New Valliant 624 system boiler and a US wifi thermostat?

boomish69 · 30 Oct 2012

Thanks to the advice here I have a lovely new Valiant 624 system boiler with a Gledhill 180L indirect unvented cylinder, but I am undecided on what thermostat to run it on, my old system is ok but 18 years old so I have been looking at the new wifi programable thermostat's but they seem mostly only available in the US so far.
http://yourhome.honeywell.com/home/Products/Thermostats/7-Day-Programmable/RTH8580WF.htm
Now the Valiant does have a 24v connection so seems ready for one of these more modern low voltage wifi controllers I just wondered if anyone has fitted one or think it should work?
I have contacted Valiant but haven't got a reply yet. The other option is one of Valiants weather Compensating System control, but for the money I think these new wifi ones will do all this and more. I presume they are just not in the UK yet apart from Heatmiser they do a wifi system controller that looks good but expensive.

Appreciate any advice..
Alan

boomish69 · 31 Oct 2012

Nobody used a wifi controller here?
For anyone else finding it as hard as I am finding info on these things, it seems they are all the rage in the US with some being pretty cheap.
I got a useless reply from Vailant simply saying there isn't a 24v connection, but not telling me what the clearly labeled 24v thermostat connection on the boiler is for!
Also found a UK company called Salus here has just launched the iT500 a wifi enabled thermostat, I shall give them a ring tomorrow.
If anyone else has got any experience of fitting a wifi thermostat I'd really apreciate it.

Alan

picasso · 31 Oct 2012

I would imagine that your unvented cylinder and central heating have 2 x 2 port valves controlling them, unfortunately you would have to change the actuators to 24v (if they are available) to get your wifi thermostat to work properly, its not as simple as plugging the stat into the boiler 24v connection.

ALEC1 · 31 Oct 2012

vaillants controller is the way to go..vaillant boilers are designed in Germany where an outdoor sensor is obligatory.. so the interface is seamless with their controls...

You will gain in reliability, efficiency and comfort..

boomish69 · 31 Oct 2012

Ah good points picasso and Alec, my first choice is the Vailant weather compensator I just thought this is going to look all old hat in a year or so with the home automation and ease from smart phones and tablets, that can sense when you leave the building or to operate when away from home.
Looks like I'll have to settle for the Vailant controls.
Thanks for the replies.

ALEC1 · 31 Oct 2012

operating things from phones etc is a bit of a gimmick as efficient use of energy is not compatible with rapid heat up times...

Occupation of all homes does follow a pattern to a very great degree and this should be reflected in the programming..

North european countries run their heating system in a stable state regime... that is 2 or 3 on periods a day...with a lower set back temperature, and that is how the technology has evolved which is reflected in vaillants own controls...thus you end up using the boiler as the designers inteneded to be efficient and reliable whilst producing a comfortable environment...

Gavin77 · 31 Oct 2012

ALEC1 said:
operating things from phones etc is a bit of a gimmick as efficient use of energy is not compatible with rapid heat up times...

Can you explain? That seems to defy the laws of thermodynamics to me.

boomish69 · 31 Oct 2012

Yes a very good point Alec but I think they are def the future even tho a gimmick right now. Why develop an expensive programmer/thermostat with set features that is pretty hard to update in any way when a much simpler heating controller can be used and operated from a smartphone/iPad device that has plenty of power and familier user controls. Plus simple to update and add features , Bluetooth that can sense when you leave the home automatically or a learning control that changes to your lifestyle etc etc.
Still gimmicky but I'm sure will be the future as it must be cheaper to develop, I'd just rather buy something that might save us money and get better and better. Some of the US ones even learn the local weather for example.
Check out Wifithermostat.com or the Nest thermostat..
I do hear what your saying though...

ALEC1 · 1 Nov 2012

rapid heat up times of rooms require radiators to be considerably hotter than is optimum for a condensing boiler...

taking the boiler as the starting point the lower the flow temperature the more efficient the conversion of gas to heat in the heat exchanger...

weather compensated systems (which are mandatory in Germany) seek to match heat loss of the building with heat generated by the boiler. Thus the boiler can operate in a condensing mode most/ if not all of the time with flow temps right down to 30c....and rooms at 21c...

of course the other way to stop large demands being placed on the boiler is to reduce the heat load with insulation.

the main point is that unless the gimmick uses bus connection to match heat generated to heat demanded the boiler will be working to set point on the boiler...thus overheating the rooms...albeit to a small degree

Most people have much better things to do than worry about the heating..the gimmick will be come history before the phone is even changed...

Gavin77 · 1 Nov 2012

OK, point taken about the condensing boilers.

As for the "gimmick" lets just agree to disagree. I have been using a "gimmick" for 3 years and for me its fantastic and wont be going in the bin any time soon. I dont "worry" about my heating as you put it, but i certainly don't waste money heating an empty house either.

ALEC1 · 1 Nov 2012

thats interesting Gavin...I know viessmann have a phone app vaillant may well do eventually...

these probably allow incremental increases in the flow temp relative to the target room temperature...

as long as people use them thats fine... but most seem to struggle with an old fashioned thermostat and timer...

all I am really saying is that the wifi thingy just gives an on-off signal to the boiler where as bus controls say how much heat...

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New Valliant 624 system boiler and a US wifi thermostat?

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