Talk to me about..... Smart thermostats

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
For what it's worth, Tado are currently doing their self-install starter kit (v3 with Homekit support) for £159 if you don't need the extension kit (i.e. if you already have a wired thermostat). If BG are giving you the runaround you could cancel and go elsewhere? I can also give you an extra tenner off via a referral link if you like.

If you do already have a wired thermostat anyone who's confident in replacing one can do it, and a sparky or gas engineer could do it with their eyes closed.*

* Do not recommend installing it blind, there are no braille markings.

The current stat works but is wildly innacurate, I tried putting a new one in and it blew a fuse in the boiler. I'm normally good with electrics too!

BG really couldn't give a damn, said I agreed to the T&Cs and those state they can rearrange as much as they like. The guy actually sounded pleased when he pointed out I couldn't get it installed myself as they had most of the kit (the BG engineer brings it). AO.com have been really good though, they have sorted a courier to pick up the old hive unit and are sending out the self install version with all the kit I need. They have also agreed to pay the first £50 towards installation, really couldn't fault them and will certainly use them again.
 

Rikki

Well-Known Forumite
Guessing you're busy at the min, with this weather? If not I have a self install kit coming which I'm not too confident on fitting myself!

Sorry saw this the other day but forgot to reply. I'm busy until next year now really. However it is a really easy install

Turn off the power to your boiler and drop down the front control panel
I think you have a vaillint TurboTax or thermocompact from memory
Top panel will swing outwards or push up and off and one screw in centre to drop it down
Remove cover on left hand side at the back of this to expose wiring check it is turned off
You should see a mains l/n/e and also another cable going to terminals 4 and 5 (Think there labelled as this but don't hold me to is)
Assuming you have a programmer built into the boiler its just a case of linking the live neutral earth to the hive backplate
Then remove the existing external control link 4 and 5 and wire that into the hive backplate instead.
The hive receiver unit will just go next to the boiler somewhere
Then either disconnect the internal programmer or just leave it permanently on

If you tell me exactly what you have I could tell you exactly where each terminal number on the boiler needs to be linked to on the hive backplate.
 

Perrier

Banned
I've already got hive lights controlled via the echo and the hive hub connected to my router.
Was thinking of the hive self install thermostat kit to control the heating from the combi boiler. ( Worcester ) it's about 4 years old.

Would this be as easy to set up ? , I'm good with electrics but not got the certificate to prove it or worth just paying the extortionate price British gas demand ?
 

Rikki

Well-Known Forumite
What programmer have you currently got? If you currently have a programmable room thermostat there's a good chance you may not have to alter any of the wiring. The backplates are universal so all you need to do is remove the existing programmer or reciever front and replace it with the hive receiver.

If you have a seperate programmer and stat its the same but just link out the stat as well.
 

Perrier

Banned
What programmer have you currently got? If you currently have a programmable room thermostat there's a good chance you may not have to alter any of the wiring. The backplates are universal so all you need to do is remove the existing programmer or reciever front and replace it with the hive receiver.

If you have a seperate programmer and stat its the same but just link out the stat as well.

Hi @Rikki May be easier to show my setup.

combi in kitchen ( switch at side is power to heating )
(im presuming the controller block is behind the master panel where the dial is situated )

2u4uiib.jpg


thermostat control in hallway ( honeywell )
2ypngqx.jpg
 

Rikki

Well-Known Forumite
You have a wired room stat and internal boiler programmer.

So same as I suggested above really. Pick up power from boiler or fuse spur and remove stat wiring from boiler and replace it with link to new receiver unit. Then just leave internal boiler programmer permanently on.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Sorry saw this the other day but forgot to reply. I'm busy until next year now really. However it is a really easy install

Turn off the power to your boiler and drop down the front control panel
I think you have a vaillint TurboTax or thermocompact from memory
Top panel will swing outwards or push up and off and one screw in centre to drop it down
Remove cover on left hand side at the back of this to expose wiring check it is turned off
You should see a mains l/n/e and also another cable going to terminals 4 and 5 (Think there labelled as this but don't hold me to is)
Assuming you have a programmer built into the boiler its just a case of linking the live neutral earth to the hive backplate
Then remove the existing external control link 4 and 5 and wire that into the hive backplate instead.
The hive receiver unit will just go next to the boiler somewhere
Then either disconnect the internal programmer or just leave it permanently on

If you tell me exactly what you have I could tell you exactly where each terminal number on the boiler needs to be linked to on the hive backplate.

