Heating Control Systems

[al_uk]

I have been using 10 FS20s controlling 13 radiators for about a year now. I have them reporting through a USB FHZ1350, via the open source FHEM software, and FHEM to XAP interface software to get the data into homeseer. Homeseer also switches the boiler on and off depending on the heat demand reported by the FS20s.

I have the bi-directional version, which means I can use Homeseer to send control messages back to the FS20s to change individual room temps etc.

[dan_aka_jack]

Just a quick note to say that I've just bumped into a new wireless heating control system called "LightwaveRF".

Wireless programmable radiator valve = £29; Thermostat = £19 (don't think you need the external thermostat); wifi-link = £99

http://jsjs.gostorego.com/heating-1.html

This looks like the closest approximation to what I need so will probably buy soon.  Does anyone have any experience with this kit?

[billt]

Interesting find. It looks a bit like a revamp of the Byron stuff, but there seem to be a few RF systems, none of which are compatible.

Browsing their forum finds this http://www.lightwaverf.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=396 which seems to imply that the current heating control is very limited as a system.

"Currently you can control 2 temperature presets with the wifilink. This is a little more than on/off but not yet full temperature contol. You can use the thermostat OR the wifilink to control your rad valves. This is not ideal i agree. The reason is because the rad valves were designed a while back to be a standalone product and to work with the thermostats. The wifilink functionality was tagged on as the wifilink came into being as part of the range.

This year we are coming out with all new heating valves, thermostats and a heating app addon that will control your entire heating and allow the setting and monitoring of temperatures, scheduling, etc. You existing rf valves will still work and wil be supported but will not have this extra functionality. There will also be a boiler control to turn on and off your system proper. A room thermostat will allow direct control of valves in addition to the wifi link."

[pmagowan]

The lightwave system is proprietary and thus there is only the one manufacturer.  I think it is available in some B&Q's.  A similar system would be z-wave, that I am looking at, and is open so multi company R&D.  You can control zones in a z-wave network using a small relay that you wire to an ordinary MV as far as I am aware.  As I said, I am looking into this currently but the zwave offers control of heating, security, cameras, fire alarms, lighting etc etc.

[wookey]

Zwave is a proprietary protocol. You can't even read the spec without paying several hundred Euro. This is a special new meaning of 'Open' that some groups have recently invented.

There are multiple suppliers through so it's better than LightwaveRF, but not as good as Zigbee (where you can read the specs for free, and you can ship stuff based on it, but you will have to pay if you want to use the logo on a product).

[dan_aka_jack]

I'd definitely prefer a system based on an open standard like zigbee. Are there any zigbee TRV actuators available for £40 or less?

[pmagowan]

Probably true there Wookey, but is that mostly relevant to if you want to develop a commercial application.  I would expect these protocols would become freely available to tinkerers (if not legally so) but obviously you would need to pay to put them in a commercial product.  Perhaps I am wrong here.  I was initially more interested in Zigbee but couldn't find such good features with it.