Modulating Centra Heating system and Intelligent Room Control

[vanesp]

Dear members,

I have a central heating system with a modulating gas boiler (Nefit HR Excellent) and an intelligent thermostat system (Nefit Easy). A modulating boiler has a more proportional control system than a traditional on/off system, thereby saving gas. The boiler also supplies warm water.

I bought a modern thermostat controller for this boiler, as it allows me to control the boiler remotely and with an app. The thermostat is self learning and will learn how long it takes to heat the room to a predetermined set level, so that it starts heating a room in time. It also uses external weather data. So basically it does what a Loxone Intelligent Room Controller (IRC) also does.

The Termostat controller can be controlled via node.js server on a Raspberry Pi and exposed via virtual outputs and inputs (of via an If This Then That (IFTTT) interface).

However, to control my fireplace (gas fired and with a link to the Loxone system), my blinds etc I would like to link the thermostat to Loxone in an IRC. But I do not want both systems second guessing each other, or interfering with each other.

What is the best way to achieve this? Is there a way to have Loxone set and control the temperature, without pre-guessing the Thermostat? Or should I leave the systems separate ?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions

Peter

[Christian Fenzl]

You possibly have already tried virtual outputs to control the node.js interface?

You will not be able to transmit the IRC schedules to your controller. Therefore, IRC won't be "compatible" with your controller.

But possibly you can manage some temperatures and/or heating state (summer/winter/holiday/...) to switch modes on your controller.
But for that, you have to have the API documentation and figure out what's possible and what isn't.
This cannot be answered in general.

As your controller was especially developed for doing that thing, your controller, I guess, will do the better job (as Loxone's IRC is one function of many)

Regards, Christian

[vanesp]

Yes, I can work with virtual outputs. I can control settings like temperature, mode, etc. I can retrieve status like set temperature, actual temperature, gas usage etc.

Yes I can image it doing a better job, but the Loxone can control my gas fireplace (which is also a heating element in my room) which the Nefit Easy system can't. I was perhaps hoping that the Intelligent Room Controller could be a "dumb" room controller, just measuring the temperature and controlling the fireplace. But it probably can be... by making the temperature schedules similar or the same and then not hooking up the Nefit Easy to the Loxone.

Thanks

Peter

[Christian Fenzl]

Besides the IRC there is a classical room controller without pre-heating and without schedule. You could try it's features.

[vanesp]

I thought there should be something like that but couldn't find a standard or classic room controller on this list:

http://www.loxone.com/enen/service/documentation/loxone-config/function-blocks/contents.html

Perhaps Loxone dropped it?

[Christian Fenzl]

No, but it has no online help. You'll find it in the Config software.