NEST thermostats

Django x2 · 27 Feb 2014 at 10:05

Been keeping an eye on these for a while and their UK release is imminent. You can already wire a US one up and have correct weather integrations, etc, but if I go this route, I would rather wait for the proper UK release.

https://nest.com/thermostat/life-with-nest-thermostat/

Now, question:

Would this work effectively in a UK home? Where we have thermostats placed in the coolest part of the home to gauge our temperatures and ask the thermostat to tell the heating to kick in until it hits the predefined temp. To implement the NEST properly, your heating would need to be effectively on, permanently, although I haven't seen the full schematic.

By contrast, LightWaveRF use TRVs, their wireless box and a boiler power unit to basically cycle the boiler as required to keep each room right (which I think I would prefer).

http://www.lightwaverf.com/store/order-heating

I assume the NEST has a similar boiler switch.

Thoughts?

Nightglow · 27 Feb 2014 at 10:18

Great news it's finally coming, haven't kept up with the developments last few months.

Trouble with American heating system they use 24 volts for boiler & air conditioning controls, which we don't.

Didn't realise you can already wire a US one up and have correct weather integrations, etc, thought difference in voltages was the reason for te delays.

Mr.Stu · 27 Feb 2014 at 10:43

Will be picking one of these up purely for the geek factor. Will need to relocate out thermostat from the stairs to downstairs hallway though - current location catches the sun.

Django x2 · 27 Feb 2014 at 11:21

What I get though, is the LightWave RF stuff uses the WiFi link to each rooms TRV, which I think I prefer, where as, as Mr Stu says, potentially, this might require some thermostat relocation....

I love the look of the NEST, but the convenience of LightWaveRF especially with the light switches we have might seal the deal.

Wiring for UK Nightglow:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIUL8ZPyA54

I did find a page with step by step but seem to have misplaced my google ability to find it now

Imy · 27 Feb 2014 at 11:26

Have you got any LightwaveRF kit already Django?

wallofsound · 27 Feb 2014 at 11:30

I'd love the nest when it comes to the UK, but I don't have a thermostat, just the thermostatic valves. I take it I wouldn't be able to install one until I got a thermostat?

Django x2 · 27 Feb 2014 at 13:12

Got the Light switches and a few wall sockets

Imy · 27 Feb 2014 at 13:24

Any problems?

optimus · 27 Feb 2014 at 13:50

No heard about an imminent UK release, are you sure?

Westyfield2 · 27 Feb 2014 at 15:49

I got an email earlier saying that the Honeywell Evohome is released in the UK today.

Django x2 · 27 Feb 2014 at 16:23

NEST were due to be here in March. AFAIK, that is still due to be the case.

Imy said:
Any problems?

No, none yet

Trifid · 27 Feb 2014 at 16:40

Django x2 said:
Would this work effectively in a UK home? Where we have thermostats placed in the coolest part of the home

I was going to install mine in the lounge when they are released here. Would that cause problems? My current thermostat is positioned above the hall radiator so would ideally like to move it.

Shimmyhill · 27 Feb 2014 at 16:47

I want one of these as soon as it is out - we already have a wireless honeywell unit and it is good but when i go to work in the evening the number of times Tracy forgets to turn the heating off is getting silly. I do wonder how it would be installed as i have a wireless box on the boiler and then the controller wireless - i assume the nest needs to be hard wired in?

Programming really doesn't work as i work odd and varying times and therefore am at home odd and varying times - nest sounds exactly what i need and i can remotely log in from work and turn it down when house is in bed etc!!

I am also going to get the smoke/co2 alarms - i hear they integrate well with each other even if the whole system is more google spying these days

bledd · 27 Feb 2014 at 17:58

Skynet stage 1 : complete

NEED THIS

James · 27 Feb 2014 at 22:15

Got fed up of waiting for nest and ordered a tado.
Thing I didn't like about the nest is the actual thermostat isn't wireless so it would just be a good looking waste under the boiler.

Tado is due to be delivered soon.
My whole house is all lightwaverf lighting wise it's not a perfect product but it's decent for the money.

Hank_Marvin · 28 Feb 2014 at 12:54

That tado looks really good, what are your concerns?

Imy · 28 Feb 2014 at 13:08

Personally I think the Honeywell EvoHome looks a lot better.

Shimmyhill · 28 Feb 2014 at 18:05

Imy said:
Personally I think the Honeywell EvoHome looks a lot better.

It is shockingly expensive - just the base unit and wifi thing is £315

Shimmyhill · 28 Feb 2014 at 19:29

Shimmyhill said:
It is shockingly expensive - just the base unit and wifi thing is £315

Hmm, seen it for £250 with wifi thing - i am tempted to get one and then add the wifi thermostats later!

Now to compare them all....

Caged · 28 Feb 2014 at 20:53

If you've already got a UK central heating system with TRVs on each radiator then isn't moving to a central thermostat a bit of a step backwards? As I understand it was designed for the US market with furnaces and warm air systems.

Edit: It's a bit disappointing that you need to wire in various relay controllers yourself, rather than Honeywell being able to provide a drop-in replacement for a standard 2 channel programmer. They even use a standard backplane now.