Home heating automation

On the flip side, these new devices are only targetting heat pumps so far…

Perhaps they wanted to separate the product lines instead of ending up with a confusing product line. Even in Europe gas boilers will be dominant long before many of us are looking to replace our systems so they will need to keep V3 running.

It is silly to not maintain a level of connectivevity for the rad valves though. That lack of "open" connectivity is why I didn't go with Tado personally (plus I got Hive stats + receiver for dirt cheap, €75 all in for two).

Think I'd go with Honeywell in any future upgrade.

I have Hive anyway and messed around with it's Zigbee integration in HA so like yourself I am largely future proofed if they take down the cloud aspect. Only issue is that their implementation of Zigbee for thermostats isn't standard (they have additional criteria needed in the message if the stat is in certain modes to get it to the mode you need / want) so lots of messing and sending custom Zigbee commands instead of just using the set commands.

I also haven't fully integrated the TRVs to call for heat in the Zigbee setup - simply that they close when heat exceeds a value.

But it works, so it will do ha.

Yip. It's exactly one of those green foam covered ones. Any sense on whether it's better to use the metal probe or the temp/humidity sensor to strap on if doing it they way?

Resideo Evohome is still very much under active development; new features are being added, new accessories are being introduced and new commercial partnerships are still being pursued. Yes, it is expensive compared to some products, even more so when bought from Irish suppliers. For me, it has the advantage of working standalone, other than for remote access and weather related functionality. 
Given the range of functionality that Evohome provides it can be complex to install and configure. However it is extremely easy to use on a daily basis, as Wifey would confirm. The complexity of installation depends on whether you are happy with the default settings. If you are it is no more difficult than systems such as Tado.  Bear in mind that with some other systems you don't have the configurable options to begin with. (For example, the default option with Evohome is for alkaline AA batteries to be used in the radiator controllers. A setting has to be changed if Lithium or NiMh batteries are to be used.)
I don't know where Evohome is in its lifecycle but, for sure, it will be replaced eventually. I have already bought a number of spare radiator valves. (The cheaper ones with no local temperature control, for about €40 each.) At some stage I'll see the wall controller on offer and I'll buy a spare one of these and a boiler relay. Then if Honeywell stop support I'll still be ok.

Look, different systems have different cost/benefits. It is up to everyone to do their own analysis as to what best suits their needs. Personally I dislike any system with an avoidable cloud dependency for basic functionality.  In my view it is an unnecessary hostage to fortune. The risks include a vendor going out of business, broadband being unavailable when heating/cooling needed urgently and subscriptions becoming ever more expensive. 

Ah, the clue is in 'Resideo' The evohome is 14 years out, and its a long time ago that I read on some blog the worries of users that it had plateaued. Turns out Honeywell had 'spun it off' to Resideo in 2018 or thereabouts, and they've obviously decided to breath new life into it. The TRVs are a bit vintage looking though.

In fairness Resideo have updated the room thermostats through the years, while maintaining full backwards compatibility. The new DT4R Thermostats are really nice. I'm not worried about the aesthetics of the TRV's, only their reliability. They have a five year guarantee and exercise the water valve at least every 2 weeks to prevent sticking. Hopefully both will last for many years!

Anyway, the evohome TRV's with a display are complete overkill. In practice we either use a room wall thermostat, or the wall controller, to adjust room temperatures. The HR91EE units are far cheaper and also have an open window contact. This can be used with a window sendor to turn off heating as an alternative to detecting sudden room temperature drops. I wish I had known about them before I bought the HR92's

I've got it working well enough to turn the system on in a schedule and override that schedule (set temp higher than current set value) and then turn it off from HA and Google Home which is 99% of what I actually need. Could talk all day about it ha.

I can always move back to Hive's own integration, app etc. when I need to.

This was to prove when the internet is down or they scrap it I can still keep some control and it's been fine so I never bothered reverting back.

I wouldn't reccomend it for 99% of people haha.

A 16A shelly plus should be sufficient for an immersion rated up to 3kw, 3.5 tops

thanks both. have used few shelly but never used sonoff. will check both and buy.

It really depends on what is there already? For example you might need new TRV valves on your rads to take the Tados? Is there an existing thermostat in place?

By the way. If you do already have a thermostat in place, then, to be blunt, you might as well bend over and be done with it in terms of being screwed with the quote. With deezel here - he is the go to man on these things by the way! - but a straight swop of thermostats is a 10 minute DIY job....

yes TRVs are there but not smart ones

So you can buy the kit from Screwfix for €651, not €880. The only electrical installation required is to connect the receiver box in place of whatever controller or timers you currently have, a job for a sparks or competent DIY. Post a picture of your existing controller/timer.

No wiring for the stat, it's wireless and pairs to the receiver. No plumbing or wiring for the TRVs, the old ones handscrew off, the smart ones screw on and are paired to the system. For Internet connection, the small Internet Bridge device, the third part of the wireless stat with HW starter kit, is plugged in with a short supplied ethernet cable to your router. It's powered by a supplied phone charger style plug and cable. Again, no plumber or sparks required.

Download Tado app to phone and scan all the parts QR in. You'll he able to see each TRV appear on the app and become active after it's powered up and paired to the Bridge. Name it and give a room, then screw down it's base in place of the mechanical TRV, and click the head part onto the base. Once you figure one, it won't take a week or €550 to add the other 7.

The system was designed for diy install. €1350 in labour, and a margin of €300 with his lower vat on the materials seems very expensive to me. Two weeks pay for a few hours, but that's the way it is with everything these days, I was quoted €1200 for maybe an hours work with a microdigger to scratch a narrow cut across 80m of grass to sink a cable, about the same time and equipment value that I use to mow my grass.

Thanks ! That's what i was wondering….just get the controls done(i have got both quotes separately so i can always say TRVs later and install the Tado TRVs on my own).

Hope €820 is fair for that wiring to kitchen?

https://www.screwfix.ie/p/tado-white-smart-trv-head-4-pack/793pg

In terms of the 750 grant even if i do not install the smart TRVs i can still get it ? I have it already approved. Since we have got HW/CH zoned/TRVs fitted(not smart)/Thermostat installed/separated pipework for space heating and hot water(the valves should meet this ?) See the checklist for 6 items required below.

Thanks so that switch negates the need of any wiring ? That would be great. Lastly for grant i need a SEAI certified contractor so will try to shop around. Cheers

Also last question. Would any wiring be required in the boiler/opening of the boiler ? Or the existing timer switch just connects to the cable/RF receiver from HP to boiler ? Thanks.

super thanks. so its not a DIY😃 job to fit wires into boiler