Weather Compensation

[mrshr]

You’ll need to use Vaillants own control system.
So that the boiler knows wether it is doing heating or hot water.

So vsmart my only option?
I'm in Cambridgeshire.

 

[Phill Peck]

So vsmart my only option?
I'm in Cambridgeshire.

Yep you’ll also need the vr66(I think it’s called) wiring centre.

me too although I’m not a Vaillant man.
@sweet may be able to help you
Alternatively contact Vaillant with your details and ask for details of installers in your area. Not sure if they specify controls specialists.

 

[mrshr]

I'm reading quite a lot of negative feedback on vsmart.
I believe it was meant to be the successor to their previous wc system (v430f ?? ) but apparently not quite filling all the gaps.

Anyone here speak positively of vsmart?

 

[David B/S.Coldfield]

I have had a VRC430f system running mostly without problems for several years (extended warranty has now expired). Until recently, the only problems were fixed by boiler maintenance, but I had a faulty external temperature sensor. That is now fixed - presumed condensation in the sensor fixed by bringing it in from the cold for a few days - but I did consider switching to vSMART. I needed an electrician to fit a socket for the interface, and the reviews made me think twice. I'm not convinced that using BBC Weather to tell what the temperature is supposed to be is as good as simply having a (working) sensor outside saying what it is.

I did buy a complete VRC430f for £160-ish from eBay but wasn't able to use the sensor from that. I assume they are keyed together digitally. So, there are a few of these controllers still available, if you want to fit it yourself. Vaillant stopped selling them some time ago when they went to the 470? and now it's just vSMART, which is supposed to have better software.

 

[hard-work]

A modulating thermostat will give far better returns than simple WC. Make sure that whatever boiler you chose can differentiate between the hot water and heating functions as you will need a separate flow temp when reheating the cylinder

Get a boiler with OpenTherm and and a Opentherm thermostat. That will modulate the burner to the room setpoint.

If you have a kickspace heater, weather compensation and room temp burner modulation is not what you need.

 

[Razor900]

Get a boiler with OpenTherm and and a Opentherm thermostat. That will modulate the burner to the room setpoint.

If you have a kickspace heater, weather compensation and room temp burner modulation is not what you need.

Opentherm is only one communication protocol. There are others which can give finer control

That's why I said modulating thermostat it doesn't have to be OT

 

[hard-work]

OpenTherm is a standard not generally taken up in the UK. Any OpenTherm stat will work on any OpenTherm boiler. This gives a broad range of products that are in competition, so cheaper to buy - so it goes.

 

[Dan Robinson]

If you have a kickspace heater, weather compensation and room temp burner modulation is not what you need

Twaddle

 

[John D v2.0]

Twaddle

Agreed, the kick space heaters I bought yesterday specifically tabulate the various heat outputs at different flow temperatures so they will clearly work well with weather compensation.

 

[Dan Robinson]

Hard-On also has no idea how OpenTherm works.

 

[hard-work]

Agreed, the kick space heaters I bought yesterday specifically tabulate the various heat outputs at different flow temperatures so they will clearly work well with weather compensation.

Will They? Look again. Kickspaces work well on high temperatures. On lower temperatures the output will drop off. A WC may take it below a suitable temperature and blow coolish air. You have to be very careful how you set the slope on WC. To accommodate the kickspace `properly` you will compromise the efficient operation of the WC, to the point it not be worth having one. With a kickspace it is best to have a boiler that gives out a constant boiler temperature with rad valves trimming each room.

 

[hard-work]

Hard-On also has no idea how OpenTherm works.

Our resident Numpty doesn't have a clue what it means. He is fun.

 

[Dan Robinson]

I have more of a clue on OT than you you pillock. At which point does the Master change Tmax?

Kickspaces work fine on both weather compensated systems and OT compensated systems. Proof is in the pudding not your deranged ramblings. Have several installed on both types of system.

 

[John D v2.0]

Will They? Look again. Kickspaces work well on high temperatures. On lower temperatures the output will drop off.

So in other words exactly the same as normal radiators. The heat output in both is directly proportional to the temperature difference.
That means that WC works perfectly as designed regardless of plinth heaters.

 

[Doggit]

Now I was under the impression that most kick space heaters would stop blowing when the temperature flow drops below a certain point, but I could be wrong of course.