joth

Nice. Sorry if you already explained, but how are you getting the data, especially charge %, out of the battery and into grafana? Does it offer an API to control the battery behaviour too? (E.g. set charge vs discharge preference, for charging from grid at cheap rate)

As well as the points Peter makes (and I agree with) about using a buffer instead of LLH, and using zone isolation valves, another key question is: What emitters are you using in the two zones? Do they expect different flow temperatures? If so you'll also need a. Electronic mixing valve on zone 2 to mix down the correct temperature for heating/cooling. (The FTC6 can drive that mixing valve for you) This also allows the buffer tank to store water at hotter/colder temp that required (e.g. charging it up during cheap rate or from solar PV excess) and mix the it down to required temperature when used.

To check, you have the external WiFi antenna plugged into the inverter? When it's in pairing mode, can you see the WiFi network it creates in your iPhone WiFi settings?

They UI changes from version to version, but this is more or less what I've done: create a "legacy support" network SSID and put all the 802.11b devices on that. In fact I tend to put most devices on that and keep the "main" SSID just for higher bandwidth devices that have regularly updated software: phones, laptops, Chromecast, etc. I've never had to mess about with manual channel assignment, across 5 APs. (I also have a "guest" SSID that only has public internet access, and an "IoS" network for IoT devices that only need local LAN access)

Obvious answer is the government backed industry standard for design and install is MCS accreditation, but we don't like that here as it locks out DIYers.

Absolutely, that's what I said in my first post in the thread:

You can also still get Sila grown in the French alps https://www.sivalbp.fr/en/wood-cladding/authentic-en/meleze-de-siberie/ We used their new age gris pretreated Sila and it's so good our neighbour has done the same, starting a new vernacular for the street:) Pretty hard to get hold of now, of course, but he did manage it this year via Vincent's timber

Yeah I think more likely passing on other people's guessed explanation than coming up with his own, but certainly JG Speedfit is not guaranteed for use in secondary return applications, like hep2o, it's excluded by the MIs. Our plumber was an absolute stickler for keeping within MIs. https://www.johnguest.com/sites/jg/files/2022-01/RWC11339_JG-Speedfit-Technical-Specs-Guide_v11.pdf "Speedfit products must not be used on any continuously operated re-circulating systems as they are not approved under the current version of these standards."

My plumber said the same (about my DIY JG speedfit secondary return pipework) explaining it's because it can't survive being at a permanent 24/7 high temperature, the plastic breaks down much faster. Take it or leave it but that was his explanation Doesn't worry me much as my secondary return (if I ever get around to commissioning it) will be time and motion controlled so the pipework generally spend most the time at/near room temperature. Just the same as a heating pipe run, which it is rated for.

Aside from CAT6 to obvious places you may need it, a few other future proofing measures: - service voids that connect through to loft so you can pull new wires. we did this on all external walls which helps for blinds - consider running all lighting circuits back to a central control closet ("node zero") where centralized dimming could be added if wanted in future - CAT6 to light switches and probable motion sensor locations - consider door sensors! I find this so useful for many automations. )wish my plan to hide them internally to all the internal doors had worked out; now I'm cursed with battery and wireless sensors) - when selecting big ticket items like (motorized) rooflights, heat pumps, integrated blinds etc do due diligence in the integration possibilities of the model selected

Done. At this moment this is giving 14ºC as the dew point. If I add on 1K as an error margin, that puts me back at the 15ºC flow temp I originally thought of 🙂

The Loxone flow temperature controller block (ITC) does helpfully have a note saying don't drop the temperature below the dew point, but doesn't help in calculating it. https://www.loxone.com/enen/kb/intelligent-temperature-controller-2/ There's a fairly simple estimation of dew point for RH>50% so I'll probably just drop this in to calculate my minimum flow temperature. Td = T - ((100 - RH)/5) https://iridl.ldeo.columbia.edu/dochelp/QA/Basic/dewpoint.html

Needs some integrating to the main UFH controls to ensure the primary circuit continues to circulate via the UFH loop even when there's no call for cooling or heating on the ASHP. But... Yeah it does make sense

While it's nice to not oversize it vs the heat demand, as that allows the heat pump to operate at the lowest flow setting for longest period (so best COP), I think the most critical thing is not to oversize it vs the minimum emitter size, as that's when egregious short-cycling will occur. Looking at it my own setup is borderline on a 2:1 modulation ratio, as we have 3.5kW of UFH emitter and a 8.5kW ASHP. I see a few quotes that 3:1 modulation is typical so that puts us within bounds, so long as I don't chop up the UFH into smaller separately controlled zones.

