3 zone smart thermostat

[denso13]

And one of those zones isn't controlled by a thermostat?

 

[gaz1234]

I believe both are using the same thermostat

 

[denso13]

I believe both are using the same thermostat

Which as I said before is effectively one zone if they both switch on and off with the same thermostat. You can do the same or add another stat for much better control.

 

[gaz1234]

So just power needed for the thermostats or are these battery?

 

[denso13]

The Wiser system has it's own wiring centre so all the wiring would need to be checked for suitability.

 

[gaz1234]

So it uses existing wiring? Not wireless?

 

[CountryFan]

So it uses existing wiring? Not wireless?

Yes Wiser is wireless, but still needs the receiver wiring in. It appears the Tado does have the option of being a 3 channel.

 

[ericmark]

I can't see the point of a one, two, or three channel option if the three channel uses just one thermostat, but the wiser is flexible I think mine said up to nine thermostats, only the one channel version, but it allows you to link either thermostat built into the radiator valve, (TRV) or wall mounted, and you can, it seems, arrange the wall mounted to control the TRV.

I still find central heating control a bit of a near enough engineering system. And it depends on what you feel is near enough? For example, a radiator mounted on an exterior wall can result in the wall cooling the TRV head to below room temperature so having a wall thermostat on an interior wall would improve control, but once the air flow has been established, it hardly matters, so it seems a high expense for little gain.

The idea of every room being its own zone, with linked TRV heads seems ideal, but many boilers will not modulate low enough so it results in the boiler cycling.

As to why with linked TRV heads one would want zone valves, not sure, I suppose with a house like this one where four rooms are considered as a flat, and other 10 rooms considered as main house, so it will allow one to shut off a group of rooms. But my main house, some upstairs rooms are used as craft room, and office, so to split upper and lower would not work.

It does seem central heating is fitted with the idea this is how we have always done it. And no thought given to if there is a better way. And also how some select to read regulations, I noted even with non-timed TRV heads, one council considered fitting TRVs as creating zones.

It seems people read into the laws, what they want it to say, and until there is some case law, no one knows.

I looked at this house, (not the flat) and realised there was a problem, it simply costs too much to heat 10 rooms 24/7, so I have 10 electronic TRV heads, which are programmed with both temperature and time, but only one links to the boiler. We want the boiler to run when a TRV head is open, but if we select rooms with a little thought, we can do that without linking all TRV heads.

So my Bluetooth heads were £15 each, and my Wi-Fi heads around £30 each and my linked head around £50.

The main problem I have, is a wife who puts stuff next to a radiator, so I can't get to the heads once a year to renew the batteries.

I know EPH does a thermostat to switch multi-zone valves. Seem to remember one set to master, and nine set to slaves, which will allow OpenTherm and hard-wired zone valve to work together, but for most domestic homes, one has to ask is it really required? The same with the ivector Myson fan assisted radiator, sound A1, can both heat and cool, but once one looks at the price of the building management system to run it, one has to ask is this really required for domestic? Great with a massive shop or offices, but not really what we need for domestic.

When I did my Fdeng, in my case electrical and electronic, I noted there was a course for heating and ventilation, and I am sure, with large office blocks or shops, their skill is required, but for most domestic we still use near enough engineering. We don't want to pay the wages for someone with letters behind their name, even if the lowest qualification that awards them.

 

[denso13]

I noted there was a course for heating and ventilation, and I am sure, with large office blocks or shops, their skill is required

It is, but the fly in the ointment is us humans and how we perceive heating and cooling differently. I once oversaw the fitting of the latest air con system in an office, all designed to the latest specs and requirements. One person claimed it was always too hot, another, who sat right next to her, said it always too cold and wore a jacket.

There is no design solution for that.

 

[ericmark]

There is no design solution for that.

Very true.