Nest Thermostat VS Hive

fireisdangerous · 14 Apr 2014 at 15:32

Hello,

Looking for people who haved used either system. Getting central heating installed in the next month and chose british gas as my supplier as I got Hive gear and install for free. However I also purchased the nest thermostat whilst the free install offer was avaliable so i could decide which one to have.

They essentiall do the same thing from what I can see. I am looking at it from a usability standpoint rather than function.

The pros of Hive that I can see are:

Its free
Can control heating via apps

Cons

Has to be directly connected to my router, needs a soare power plug

Doesnt not look as cool as the nest

Pros of Nest

Will connect with my nest protects

Nice looking kit with functional apps

doesnt connect directly to router

Cons

Isnt free

When wall monunted power lead will dangle down to plug socket

additional stand 30 quid!

Would be very interested in your opnions.

neil3k · 15 Apr 2014 at 08:44

just a headsup the tariff from British Gas where you get the hive is very expensive per kwh for your gas and electric

fireisdangerous · 16 Apr 2014 at 09:34

neil3k said:
just a headsup the tariff from British Gas where you get the hive is very expensive per kwh for your gas and electric

Thanks for heads up, spotted that earlier so switching to a cheaper tarriff without hive. although they have already sent me the discount code for hive so should be able to get the cheapest rate and hive.

HardwareGeek · 16 Apr 2014 at 20:13

If its a new install and you are getting hive from the start as part of the install then you wont have thermostat wiring installed that the nest would need, might want to think about that or ask the installer if they can put a thermostat cable in for you or if you have an old one in the right place if it can be connected up rather than left disconnected etc

Other wise changing from hive to nest would need an extra cable installing or the old cable wiring into the ch wiring center if its left disconnected etc and add to cost/complexity of getting nest

Tony Williams · 16 Apr 2014 at 22:44

I also l want something like this - it's a shame these aren't cheaper and more seasoned. Home automation aint big in the UK

fireisdangerous · 17 Apr 2014 at 08:49

HardwareGeek said:
If its a new install and you are getting hive from the start as part of the install then you wont have thermostat wiring installed that the nest would need, might want to think about that or ask the installer if they can put a thermostat cable in for you or if you have an old one in the right place if it can be connected up rather than left disconnected etc

Other wise changing from hive to nest would need an extra cable installing or the old cable wiring into the ch wiring center if its left disconnected etc and add to cost/complexity of getting nest

Its a brand new install into an old victorian house so no exisitng wires or thermostats. I am having a Glow-worm Easicom 28 Combi boiler fitted with a Honeywell wireless room stat. Plan on using the nest with the stand. What additional wireing is needed for the heat link.

HardwareGeek · 17 Apr 2014 at 19:54

fireisdangerous said:
Its a brand new install into an old victorian house so no exisitng wires or thermostats. I am having a Glow-worm Easicom 28 Combi boiler fitted with a Honeywell wireless room stat. Plan on using the nest with the stand. What additional wireing is needed for the heat link.

Not too familiar with nest but from other threads my understanding was that it replaced your old thermostat with the nest stat so needs minimum3 core cable for l,n,sl etc, will pick up the temp from this unit so positioning is important.

Just wanted to point out before you find you would need an extra cable chasing in the wall at a later date

EDIT: ignore me lol, looks like they updated it or changed it from US version so plug socket is ok now and placement isnt a problem - so will be a simple job to swap the honeywell wireless receiver for the nest receiver

Mikey · 26 Jul 2014 at 23:36

Moving home hopefully soon and this is high on my list. SSE customer at present and didn't plan to change, was originally going hive, but nest looks nice.

DarrenM343 · 27 Jul 2014 at 07:29

I'd go with the Nest (which is owned by Google). Personally I'll give it another year or two before buying but mainly because current setup is only a year old but by then more development would have been done but the Nest unit already looks pretty good.

Mikey · 27 Jul 2014 at 07:58

Yes the nest looks nice, indications are it 'll take 3 months to move even with no chain, so will see what's what.

SSE said they had something coming, can't see them developing their own.

Trifid · 27 Jul 2014 at 09:07

DarrenM343 said:
I'd go with the Nest (which is owned by Google). Personally I'll give it another year or two before buying but mainly because current setup is only a year old but by then more development would have been done but the Nest unit already looks pretty good.

The Nest has been out for years in the US. The recent development that is of interest is their API release which happened a month of 2 ago.

I first read about the Hive when it was released and looked what else was on the market. I decided the then US based non Google owned Nest looked a lot better. I reckon Google will allow the company to push some great things to the market with tighter integration. I bought the Nest on launch although have yet to use it as it is summer...

FreeStream · 27 Jul 2014 at 09:36

Look into Honeywells evohome system. Far better system than hive or nest as it gives you far greater control over your homes heating.

DannagE · 27 Jul 2014 at 14:36

Concorde Rules said:
Look into Honeywells evohome system. Far better system than hive or nest as it gives you far greater control over your homes heating.

Yeah greater control @ a lot more cost than the nest/hive system.

I've got the nest installed here, fitted myself to a new install. Was easy enough to do. Can't really tell you if the automation is great on it because I fitted it in warm weather. But I will mainly be using it from my phone before leaving shift.

Also nest is going to be tied into google now later on in the year so it will know when you're on your way home from the location of your phone/schedule. More automation option.

Trifid · 27 Jul 2014 at 14:45

DannagE said:
Also nest is going to be tied into google now later on in the year so it will know when you're on your way home from the location of your phone/schedule. More automation option.

Use IFTTT to do it. If you're connected to your home wifi then you are obviously at home.

Mikey · 30 Jul 2014 at 15:14

Been reading into this further and the Nest looks nice, just a shame it doesn't do hot water too. Hive looks functional, but the question is how much development will it have going forward compared to Nest.

Bunka · 31 Jul 2014 at 15:29

Not sure if I've missed anyone saying this, but get the wire for the nest channeled into the wall. It'll cost you barely anything and then you wont have to look at an unsightly cable!