Intelligent Controller

[Milleniumaire]

I'm looking to install a new Vaillant ecoFIT Pure 825 combi and have been advised that I need to include an intelligent controller as part of the recent Boiler Plus legislation.

The engineer is recommending a Honewell Lyric T6R, but I'm wondering if this is really a better option that the Vaillant vSmart. His main reason for using the T6R is that a separate power socket isn't needed, which admittedly seems a strange requirement for the vSmart gateway given that it is installed next the boiler. I believe the T6R gets its power from the boiler.

I was also wondering if I should look at the latest generation of the Hive.

I would appreciate any feedback on these smart controllers and any pros/cons I may not have considered.

Thanks.

 

[Dan Robinson]

T6 is better then Hive. Can't comment on the vSmart.

 

[Milleniumaire]

I've just realised I wrote Hive, when I meant to write Nest, but then I guess Hive is another option!

 

[Milleniumaire]

Just done some price comparisons of the various products and the T6R comes out a clear winner. Wolseley (aka Plumb Center) are selling it at £120 retail. That's a great price!

 

[Yorkshirebloke]

City plumbing supplies are doing it for the same if they are any nearer to you.

 

[muggles]

The T6R does need to be plugged into a socket to work. If you have existing thermostat wires in an acceptable location, you can install the wired T6. Both very good stats, especially when linked to smart OpenTherm compliant boilers, although they do also work pretty well to improve efficiency on less intelligent boilers such as the one you've chosen

 

[Dan Robinson]

The T6R does need to be plugged into a socket to work.

Not necessarily

 

[muggles]

Not necessarily

Oooh, tell me more?

 

[Dan Robinson]

Why not wire it to the external controls side of the boiler (3, 4, 5 IIRC).

 

[dilalio]

Which also means it'll be isolated when you turn the boiler off and will stop you getting a nasty jolt when you think everythings been powered down

 

[D_Hailsham]

I'm looking to install a new Vaillant ecoFIT Pure 825 combi and have been advised that I need to include an intelligent controller as part of the recent Boiler Plus legislation.

The current Building Regs (Domestic Building Services Compliance Guide, with 2018 Amendments) do not say that you must have an Internet connected controller. It does say that a combi boiler should have at least one of the following - as appropriate: (a) Flue gas heat recovery; (b) weather compensation; (c) load compensation; (d) smart thermostat with automation and optimisation. These are defined as follows:

Flue gas heat recovery means a device which pre-heats the domestic hot water supply by recovering heat from the boiler's flue emissions.

Weather compensation means a control function which maintains internal temperatures by varying the flow temperature from the heat generator relative to the measured outside air temperature.
Load compensation means a control function which maintains internal temperatures by varying the flow temperature from the heat generator relative to the measured response of the heating system.

Automation means a control function which automatically adjusts time and temperature settings based on occupancy detection and/or stored data from user adjustments over time.

Optimisation means a control function which starts the boiler operation at the optimum time to achieve the setpoint temperature at the start of the occupancy period.