Smart thermostats and timers in multiple zones

[sj007]

Hi guys,

Hoping I can get some input on a subject related to an extension I am currently having done. My set up is that I have central heating in the majority of the house but as part of my ground floor extension, I am having a water pipe underfloor heating system fitted.

I have a megaflow tank (picture attached) and a potterton boiler (picture attached). My underfloor heating is a grundfos 2 zone manifold with Hetta aluminium pipes.

My question is on timers and thermostats. What exactly do I need? I have purchased 3 Google Nest E thermostats (Presuming I can use one for the main house central heating and water with the other two each controlling the underfloor heating zones). Is this sufficient for me to control my heating and hot water timers etc or do I need a dedicated timer? The reason I ask is because my builder has gone ahead and fitted a timer already (a "Lifestyle LP522") but he's confessed he doesn't really know much about smart thermostats and what functions they can/cant replace.

I do want to go the smart thermostat route, I understand the nest learning thermostat 3 can do more than the Nest E, I'd be happy to buy one of these if it removes the need to have a separate timer.

Appreciate any guidance!

Thanks,

Steve

 

[Aquarius]

Would it not have been wise to find out first what you need before purchasing? Anyway the nest e thermostat only controls the heating, not hot water.

 

[SimonG]

All getting a bit much with the smart this and the smart that.

Ask yourself why you want smart controls.

No need on underfloor heating as far as I'm concerned or on the hot water. Fine for the heating if you're not home ar standard and regular hours.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Any better pics of the boiler further away

 

[sj007]

Thanks for all of the responses guys.

Yes in hindsight shouldn't have assumed the Nest E was going to work.

The desire for smart controls is simply to save energy. I've got an office annex on the opposite side of garden from the house so want to be able to switch different parts of the house on/off via my phone to save me from forever going back and forth. I wasn't fussed about having my underfloor heating as two separate zones but the manifold has a two zone set up so my installer said we may aswell deploy it that way given the size of room.

I've attached a couple more pictures of the boiler.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Builder done the plumbing / removed the boiler ?

 

[Murdoch]

Unbelievable ...................

 

[Gasmk1]

that's a shocking bit of work

 

[Dr John Doolittle]

Make (or get a 9yr old to make for you) a controller system using a raspberry pi (zero or otherwise). You will need a few relays and temperature probes. The phone side is also open source. Whole job should cost no more than £30 if using the zero and maybe £50 if using a larger pi model. Then it can do what you want, when you want it and you won't have to limit things using commercial equipment. Plenty of "how to's" and videos. Just search

 

[king of pipes]

I think you have bigger problems than figuring out how smart stats are wired , boiler and underfloor heating needs sorting out . Kop

 

[sj007]

No the builder hasn't done the work but my contract is with him, he's sub-contracted the plumbing work. That corner will ultimately be a utility room, the manifold is pinned to the wall temporarily as the position might change slightly.

Might be a stupid question but what's the obvious problem I'm missing? I know it all looks untidy but it's largely temporary whilst the builder has been cracking on with other aspects of the extension.

 

[Chuck]

The desire for smart controls is simply to save energy.

You need to do your calculations carefully to achieve this. It's easy to spend a lot more on 'smart controls' than they're ever going to save in energy costs. The better the house is insulated, the truer this becomes.

When all things are considered, it's actually quite difficult to beat a traditional time switch, like the LP522, and a room thermostat in a sensible location. Particularly if, like me, you like to keep things you rely on for comfort or safety simple.