this controller.
Pros.
1. The VRC 700 has a heat curve for each zone, rather than one heat curve for all zones.
2. The menu system is much more intuitive, with a single rotating knob to change options and two buttons, which are context sensitive based on the information shown on the display.
3. It's possible to view a lot more information about the CH system on the controller.
Cons.
1. The VR 91's are designed to look identical to the VRC 700. This means they are much larger than the old VR 81 I had. I don't mind the look of the VRC 700, except that it is MUCH too deep i.e. it stands off the wall too far. I'm sure they could have designed it to have been a lot slimmer.
2. The VRC 700 only allows 2 different temperatures to be programmed; desired temp and setback temp (used outside the desired temp times). Whichever Vaillant employee decided on this should be sacked! This is a massive step backward from the VRC 430, which allowed three different temps to be programmed as well as the setback temp!
3. I hate the temperature override functionality, which applies for an arbitrary 6 hours or is made permanent. So, it's 22:00 and the house is a little cold and I therefore increase the temperature by a couple of degrees. This increase will apply for 6 hours unless I remember to cancel it. So I go to bed at 23:00, which is the end of the timed period and "normally" the system would revert to the setback temperature, but it doesn't because of the override. I'm woken at 02:00 in the morning by the boiler still maintaining the temperature I set at 22:00. This is just bad design!
The VRC 430 would revert to the next temperature setting, so at 23:00 it would end the current overridden temperature setting and revert to setback during the night. Perfect! Why did they change this?
I believe the version of the VRC 700 has moved on from V4, since mine was purchased. Anyone know what the current version is? Can the software be upgraded? If so, is it worthwhile upgrading i.e. are there some better features? I believe the crappy override feature has been "improved", but not sure how.
There are a LOT of settings on the VRC 700 and even now I am finding settings that should be changed eg. I noticed that when overriding the temperature on the VRC 700, it also overrode the other two UFH zones controlled by two VR 91's. Vaillant explained there's a setting to turn this off so the override of the VRC 700 only affects its zone. Why would you want it to do anything other than this? Surely, if you have a thermostat per zone, you want THAT thermostat to control THAT zone?
I would appreciate your thoughts/experiences and advice on using the VRC 700 controller. As things stand, I feel I have made an expensive mistake upgrading to this controller.