Heat controller valves on a single-family house

[Johnvigna 0]

Good morning. I live in a single-family house with an autonomous boiler and I am interested in installing heat controller valves on my radiators. Currently, the boiler is controlled by a thermostat. It is not necessary to install one since the Fibaro valves allow temperature control, but something is needed to give the boiler a signal when the valves request heat. Any suggestions?

[Fabir 73]

@Johnvigna Hello and welcome to the community.

 

About your heating, I recommend to upgrade your Fibaro Homecenter 2 which is end of life, no more updates. If you have up to 20 zwave devices, you can use Fibaro Homecenter 3 Light or Yubi Home. Or the larger Homecenter 3.

 

For my radiator heating I'm using:

 

Please login or register to see this link.

radiator thermostats TRV

For each room (zone) a temp sensor is needed. The radiator valve thermostats will follow the room temp sensor. I'm using

Please login or register to see this link.

with powersupply and

Please login or register to see this link.

with DS1820 Temp sensors.

[Johnvigna 0]

Thank you for your response and for the suggestion on the upgrade, which I will consider.

However, in this configuration, it is still not clear to me who gives the impulse to the boiler to start.

I came from a stand alone Netatmo instalation with an integrated thermostat that gives the impule to star when the valve ask for heating.

I imagine it needs to be programmed in the Home Center panel. Have you implemented the Fibaro Smart Sensor in the boiler?

[Łukasz997 117]

What do you need to built the automated home heating system?

1. Devices mounted on radiators, which can manage valve (open/close) and - according to the measured temperature - has the ability to report to the central a message like "valve is open, hot water is required". On example Fibaro Heat Controller

2. So called Smart Implant. Fibaro Device, which can open/close NON-POTENTIAL circuit based on the command set from the HC central. This is connected to the device used to heat the water for radiators and closing/opening the circuit gives command to heat/not heat the water.

3. Software installed on the HC central to manage all (o.e. free Fibaro Heat Activator).

4. Optionally: heating schedule (it is simply created on the HC, by user interface).

 

This can be complete, automatic heating system for home.

[Johnvigna 0]

Thank you

about point 2) any suggestion for the correct wiring diagram?

I think that the thermostat have two single cable and when thet are connected the heat  command switch on.

[Flash 103]

Hello,

 

I have a HC 3 in use for a couple of years with an LUA script for heating, copied from this forum. This was made by "10der". Working like a charm.

For firing the boiler, i use the Fibaro relay switch  

Please login or register to see this link.

You could also use  block scene's, eventually in combination with some global variables. To trigger the Fibaro Realy switch.

 

 

 

 

[Łukasz997 117]

Smart implant has two output. The central can command smart implant to short-circuit the output.

1. You have to found on the heather electronic mainboard a pair of pins, which when short-circuited, the heater starts to warm the water. Otherwise, when opened it stops. Smart implant can manage very low power, so it should be non-potential pins. Connect smart implant output to those pins.

2. Smart implant needs to be powered. On most mainboards  there is 24V DC present - it can be used in this case.

That's all about smart implant.

 

But most depends on type of your heater, it's possible that additional work will be needed. If not sure do not perform it yourselves.

 

Rest is script/plugin/QuickApp and thermostats on radiators.

Edited January 20, 2025 by Łukasz997

[Johnvigna 0]

As far as you know, can Z-Wave valves from different brands coexist in this configuration?

I could use the more expensive Fibaro ones for the main rooms and use cheaper valves for the others. The same goes for temperature sensors. Has anyone already tried these hybrid configurations?

[Łukasz997 117]

I have no experience with other brand valves. The solutions I know bases on ability of valve correctly answer to LUA command fibaro.getValue(Valve_id, "heatRequired"). It's HC3 syntax.

 

It's not a good idea making too many valves to manage the heating. Doing this you do the heater almost all time on - as it's much more likely that one of many valves is demanding heating.

From my practice - it's worth to think which one is really necessary to steer the heater

[Johnvigna 0]

Thanks for the advice. As suggested, I think I'll upgrade to the Home Center 2 and then I'll try testing the Fibaro valves. I come from a bad experience with the Netatmo valves, but I understand that there is good feedback on these.

[Łukasz997 117]

Well, it's a question what does it mean "to be satisfied" with something. Fibaro valves are not perfect: it happens, on example, they require heat without reason, does not update temperature readings for many minutes etc. But in general, it works. One thing you have to aware: never connect via Zwave 3.0 engine. Never! (until final release of this engine, not beta). At the start of configuring the HC3 choose Zwave 2.0 engine.

With 3.0 sooner than later you meet the problems with communication between smart implant, valves to/from the HC3. This is my personal experience.

Edited February 9, 2025 by Łukasz997

[Johnvigna 0]

Thank you for the feedback.

The issues you mentioned seem minor to me. Can I tell you what I am not satisfied about my Netatmo system:

Poor construction (the plastic threaded ring is certainly made of the wrong material)

connection problems,

calibration issues,

battery consumption,

very bad  customer service.

...in a few word i waste my money

I believe there is good room for improvement. I will keep you informed.

Thanks again.

[Johnvigna 0]

First step completed. I got the Home Center 3 for a proper upgrade. I'm waiting for the final migration.

I ordered a heat controller for testing.

First problem: the Fibaro valve is not compatible with mine. My radiator uses Caleffi. Are there adapters? I haven't found any discussions about it.

Please login or register to see this attachment.

[Fabir 73]

@Johnvigna Be aware that the Fibaro Heat Controller should be mounted in horizontal position. Look below. 

 

If you have to change the radiator valve, thake a valve with a M 30x15 thread. Than you don't need any adapter

Please login or register to see this attachment.