Central Heating Controller - Touchscreen, Wired

RomfordNavy

Can anyone suggest a Wired Touchscreen type Central Heating Controller, preferably without wireless.  Also needs to have the facility to connect a remote wired temperature sensor.  This is a combi boiler so only need to be single channel to controol the heating.

BUFF

when you say controller do you mean a programmer or a room 'stat (or combined)? Does it need to be "smart"?
which exact boiler?
budget?

RomfordNavy

BUFF said:

when you say controller do you mean a programmer or a room 'stat (or combined)? Does it need to be "smart"?
which exact boiler?
budget?

Yes a programmer and room stat but with a remote wired sensor in another room.  Boiler is a Vaillant Ecotec.  Doesn't need to be "smart" just a timer.

grumbler

Smart is much easier to deal with.

Nest E comes with a controller without a screen, a wired receiver (replacing a wired thermostat), and a portable USB powered wireless thermostat that you can use for programming as well as a smartphone.

The main disadvantage is IMO that the the receiver, despite wired, is battery powered. Two AA (?) batteries last for 1-2 years apparently.

BUFF

grumbler said:

Smart is much easier to deal with.

Nest E comes with a controller without a screen, a wired receiver (replacing a wired thermostat), and a portable USB powered wireless thermostat that you can use for programming as well as a smartphone.

The main disadvantage is IMO that the the receiver, despite wired, is battery powered. Two AA (?) batteries last for 1-2 years apparently.

The opposite view is that some of us like the true portability of battery powered thermostats - no being tied to a location by the need for a socket. (it is weird that the mains-powered Nest E Heat Link also needs a battery)
& whilst I am at it there is also something to be said for physical buttons/controls rather than touchscreens.

Which combi? The answer may make a difference as to which recommendation (due to possibility of support for energy saving modulation modes).
Also, what is the existing programmer? Some replacements may be a direct swap whereas others may need some additional work.

RomfordNavy

grumbler said:

Smart is much easier to deal with.

Nest E comes with a controller without a screen, a wired receiver (replacing a wired thermostat), and a portable USB powered wireless thermostat that you can use for programming as well as a smartphone.

The main disadvantage is IMO that the the receiver, despite wired, is battery powered. Two AA (?) batteries last for 1-2 years apparently.

Thanks for the suggestion but if I have understod correctly that sounds like it still involves Wireless which I am trying to avoid.

grumbler

You have to define 'wireless' that you want to avoid and, possibly to explain why you want to avoid this.

Usual Nest ('Learning') is wired, although requires small alteration of the wiring - the existing cable is used for supplying 12V from the controller (no screen) to the wall-mounted thermostat with a touch screen.

The communication between the thermostat and the controller is still wireless - the same as for Nest E. No batteries.

RomfordNavy

BUFF said:

grumbler said:

Smart is much easier to deal with.

Nest E comes with a controller without a screen, a wired receiver (replacing a wired thermostat), and a portable USB powered wireless thermostat that you can use for programming as well as a smartphone.

The main disadvantage is IMO that the the receiver, despite wired, is battery powered. Two AA (?) batteries last for 1-2 years apparently.

The opposite view is that some of us like the true portability of battery powered thermostats - no being tied to a location by the need for a socket. (it is weird that the mains-powered Nest E Heat Link also needs a battery)
& whilst I am at it there is also something to be said for physical buttons/controls rather than touchscreens.

Which combi? The answer may make a difference as to which recommendation (due to possibility of support for energy saving modulation modes).
Also, what is the existing programmer? Some replacements may be a direct swap whereas others may need some additional work.

Existing programmer is a Honeywell CM907.  Boiler is a Vailant Ecotec Pro.  Where the thermostat is to be mounted is only six foot away and a very easy route to wire, hence prefference for a non-battery wired thermostat.

BUFF

Tbh you will get the best efficiency/performance (advanced modulation) from the boiler with a Vaillant control.
I believe that you may be able to use an Openthem controller with a Vaillant boiler using an unsupported-in-the-UK VR33 module https://myboiler.com/opentherm/vaillant-opentherm/ but this may also invalidate your warranty.

Does the controller really need to be a touchscreen or just have a screen (with physical controls)?
Or is screen plus control via an app & smartphone/tablet an option?

Honeywell's current equivalent of the CM907 is the T4 iirc https://www.plumbnation.co.uk/site/honeywell-t4-7-day-programmable-thermostat/

RomfordNavy

grumbler said:

You have to define 'wireless' that you want to avoid and, possibly to explain why you want to avoid this.

Usual Nest ('Learning') is wired, although requires small alteration of the wiring - the existing cable is used for supplying 12V from the controller (no screen) to the wall-mounted thermostat with a touch screen.

The communication between the thermostat and the controller is still wireless - the same as for Nest E. No batteries.

Wireless = transmission by radio waves, 2.4Ghz etc.  don't know how else to define wireless.  One person in the house doesn't get on at all well with any form of wi-fi.

RomfordNavy

BUFF said:

Tbh you will get the best efficiency/performance (advanced modulation) from the boiler with a Vaillant control.
I believe that you may be able to use an Openthem controller with a Vaillant boiler using an unsupported-in-the-UK VR33 module https://myboiler.com/opentherm/vaillant-opentherm/ but this may also invalidate your warranty.

Does the controller really need to be a touchscreen or just have a screen (with physical controls)?
Or is screen plus control via an app & smartphone/tablet an option?

Honeywell's current equivalent of the CM907 is the T4 iirc https://www.plumbnation.co.uk/site/honeywell-t4-7-day-programmable-thermostat/

Opentherm is interesting, didn't know about that, just doing some reading.  However still leaves the question of which wired programmer with remote wired thermostat.

Reason for changinig this controller is that the screen has failed yet again.  This is the fourth one of these that we have had and all have failed in the same way.  Would like to avoid buying anymore Honeywell crap, hoping that a touchscree controller might be better made and last longer.

Contriol via app or smartphone is not an option as trying to avoid wireless signals.