Yup, its a Turbomax. Not got time to do it tonight (plus its dark and I can't see where to isolate the boiler - I may just cut the power fully in the daylight), but just had a quick look.

SM4jjk6rEfjrTGqzFljngjVW_KTZL8LWhDcScJ-Al6cl6SHiC5P2R51tRc-QALXqzvEGSQee3hPZItQw6YEYhrUWgOY194sYzGRNHuolSRcMyhih_YOmNiKP36c3om6OQnZGqMRgf962tXJ7sqPyS4S-xocWJHCZKeAHZu_CrE3lRurZOqbBBj19LRr9J5Ps1oaS3hyqYouQB_PX4aFM7q1WfQwooYzzCgrTXBfV7H0qmbIwOFKGOWUHVIPW37uxi2b0boNSQKHjO4pUKPW6ptEgOa5K75h4VAE21IhvMDQQeO2R8rRTgHb5q8phCEMsH9Sb7WN6ijyXv0zlg3dcQbSsmW4L4pAgIjGSlTsuZs0gCJEkhdcQDpIQYFov6VFU6WxeBPtntvXNj2NBCrud0iK3isEHAWgBaKIwubQixdmb8NxHoO9Gd6MoAVGz2BiVhyjPhlr_0sLnH_r-aCWXwYxPOu5tD0DMimWCrfhwqyIKSfnhN54AB7Qu6tmBhhlZhAYTJRcYZCyukrCWSNbWWNbeYQi_yKQbgH_PGm9BFhqYnIYfhKE7pJeHvmKX6vbJQiWjf_p56_QzWUTiLcY1yT9loykI_6LkGasO7U7tQFI=w692-h1230-no


4WYgsBz5N8ihCL2LIJ_JQSn3w6j386z0fTJJtZiZOzmBCw69PaIfY2SlbCmp5PKM3hZFGzWjtWYFc5EVxuju31b79c0iu7iN3ZZgjT1NtmrRhb2gRiFQqNKonYunpPgqhTwqDBCdASMHKCGzgHiz_EfEG-VR5hR10duUKuorA2GKttMbmDaP4y4sMfFK48pajqOxvZzbMGy2q7Ax-0NQslSppEmiOpP-vhEO8VODfdan9EUNZ-iER6t-bsYokZTnog5aCMs_YEA4XFpSAU0V3WSM1loLZedMhOIqbSdjTLDFcJWrOntJ1yUsFpq2SkNv3jGbiJCTHMjP0fYBFYPGowPgINygmIOc-O27Tt9KEA06hazNVJOa6p9Of9GDGjDz8A5jFqHsaCJ0Hp1GptJ5OkE4RFH6T205Y6couy24FE8m8zyVIvoarELruIF_f0o1FH3HgwP_3gsZDOTO6Dxtcr6e79bTaR-XayC4tiquWykqGvDz2cVmiFNN7928WFxlEdP7yODhDkpr9F5zfxV9gcESQy81p-k2xy_F6hZXbfuJTW2dupolMV8mpcCT4Ph9hHi0D6IKnQbYTDrFOBxHA3aLyhMnjtlImR3IoYFs8ms=w1643-h925-no


I assume what I am after is behind this cover, which I'm not touching while it's live!
6pEaNXCKm-4A2f0vQ9aYySplNCU_zJlXONyqvss0n1nlEp5Aah0W3OzwKEslhDUjYudgn7tBe78qaF0YMe3od51HBiJxwKlsUyPs20vjtBLnEYBwkcEeOj4TEhM438KSQMGc3uY_O1D7lh8giNq4IMOfV_s_eWBvQgotug_22hQmRLywOPjAQJOpPuDrhZBtityc1g-O1EK-UgEn9j1q4ZSMboOv93bzKPJr5b_jYa0-8gbn8r2G5Yvc03JJKL1Xai6CVQbACSDHT_eevm-BXkxQDBECMcw8McQisFnuidw6WUduirmHVGoyHQZ7pImYM9TkUYh7dSAhB-7ePdKBD4CHFWjuuu6bNj5oIBs5wwpDfPbMCLeU7gR8XHeDyxZcWlcAHjbiXf5xYOHP-xtIVhvyStIdYWNLTP86Ur4a03ZHJsl00AS6ixVAGS_ATXgIIy7zHVbJEp7DNAZWkAZ1dUbEuVsn_mZptp7QEOIFhmwndQpUVIR0BUbE1-IVggiBsHPH03Pp68Xb9sDJWXBdFUNyT1vCFG90X0CW6js0diR3QUbiYyhOqbFjr118M7oThl3i7HpoIX2wFYTOYVTMsDphWLQ3gOP02XSZbw9isPo=w1643-h925-no
 

Cue

Well-Known Forumite
You have a wired room stat and internal boiler programmer.

