this post was submitted on 30 Oct 2023
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Home Automation

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Home automation is the residential extension of building automation.

It is automation of the home, housework or household activity.

Home automation may include centralized control of lighting, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), appliances, security locks of gates and doors and other systems, to provide improved convenience, comfort, energy efficiency and security.

Warning: Working with electricity can result in injury, property damage, or even death if it is not done properly. Please keep this in mind while assisting others. If you are not sure about what you are doing, hire a licensed professional.

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Rotating switch bot? (alien.top)
submitted 1 year ago by princessbosss@alien.top to c/homeautomation@selfhosted.forum
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Hi all! Looking to see if anyone had managed to automate a switch similar to this on my boiler

I live in rented accommodation with no other way to switch on the radiators than this singular knob ( no thermostat etc). As it’s rented I can’t expose the wiring or take apart anything

All I would want the mechanism to do is to be able to switch between having just the hot water on and the hot water and radiators on

As the dial only has to rotate roughly 45 degrees I was even thinking whether an ordinary push switch bot may do it?

Really appreciate any thoughts - I’m not overly electronics inclined so if you’re able to go into simple details it would all be incredibly useful Thanks!

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[–] 3-2-1-backup@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Following in case anyone has any good ideas. (I got nothing, sorry!)

[–] jf5hdnvxwdegu7jgd56@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Im not aware of an off the shelf solution to this. It could be done with eg a stepper motor and an esp32, though you'd have to mount and power it, somethong along the lines of https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jRZeUCpfuWY though the movement required would be much simpler. You may be able to use a servo motor, and that would be lighter and easier to mount, and the code could come from a modification of eg https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fOS5JhFFCOQ

As I said, mounting and power are likely to be the main issues, it is diy doable though.

[–] knobunc@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Something is really weird here. Can you describe the rest of the hearing system? Is it steam, or circulating hot water? What is the fuel source? Is there a tank of hot water, or is it on demand?

That switch just looks like it sets where the hot water can go, but there would have to be something else that drives when the water circulates. But running a pump all the time would be expensive.

Are there perhaps thermostats on the radiators themselves?

[–] simonjp@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

It looks like this is the the on/off for a combi-boiler; is that right, OP? I would assume there is a timer clock under a panel - a circle with tiny little switches that represent a half-hour or quarter-hour each.

[–] simonjp@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Hey OP, can you take a photo of the whole of the front control panel? I would assume there is another control for timing the central heating and it might be underneath a cover.

What did your landlord tell you when you asked how to set the timer?

[–] princessbosss@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Unfortunately even though the boiler is relatively new it looks as though the landlord picked a model that has no timer function - it’s this switch for on or off and then two more dials that control the temp of hot water / radiators. I know it seems strange to me too hence why I want this so I don’t freeze over ahi this winter 😂

[–] timeames85@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Pretty sure that lower round module with the red light is a wireless receiver for a Salus battery powered timer/thermostat, you can place them anywhere and/or move them room to room, about the same size as a regular wall thermostat.

[–] princessbosss@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

I’ve just googled and you might be right here - I’ve message the landlord just to double check I’ve not missed a thermostat for the 3 years I’ve been living her 😂 thanks for your help

[–] allancmcd@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Came to say the same thing - there will be a remote/wireless thermostat somewhere in the house. Amazon UK link for the model that should be about somewhere. The module replaces the manual timer that would normally site where it is now.

[–] Punky260@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Mechanically, a simple motor and some 3D printing should be able to solve it - aaand some software tinkering of course. Sounds like a project that is not very easy. So a great opportunity to learn

As other have suggested though, maybe a smart thermostat at the boiler might be the faster and better solution. Wiring can usually be undone

[–] gamershadow@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

Maybe add a relay to the frost thermostat wiring?

I believe this is the manual for your boiler, check section 26 about wiring external controls.

https://idealheating.com/uploads/documents/I_Combi_Installation_Servicing.pdf

[–] FieldsingAround@alien.top 1 points 1 year ago

You’re over complicating things, get some smart radiator valves ie https://amzn.eu/d/7ImsUuu

They will allow you to control temp room by room, they’re fairly simple to fit, just keep the original valve around and reinstall when you move out.

Controllable by Alexa/google etc, plenty of brand options around. Compatible with vast majority of rads out there, the valves are designed to be replaced easily.