Opps yes think I was looking at the date they announced it was being withdrawn. Is your install on metered for payments then? Ours isn't, just on "metered for performance" thus cooling doesn't impact how much £ is paid out at all. (The performance metering is done via MELCloud which splits out heating, cooling and DHW anyway, albeit in a very inconvenient little dashboard)

Indeed doing "install only" of customer supplied kit carries quite a lot of uncertainty even in the best case scenario. If the installer has to sign off the whole install as MCS certified it's going to be much harder if they didn't supply gear (which maybe uncertified or even counterfeit for all the installer knows). Even if it's genuine and under warranty, it's still the installer that will be called out in the first instance if anything goes wrong. As a counter example, I bought my own alarm system components (Texecom) and got a local installer to commission it, as required for Grade 2 alarm with a police URN. Honestly, in retrospect if I was the installer I would never have taken me on as a customer! Certainly the installer has a markup on parts, but the amount of items I've had fail is truly shocking* and each time it results in a massive faff for me chasing up the manufacturer for warranty (if I can be arsed to) and then getting the installer back in (double call-out charge) to do the replacement. (Or I DIY it which is int he grey for a remote monitored system) [* - Failed so far: main panel backup battery, Texecom connect internet gateway, one keyfob, one PIR, and the batteries in pretty much all door sensors, all failed in the first a year. My suspicion is the online resellers with discounts have a lot of old-stock or recalled items.] In other news: Texecom is a bag o shite that I do not recommend. But I digress. point is, MCS is a "design + install + maintenance" industry assurance and it's much more PITA for the installer to stand behind all that if they're dealing with a wild-west of customer source components. MCS has masses of flaws and I really dislike the way it's mandated for SEG or BUS Grant as much as anyone, but so long as there is an MCS scheme I do understand why most installers will want to be supply-only. It's just that much lower risk and keeps things in their control for them as a business.

Be interested how you get on, but I discarded that one as it has such little tech info. e.g. I'd like a model number, and to see wiring and plumbing schematic and what condensate tray it has (if any). (Also I needed air ducted unit, although that one looks like it maybe within realms of possibility to fit some kind of plenum cowl over).

This does sound very interesting and full of promise, although the reality of it today is somewhat short of this with only 2 (relatively minor) heat pump manufacturers supported. Also the lack of any API or expansion possibilities in Homely itself (but coming with its own mobile app) means you're just trading one manufacturer's walled garden for another. (in fact, by their own admission the ASHP may have a more open API than they themselves are offering). In a complex home with heating, A/C, automated blinds and stack venting, and perhaps even MVHR bypass control, there's no point installing Homely to fully control the ASHP if it just ends up in fight with the other systems. To succeed Homely needs to open up new integration possibilities, not close them off.

My comment was only about permitted development having an exclusion for cooling mode. If you put the ASHP on the PP and it's approved, you're good to go. The planning office probably doesn't give two hoots either way until someone complains (which could be for heat or cooling noise, or for unsightliness, or most likely plain old jealousy in a heat wave)

Not entirely true: you only need to meter the heat if the RHI application required "metering for payment". Most RHIs were done based on estimated heat demand (from the EPC) so payments were completely unaffected by the usage or otherwise of cooling mode. This is all moot for new installs as RHI wound up 15 months ago.

I believe cooling is allowed by the government rules: The ASHP must be able to supply the full heating AND hot water needs of the property, but what else it can do beyond that is not constrained in the current published guidance https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications/boiler-upgrade-scheme-guidance-property-owners The only wrinkle is it does require the ASHP to be MCS certified, which runs into the MCS reluctance to support cooling I mentioned up thread.

Permitted development only allows for one air source heat pump per property and it must only be used for heating, not cooling. If you squint you can see an argument that cooling operates when neighbours' are most likely to have their windows open thus the noise could be more of a nuisance, hence requires PP. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/heat-pumps/planning-permission-air-source-heat-pump In addition, the following conditions must also be met. The air source heat pump must be: Used solely for heating purposes

Are you referring to RHI? With RHI you can install a ASHP with cooling enabled, we did and also declared it as such. https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-and-social-schemes/domestic-renewable-heat-incentive-domestic-rhi/applicants/eligible-heating-systems. Also, MCS 020 (permitted development guidelines) doesn't say anything about cooling from what I remember either. Indeed since at least 2017 RHI did not disallow cooling (it just did not include estimated cooling demand into the payments, and if they required metered for billing the meter had to be setup to record heating only). I think more practically, MCS training does not cover cooling and/or gives some dire warnings about the complications. So most installers refuse to touch is as they don't want to willfully install something they know they've not been trained in. No amount of people on here declaring how easy it is to DIY will move the liability factor someone trying to run a company will have on their mind. So between permitted development, historic RHI limitations, and the above MCS reluctance means any manufacturer selling into the UK needs a way for the installer to disable cooling (or it be disabled by default) so that it is not violating planning laws, grant conditions, or the installer's own contracted agreement with the customer. Thus all these dip switches, hidden menus and silly coding resistor. As for the price gouging by Valliant, I know it's easy to assume some mastermind conspiracy to extort their customers, but I'd be willing to bet they have a single UK distributor that has decided to try given the current heatwave and/or "supply chain issues", and found at this moment some people willingly paying it so they are leaving the prices there. Give it until winter and I bet the price will settle again. If you think about it even the 50 EUR prices is extortionate for the manufacturing cost of the part so everyone is just playing the game of charging whatever the market will bear.

From memory they're mostly 650mA constant LEDs so if you don't like the (very cheap built) dimmable driver that comes with it you can replace with another driver of choice. I have 6 of them in series down the stair stinger, and these are off a replacement driver.

Well being as it was hottest UK day ever I figured wtf and went over and picked up this 4 pipe FCU. Tested the fan and it's very quiet especially on low. Already ordered a new plenum box for it. The wet end looks like this. I'm tempted to remove the actuators completely and plumb the two coils in series. It's rated at 4.5 kW on one coil for cooling so I'm hopeful it will make a reasonable sized sink for our ASHP