What thermostat to choose..

[solidsjakie]

Hi All,

I currently have an Intergas Kobikompakt HRE28/24.
I am controlling it with a Honeywell Chronotherm IV On/Off.
I know my heater supports Modulation/Opentherm, so I would like to replace the thermostat with a better option.

I do have a domoticz system running, VPN etc so I do not depend on some party receiving the signal, and then the thermostat polling for changes (like Nest/E thermostaat).
/* Edit /*
I also have a RFX 433 option, and thinking about Razpberry
/* End edit /*
But it is an option (if it saves money).

I also have a Cresta TX320 to check the temp (might be moved to the bathroom and install controlled radiator valves later on).
I have ethernet and power at the location of the boiler, so i can install anything there.
Also the termostat is connected with 2 wires at this moment in the living room.

Now I have several options:
Take a subscription with Essent and take the ICY option with it.
Get a Google Nest V3, maybe somewhere cheap.
This means another party gets my precense/heating preference. Not terrible, but if not needed then better not.

Other option:
Get a Remeha iSense from marktplaats. Install this one, and then? Hook a Raspberry to it? (I have one for spare).

Another option:
Get an opentherm gateway, and build a thermostat myself? (Girlfriend wont be liking this option due to startup issues I think, but it is something nice to explore).

I missed an option? What would be best? Also considering future development of Domoticz?

[JuanUil]

You don't need a subscription with Essent for the ICY Thermostat.
I myself have bought one on Marktplaats and it is working perfectly on Domoticz.
I have written a LUA script for controlling it. viewtopic.php?f=38&t=8799
Succes
Jan

[solidsjakie]

OK, so I got one from Marktplaats.

The previous owner has to de register the thermostat, before I can use it. (So tip for the next one: You can prepare the seller for this)

There is an USB connection om the hub, did you try this to communicate with the hub itself?

*Edit*

Ok, USB is power only I think.
I have downloaded the app for the thermostat, and I configured it as a clock thermostat now, without Essent.
So the Thermostat is programmable without contacting the Internet.

I now went from an On/Off clock thermostat to a modulating clock thermostat, so thats a good thing.
Next up, connecting it to Domoticz.
Im currently portscanning the HUB, it responds to ping, see what else it is doing.

I blocked Internet access for the HUB, so the guy I bought it from cant control my heating (nor Essent can at this moment).
(Its not that I dont trust him, but worst case scenario ).

[solidsjakie]

Ok, so I have contacted Essent, and I got reply.
I need to deregister here:
https://mijn.icy.nl/nl/e_thermostat_deregistrations/new

Which costs mee 15 euros. Did you guys have this to?

[Pino112]

Can you verify if the Intergas boiler gives a return temperature? I don't know if that is supported by the ICY.

The HRE-boiler isn't listed on the boiler matrix on http://otgw.tclcode.com/matrix.cgi#boilers (HReco and HR are slightly different), so I'm curious if the HRE also does not send the return temperature.

[anandus]

[...]
I have downloaded the app for the thermostat, and I configured it as a clock thermostat now, without Essent.
So the Thermostat is programmable without contacting the Internet.

[...]
Next up, connecting it to Domoticz.

I'm thinking of getting an ICY thermostat from Marktplaats.

But I don't like using some site to control it.
Can I use the thermostat without an internet connection (blocked) and control it directly through Domoticz?

[jvdz]

I'm thinking of getting an ICY thermostat from Marktplaats.
But I don't like using some site to control it.
Can I use the thermostat without an internet connection (blocked) and control it directly through Domoticz?

Don't think this is possible. The build-in option for ICY is using the Website for controlling the thermostat and I haven't seen anybody figured out a direct connection into/from the ICY.

Jos

[anandus]

I'm thinking of getting an ICY thermostat from Marktplaats.
But I don't like using some site to control it.
Can I use the thermostat without an internet connection (blocked) and control it directly through Domoticz?

Don't think this is possible. The build-in option for ICY is using the Website for controlling the thermostat and I haven't seen anybody figured out a direct connection into/from the ICY.

Jos

Ah, thanks for the reply.
Silly that one would need an external site to control a thermostat. But it is what it is.

[jvdz]

Well, that is a requirement when you advertise that the APP to control the ICY will work from anywhere.

Jos

[stormychel]

I went another route because I needed 2 thermostats, and all options were rather expensive.. especially for the old rental house we live in.

If you already have a working thermostat, an option is to buy a 433mhz switchable relay (eBay, Aliexpress, ...), and use it to interrupt the control wire to the boiler. That way you can keep the thermostats functionality, and let Domoticz decide when it is actually activated.

Hope this helps someone!

@stormychel

[Egregius]

And if you use a double relay you can interrupt and override.
One contact in series with the room thermostat, the second contact parallel with it.
Then you have complete control over the thermostat

[stormychel]

Interesting idea!

I ordered 2 more of these relays, one for the living room thermostat and one for "stock", but I might try your idea with 2 of them instead. I am a little worried about a "heater shutdown" command misfiring, leading to the boiler keeping on and room temperature getting very high though... any way to prevent this?

Sending a shutdown command twice for safety might be a solution, but I can't find a way to get this to work in Domoticz...

[Egregius]

Interesting idea!

Sending a shutdown command twice for safety might be a solution

You're talking about 433mhz device?
With Z-wave you don't need this.
Anyway, sending twice in a script isn't that hard.
In my pass2php script that would be something like:

Code: Select all

function heater(){
    global $a,$i;
    sleep(1);
    sw($i['heater'],$a);
}
 

[stormychel]

Yes 433mhz... I had a lot of outlets / remotes laying around and decided to do something useful with it, so no Z-Wave for now. New stuff might be Z-Wave though, we'll see, but I realise it's a better technology.

Thanks for sharing your script!

[MichealLocus]

Never knew so much thermostat information