Recommendations for replacing a 'dumb' Danfoss FP715Si heating controller with a smart system?

Ken2000

Currently, we have a 'dumb' Danfoss FP715Si controller panel for our bungalow. It controls the hot water and oil fuelled central heating (gas not available where we are). It works, but lacks the option for smart controlling, i.e. By feedback from a portable thermostat or via the Internet. Something like the Tado X or Drayton Wiser might fit the bill.

We are likely to get an attic conversion next year, but in doing so, will probably get an Ashp installed. We could do with the smart controller now, rather than waiting for the conversion/asap installation. Would either of the two systems offer enough future proofing?

Amy advice would be greatly appreciated.

Rodders53

If planning on a wet ASHP in that short a timeframe then stick with dumb controls for now. Some Air to Water ASHP brands require bespoke controls to max out the benefits of them so any smart solution could well be incompatible.

TBF if you can get an ASHP installed sooner (with capacity allowance for the future attic conversion) you may get the higher Grant; so perhaps now is the time to do it!

The Danfoss seems to have a decent enough 3 on/off times each day for 7 days if desired.

QrizB

As a general rule, smart controls for gas or oil boilers aren't appropriate for heat pumps.

Also, your future heat pump installer should also be installing controls that will do smart stuff like weather compensation.

There might be some system out there that's adaptable to both, but I'm not aware of one.

FreeBear

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82158374#Comment_82158374

A Home Assistant based control system would be adaptable depending on the heat pump installed - May require an additional interface board (appears to be a growing number out there).

I used to run an ancient Baxi back boiler with HA (basic on/off control) before getting an OpenTherm compatible combi boiler. When I eventually get a heat pump, I'll have a choice of modbus or OpentTherm without having to purchase any additional hardware. Mitsibushi Ecodan, Daikin Altherma, Vaillant, and Bosch would need extra hardware.

BUT… I like tinkering, and the prospect of hacking software to get everything working doesn't scare me. There are commercial systems out there that are equally adaptable (KNX springs to mind), but they come at a cost and most are better suited to commercial settings.

Reed_Richards

I have an LG heat pump and use it in conjunction with a Drayton Wiser. This works pretty well but means I don't have access to a feature known generically as "Load Compensation". This makes the heat source work harder (i.e. raise the water temperature) if there is a big difference between the actual room temperature and the desired temperature set on the thermostat. Conversely the heat source will work less hard when the room temperature is close to the set temperature. My heat pump can't do that because it cannot communicate with the Drayton Wiser to read these temperatures whereas if I had the manufacturer's own controller it could.

Most oil boilers cannot modulate their output; they are either full-on or off. So you cannot apply Load Compensation (or Weather Compensation) to oil boilers. Many gas boilers use a communication protocol called Opentherm which allows them to communicate effectively with a range of different controllers and get the necessary temperature information. But I don't think you can get a heat pump with Opentherm capability, although manufacturers really ought to do something about that.

PS My heat pump can do Weather Compensation because it only needs to know the outside temperature for that and all heat pumps will have their own outside temperature sensor.