Another hive install thread!

[Jamespalmer22]

First of all hi!

Just moved into our new house and trying to get my head round everything.

We have bought a hive thermostat and I'm going to attempt to install it myself. The existing programmer is the British Gas programmer which is essentially a hive but without the wireless stuff.

The back plate is compatible.

1) can I replace it by literally attaching the hive dual control to the existing plate.

2) the existing configuration doesn't match the hive diagram for wiring a dual channel.

3) what do I do with the thermostat wire. Once removed it leaves the grey wire (photographed) where would this need to go? This was joined via a junction box to the yellow wire with red sleeve from the thermostat.

The picture of the various wires is removed from the existing programmer and goes to the thermostat.


Hope that makes sense
Thanks!!!

 

[CBW]

Did you purchase a Hive dual channel? Is the photo of wiring current or what you have done? So we have a before shot?

 

[Jamespalmer22]

Yes dual channel and that's the existing wiring.

 

[EFLImpudence]

...and where is the Red, Blue and Yellow cable?

 

[ericmark]

I wonder if the boiler is a system or combi boiler, with a system boiler there is a hot water tank of some sorts and the domestic hot water is heated by the circulating central heating water and with some old exceptions you have motorised valves, so the tank thermostat and the room thermostat in some way connects to motorised valves which in turn tell the boiler what to do.

With a combi boiler the hot water tank if it exists is much smaller and is inside the boiler, and all the valves etc also inside the boiler, so the boiler provides DHW direct and you only have external CH controls.

With a system boiler we have plans, the C Plan has in the main no motorised valves, the Y plan has a three port valve, and S plan two x two port valves.

In the main you can use a duel channel as single channel but before any advice given need to be sure what you have.

All best MGW

 

[CBW]

I wonder if the boiler is a system or combi boiler,

It’s a Glow worm Hxi (plus number of pipes is a giveaway) it’s a heat only boiler, or setup as a sealed heating system.

 

[Jamespalmer22]

So found the instructions with a diagram from whoever installed it.

 

[CBW]

I think you may need to post a photo of wiring center and any motorised valve(s).

 

[ericmark]

The wall thermostat connects to this

in your plan, you have what is called a Y plan. Basic wiring is this

there is likely a diagram in the Hive instructions, but the Hive replaces the time controller and the room stat is got rid of. The connector strip is called the control centre and there are some with standard connections but many are just simple junction boxes, often a socket back box with a blanking plate for a lid and some connector block in it.

The only colours you can trust are those from the three port valve, which has some odd connections inside so it can give some odd meter readings.

My box was hidden in the kitchen cupboard, often also found in airing cupboard. even I found it less than straight forward to wire, and work out what had been done, but with the Palmer's engineering back ground you should work it out, easier than designing a ship.

 

[Jamespalmer22]

Thanks so far!

So could I in theory just attach the hive to the existing wiring in a straight swap? But then what to do with the thermostat wires?

 

[CBW]

If they’re loose, then connect live and switched together in a connector block, and any other loose ones in separate blocks. If they’re still in the thermostat then set it to maximum.

 

[ericmark]

I have a socket box and a blanking plate where I had to remove a control, the blanking plate shows there are cables there, and I just used a connector block to link wires.