<div dir="ltr"><br><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On 2 April 2014 17:58, Damon Hart-Davis <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:dhd@exnet.com" target="_blank">dhd@exnet.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">I thought I’d just share this, as it is very interesting.<br>
<br>
This is a REV2 unit with temperature knob, two LEARN buttons, and the Big Red Button on the front for mode.<br>
<br>
Rgds<br>
<br>
Damon<br>
<br>
> > Initial UT stuff from my one-valve trial:<br>
> ><br>
> > 1) Functions perfectly. Does what the instructions say it will do.<br></blockquote><div><br></div><div>Agree :-)<br><br> <br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
> > 2) The unit has one control to cycle through 3 modes, which make me feel impatient because I have to press and wait.<br></blockquote><div><br></div><div>I'm the same...<br><br> <br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
> > 3) The feedback is a flashing LED, which requires me to count flashes to know which mode it's in. The three-flash is fast, so I'm not sure whether it's 2 or 3. I have to go round a couple of times to get the feel of it.<br>
</blockquote><div><br></div><div>I have the same problem with the rev 1.<br><br> <br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
> > 4) I've ended up not using the learn mode. Not sure why - think it's somehow the lack of a visual cue that it's set, but I know that's lame.<br></blockquote><div><br></div><div>I will also admit to not using the learn mode.<br>
<br> <br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
> > 5) Biggest advantage for me so far is that I can reach the controller now it's not on the rad behind the sofa. So just as a remote-controlled valve it's cool.<br></blockquote><div><br></div><div>Or in my case being able to switch the rad on from the bed :-)<br>
<br> <br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
> > 6) The room takes about 20-30 mins to gain 2-3 degrees, from chilly to OK. So it seems to take a bit of planning, and I'd quite like to give it a regular slot to be warm in, like 1800-2100. But as an ordinary user, I couldn't be bothered to check with the 'learn' mode would hang on to a setting that long.<br>
</blockquote><div><br></div><div>Lucky guy! My rooms take more time than that to heat up!<br><br> <br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
> > 7) The actuator is noisy enough to have the family asking 'What's that noise?' and it's seems surprisingly busy during a movie.<br></blockquote><div><br></div><div>I agree but that's the TRV rather than the controller so when we build a TRV unit, we'll have to take this into account.<br>
<br> <br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
> > 8) Def results in a chilly room when not in use, which is the idea.<br></blockquote><div><br></div><div>Indeed.<br><br> <br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
> > 9) Seems like something that people who like programmable kit will get on with, but which could trigger the 'too much trouble' circuits in some. I wonder if having the mode cycle with each press (instead of waiting) and having a separate light for each mode would seem more intuitive? Or a three-way switch, adding cost.<br>
</blockquote><div><br></div><div>At the risk of adding cost, I'd suggest the following interface:<br></div><div>- on/off button + on/off LED with "off" meaning "frost" and "on" meaning "warm" or "boost" depending on the second button;<br>
</div><div>- boost button (if the unit it "off", set it to "on" and immediate boost; if the unit is already "on", just boost);<br></div><div>- heat call LED with single flash when calling in "warm" mode, double flash when calling in "boost" mode: the single and double flashes are easy to distinguish, the problem starts with triple flashes;<br>
</div><div>- optionally a "learn" LED that acts as feedback for the learn buttons and is on when the unit switches itself on automatically because of the schedule.<br><br></div><div>This way you have immediate feedback via the different LED and you avoid the cycle.<br>
<br></div><div>Thoughts?<br><br>Bruno<br></div></div><br></div></div>