Central Heating Controller - Touchscreen, Wired

grumbler

RomfordNavy said:

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. .

No any radio waves.

WiFi is used only for connecting a smartphone. Nest can work in a house without WiFi. Yes, the  thermostat communicates with the controller but this is very basic, not high-speed, communication and different frequencies. We live in the ocean of FM, MW, DAB, Freeview, 3/4/5G etc. not to mention DECT, Bluetooth, wireless weather stations, smart meters...

BUFF

RomfordNavy said:

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.

The reason that I said that you would be better with a Vaillant controller for efficiency/performance is that Vaillant use their own, proprietary, communications protocol (WB & Viessman also do likewise). This is similar to Opentherm but there is some evidence to suggest that manufacturers' own combinations may outperform Opentherm very slightly.
Plus you would have to buy that additional module in addition to whatever Opentherm controller you bought so you may not save any money over buying the Vaillant & you would keep your warranty intact ....
If you are going to replace your controller it makes sense to try to do so with something that improves efficiency (or at least doesn't go backwards, iirc the CM907 is a Class 4 thermostat).

I had a suspicion that screen failure may have been your issue but now we know for sure & can discount Honeywell.
Personally, I am not a fan of touch screens as I view that as another potential point of failure & experience of input on smartphones, satnavs etc. they certainly are not perfect 100% of the time.

Would a Drayton Digistat 290B or M be suitable?
https://www.draytoncontrols.co.uk/products/programmable-thermostats/newdigistat-thermostats
You are probably going to find that many modern controllers are easier to programme via app even if they can be done manually - it is the way that the market is trending.

RomfordNavy

BUFF said:

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/

The reason that I said that you would be better with a Vaillant controller for efficiency/performance is that Vaillant use their own, proprietary, communications protocol (WB & Viessman also do likewise). This is similar to Opentherm but there is some evidence to suggest that manufacturers' own combinations may outperform Opentherm very slightly.
Plus you would have to buy that additional module in addition to whatever Opentherm controller you bought so you may not save any money over buying the Vaillant & you would keep your warranty intact ....
If you are going to replace your controller it makes sense to try to do so with something that improves efficiency (or at least doesn't go backwards, iirc the CM907 is a Class 4 thermostat).

I had a suspicion that screen failure may have been your issue but now we know for sure & can discount Honeywell.
Personally, I am not a fan of touch screens as I view that as another potential point of failure & experience of input on smartphones, satnavs etc. they certainly are not perfect 100% of the time.

Would a Drayton Digistat 290B or M be suitable?
https://www.draytoncontrols.co.uk/products/programmable-thermostats/newdigistat-thermostats
You are probably going to find that many modern controllers are easier to programme via app even if they can be done manually - it is the way that the market is trending.

So am I correct in thinking that a Vaillant controller doesn't need that Opentherm interface?  It is unfortunate but the Company selling those VR33 modules insist on payment by bank transfer rather than credit card which I find a bit suspicious.

Looking at the Vaillant sensoHOME controller but can't see any facility to connect a remote thermostat.

grumbler

I don't see how Drayton Digistat  is better than any other traditional controller. It's not touch-screen, is it? If you don't trust Honeywell, there are several other makers. Mine was Siemens before I replaced it with a smart one.

BUFF

RomfordNavy said:

BUFF said:

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/

The reason that I said that you would be better with a Vaillant controller for efficiency/performance is that Vaillant use their own, proprietary, communications protocol (WB & Viessman also do likewise). This is similar to Opentherm but there is some evidence to suggest that manufacturers' own combinations may outperform Opentherm very slightly.
Plus you would have to buy that additional module in addition to whatever Opentherm controller you bought so you may not save any money over buying the Vaillant & you would keep your warranty intact ....
If you are going to replace your controller it makes sense to try to do so with something that improves efficiency (or at least doesn't go backwards, iirc the CM907 is a Class 4 thermostat).

I had a suspicion that screen failure may have been your issue but now we know for sure & can discount Honeywell.
Personally, I am not a fan of touch screens as I view that as another potential point of failure & experience of input on smartphones, satnavs etc. they certainly are not perfect 100% of the time.

Would a Drayton Digistat 290B or M be suitable?
https://www.draytoncontrols.co.uk/products/programmable-thermostats/newdigistat-thermostats
You are probably going to find that many modern controllers are easier to programme via app even if they can be done manually - it is the way that the market is trending.

So am I correct in thinking that a Vaillant controller doesn't need that Opentherm interface?  It is unfortunate but the Company selling those VR33 modules insist on payment by bank transfer rather than credit card which I find a bit suspicious.

Looking at the Vaillant sensoHOME controller but can't see any facility to connect a remote thermostat.

A Vaillant controller should use their own native eBus protocol to communicate with the boiler so doesn't need an OpenTherm module.
The best people to talk to re. the features that you want, what your boiler supports & install questions is Vaillant themselves. However, their website says that sensoHOME is available in both wired & wireless (presumably the RF) versions. (same for sensoCOMFORT).
My understanding is that the sensoHOME is a combined programmer & room 'stat so if that is true you would simply mount it the 6ft away from the boiler where you want the remote 'stat to be & wire back to the boiler.

RomfordNavy

BUFF said:

A Vaillant controller should use their own native eBus protocol to communicate with the boiler so doesn't need an OpenTherm module.
The best people to talk to re. the features that you want, what your boiler supports & install questions is Vaillant themselves. However, their website says that sensoHOME is available in both wired & wireless (presumably the RF) versions. (same for sensoCOMFORT).
My understanding is that the sensoHOME is a combined programmer & room 'stat so if that is true you would simply mount it the 6ft away from the boiler where you want the remote 'stat to be & wire back to the boiler.

The reason for wanting a remote thermostat:

Current location of programmer in lounge is fine for use and for user access but not good from a temperature control point-of-view, too many things which affect the heat in that room.  Best option would be a remote wired thertmostat which would be mounted in a completely different room, through two walls about six feet away.

RomfordNavy

Think that a Vaillant sensoCOMFORT (VRC720, wired) would be required along with a VR92 remote eBus thermostat.  Seems overkill just to get a remote thermostat working but that appears to be the only way that Vaillant do it.

BUFF

a more basic system would be a Timeswitch 160 + VRT15. Or something inbetween the 2.

RomfordNavy

BUFF said:

a more basic system would be a Timeswitch 160 + VRT15. Or something inbetween the 2.

But would that support modulated control or is it just a simple on/off system?

BUFF

Don't know but suspect it is basic.
However, there are other options in between e.g. the Timeswitch 150 + VRT50/2 (sensoROOM pure) is a class 5 (modulating) thermostat system. Possibly the Timeswitch 160 + VRT50/2 is similar.
https://www.vaillant.co.uk/for-installers/products/sensoroom-pure-149312.html