Any Immersion Diversion systems that support IFTTT?

GreenBo

My Smappee energy monitor enables me to switch on appliances through their control plugs when excess solar is being produced. Apart from maybe switching on an electric radiator, I can't really see much use for this feature, unless I can get it to control the hot water system, like Immerson and iBoost. Smappee supports IFTTT which means I can get it to talk to other 'smart' home devices like Nest and Philips Hue bulbs. But I can't seem to find an intelligent water heating controller, that supports IFTTT. Most other smart home tech talks to other smart home tech, but it seems the world of water heating diverters are still a closed shop. I don't really want to buy an Immerson or iBoost as for the expense of them the Smappee is overlapping a lot of their functionality. So I'm looking for a cheaper solution which Smappee can tell it when it can be triggered via IFTTT. Any suggestions? as I couldn't readily find anything with some Googling and I can't believe that these hot water devices are the ONLY smart home tech that doesn't talk openly to other smart home tech.:(

pinnks

My guess is that you won't find anything any time soon. The vast amount of the cost in proportional diverters is likely to be the electronics to deliver the output and compliance with the relevant regulations. The measurement of what's being generated and used is probably cheap by comparison.

So, if anyone were to build a device that could talk to Smappee I doubt it would be much cheaper than a diverter which does its own measurement. If you think diversion is for you and would save you up to £100 per year, then I would just shell out the cash. I would buy the same again as it complies with all regs and can do more than the competition, which suits me. That said, it is more expensive...

michaels

I am guessing that you can get Smappee sockets in which case can't you just wire your immersion to a plug? Not quite as good as iBoost etc as it only allows for on/off not variable load but perhaps the smappee can also prioritise loads depending on how much they draw and the availabel eport current?

GreenBo

If I can use the £10 control plugs from Smappee rather than a £350 Immersun I'll be a happy man. :beer:

I've pinged an email to their tech support to see what they say.

My immersion is wired directly into a socket on the wall. What I mean is that it's not fed off a plug socket. I'm assuming this is because the heating element draws so much current? Looking at the back of one of the Smappee control plugs it says "3000W Load Max". How do I see if this is enough for the immersion heater? I'm going to get an electrician in before I even think of doing anything but I'm wondering if I can find this information out before having to call in an electrician.

pinnks

The immersion will be 3000W and will have its own circuit back to the distribution box and trip switches.

You could presumably use a smart socket to switch the circuit as that is all the immerSUN does in terms of its switching function but I am not sure what you'll gain to be honest. The immersion will immediately draw max load even if you are generating virtually nothing and how often do you have 3kW excess generation? 5% of the time perhaps?

So in effect you will be using imported and expensive energy to do what you gas CH can do more cheaply.

legoman62

You could always fit a lower wattage immersion heater.

There are 1kW, 1.5kW and 2kW versions available:D

pinnks

That is of course correct.

For me having that peace of mind that you will only sweep up excess generation is worth the money. Looking quickly over couple of weeks there is no predictable pattern of when diversion occurs. It can range from 3 or 4 hours continuous at 400W per hour to a burst of 1.5kWh then a trickle to a few hundred Wh all day. You couldn't do that without a diverters, even with a 1kW heater.