So same as I suggested above really. Pick up power from boiler or fuse spur and remove stat wiring from boiler and replace it with link to new receiver unit. Then just leave internal boiler programmer permanently on.

Does the Hive not support wired mode? Seems weird. Most smart thermostats can just swap out on the thermostat end without having to touch the boiler at all.
 

Rikki

Well-Known Forumite
In my experience that's not true at all. The only one that I'm aware of that allows that type of installation is the nest. But it still requires the wiring of a separate unit that needs picking up live from the heating circuit somewhere.
The nest is poorly designed from an installation point of view in my opinion and I don't like how it needs a plugged in power supply if you dont want to wire it in.

The hive and all others im aware of are designed to fit on a standard backplate. So can literally mean no wiring alteration is needed at all in some installations.
The two above are actually as difficult as it gets but I could still be in and out in under half an hour and most of that would be waiting for the hive unit to pair and connect to the internet.
 

Rikki

Well-Known Forumite
Just looked back and seen you have a tado one. That is a very simple install, not seen one myself but a good option for an easy DIY install if anyones looking for a smart stat.

The reason the hive hasn't gone down that route I suspect is it can also control the hot water times on a y/s plan system. It's one box that can do everything and be installed in virtually any property. On a combi the tado would be easier to install assuming you had an existing wired stat. But in all other cases I'd say the hive is a better option and in some cases the tado wouldn't be appropriate at all.

This is only from the installation side of things I've no idea how they compare in use.
 

Cue

Well-Known Forumite
Just looked back and seen you have a tado one. That is a very simple install, not seen one myself but a good option for an easy DIY install if anyones looking for a smart stat.

The reason the hive hasn't gone down that route I suspect is it can also control the hot water times on a y/s plan system. It's one box that can do everything and be installed in virtually any property. On a combi the tado would be easier to install assuming you had an existing wired stat. But in all other cases I'd say the hive is a better option and in some cases the tado wouldn't be appropriate at all.

This is only from the installation side of things I've no idea how they compare in use.

Tado does both actually, the extension kit is a separate unit that is optional and adds wireless and hot water control. I’ve never swapped a programmer out as our last house didn’t have one and our new house the programmer was ripped out of the kitchen when we replaced the boiler. But from what they told me it does also fit the same backplate standard.

It’s why I was a bit confused about the Hive needing fiddling, didn’t know it was wireless or bust. Looking at it, the Hive has a programmer replacement and a thermostat too so very similar if going wireless? Love wireless thermostats, the wires are a pain if they weren’t in a sensible place... so many installed in the front hallway where it’s always cold :strange:
 

hardwood

Well-Known Forumite
Anyone interested in heating controls might want to head over to Kickstarter and search for a project called novo. The startup company appear to be British and backed by eon. If you haven’t used Kickstarter before then please consider that you are not buying a product, you are pledging your support to help a startup get sufficient economies of scale to make a product viable. As a result there is a risk that you may not receive your reward (yes reward not purchase).
However since this company has the backing of eon and can be found referenced on eons own website I believe the chance of none delivery is slight.

The valves work with Alexa, google home and Apple HomeKit.

The interesting thing about these valves is the low price of around £22-25 per unit. Given a Drayton trv4 head is £16 in screwfix these smart valves appear good value. Most competing smart TRVs like Tado and Honeywell of typically over double the price.



https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/313176179/novo-the-smartest-radiator-valve
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Anyone interested in heating controls might want to head over to Kickstarter and search for a project called novo. The startup company appear to be British and backed by eon. If you haven’t used Kickstarter before then please consider that you are not buying a product, you are pledging your support to help a startup get sufficient economies of scale to make a product viable. As a result there is a risk that you may not receive your reward (yes reward not purchase).
However since this company has the backing of eon and can be found referenced on eons own website I believe the chance of none delivery is slight.

The valves work with Alexa, google home and Apple HomeKit.

The interesting thing about these valves is the low price of around £22-25 per unit. Given a Drayton trv4 head is £16 in screwfix these smart valves appear good value. Most competing smart TRVs like Tado and Honeywell of typically over double the price.



https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/313176179/novo-the-smartest-radiator-valve

Interesting, effectively each radiator becomes its own thermostat so no longer needs a main one? Doesn't that mean you can only measure temperatures next to the source though?
 
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