Equipment required to monitor Vaillant heat pumps

[JamesPa]

I think I have finally found someone, with whom I feel comfortable, to install a heat pump (with which I also feel comfortable).  I haven't actually signed on the dotted line so wont disclose the details yet, but its looking extremely promising.  Some on here may breathe a sigh of relief!

 

Before it (a Vaillant) goes in I want to make sure I put in any monitoring gizmos needed to indulge my desire to understand it..

 

Many post graphs like this, presumably from openenergymonitor.

 

Has anyone worked out the most cost effective/simplest way to extract the data from a Vaillant heat pump?  It appears they do a modbus interface, but it might be just a simple to buy the current clamps/heat meter that openergymonitor recommend.  Any tips would be welcome, I dont want to be flying blind.

 

 

 

[RobLe]

I'd recommend MID certified 3rd party metering, with a bare minimum being a cheap inline MID certified elec meter.  I'd never trust the manufacturers data.  I'd be too concerned they "guessed" sometimes, or failed to include pumps, fans, etc.

Glad to hear you might be getting a heatpump sorted!

[DanDee]

Skim through this topic

 

https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/vaillant-arotherm-owners-thread/21891/42

 

Summary

The bottom line is that the COP from openenergymonitor / heat meter setup is pretty close to the built-in Vaillant COP figures (using both the Working Figures from the controller or using the raw data from Sensocomfort controller).

So on this evidence, the built-in information on the Vaillant Arotherm Plus is likely good enough for most regular folk.

• Heat Meter COP: 3.39
• Sensocomfort COP: 3.26
• Controller: COP 3.2 heat (2.4 hot water) - AKA “Working Figure”

But whilst the COP are around the same ballpark, we notice that the raw data from the Sensocomfort isn’t exact when compared to the heat meter.

Electric Input (3% out?)

• Heat Meter: 647kWh
• Vaillant: 631kWh

Heat Output (7% out?)

• Heat Meter: 2195kWh
• Vaillant: (1427+ 613) = 2058kWh

But close enough for most people not to care? 

Hope this helps. 

 

[JamesPa]

2 hours ago, DanDee said:

Skim through this topic

 

https://community.openenergymonitor.org/t/vaillant-arotherm-owners-thread/21891/42

 

Summary

The bottom line is that the COP from openenergymonitor / heat meter setup is pretty close to the built-in Vaillant COP figures (using both the Working Figures from the controller or using the raw data from Sensocomfort controller).

So on this evidence, the built-in information on the Vaillant Arotherm Plus is likely good enough for most regular folk.

• Heat Meter COP: 3.39
• Sensocomfort COP: 3.26
• Controller: COP 3.2 heat (2.4 hot water) - AKA “Working Figure”

But whilst the COP are around the same ballpark, we notice that the raw data from the Sensocomfort isn’t exact when compared to the heat meter.

Electric Input (3% out?)

• Heat Meter: 647kWh
• Vaillant: 631kWh

Heat Output (7% out?)

• Heat Meter: 2195kWh
• Vaillant: (1427+ 613) = 2058kWh

But close enough for most people not to care? 

Hope this helps. 

 

Thanks.  I have also found that there is an interface card available to get at the Vaillant ebus, so putting the two pieces of info together it should be possible to get pretty good data from the Vaillant into emoncms using the Vaillants own sensors.  Somebody must surely have done this, sounds like I need to do sone more searching.

[Post and beam]

On 12/08/2023 at 15:22, JamesPa said:

wont disclose the details yet, but its looking extremely promising.  Some on here may breathe a sigh of relief!

Pm'd  I am in North Hertfordshire so less than 1 hour from you. Also looking for a sensible quote

[Dan F]

On 12/08/2023 at 20:08, JamesPa said:

Thanks.  I have also found that there is an interface card available to get at the Vaillant ebus, so putting the two pieces of info together it should be possible to get pretty good data from the Vaillant into emoncms using the Vaillants own sensors.  Somebody must surely have done this, sounds like I need to do sone more searching.

 

Did you get this, or something similair, up and running in the end?