[OpenTRV-interest] Tinkering kit / Conrad radiator valve and security code

[Damon Hart-Davis]

Hi,

> Well, I'm still not at all convinced that the TRV is properly connected to the radiator pin, in such as way as to be able to actuate it. The distance between radiator pin (with extender) and the pin in the TRV is a concern, but the shapes of both are also a concern; I don't know if it will work. I do know of a helpful plumber that I may need to call in, but even if the mechanical connection is bad, that doesn't mean that testing can't continue. If I can read the LCD display of the TRV, when it says something other than 0%, that will be a meaningful result.

The FHT8V drives the pin to both extremes and complains if thongs don’t seem right to it (with an error code), so I’d say that you may well be OK for now.

> 
> 
> You suggested that I look at the "set up guide". I found this as a section within the "User Guide"; whereas I started looking for a separate "set up" document.
> 
> (Also, I opened the Rev2 "Quick Start Guide". It refers to a "user manual" at http://goo.gl/j1f7nP ; however this link takes us to http://opentrv.org.uk/files/user-guide-rev2-pms.pdf and doesn't work - looks like the "-pms suffix is wrong.)
> 

I’ll see if it make sense for us (eg Mark!) to resolve that.

> Then, I looked in http://opentrv.org.uk/files/user-guide-rev2.pdf
> 
> And found:
> 
> ===============================
> SETUP AND ADJUSTMENTS
> Your installer should have done this for you already including setting the
> house codes but just in case, here it is. Please note that it is different
> whether you run your OpenTRV unit with batteries or mains power and that
> at the critical step 8 you should be ready with your batteries/mains power
> lead as appropriate.
> 
> 1 Either take the batteries out of the OpenTRV controller (batteries) or
> remove the power connector (mains)
> 
> 2 Take the batteries out of the Conrad valve. Hold down the round
> grey button in the battery compartment of the Conrad valve until it
> beeps or for at least 60 seconds
> 
> 3 Insert batteries into the Conrad valve (pay attention to the battery
> orientation). The display shows C1, then a 2 digit number (the
> house code), C2 and again the 2 digit house code.
> 
> 4 The Conrad valve beeps and A1 appears on the display. The pin
> will retract all the way inside the unit to help installation and then A2
> appears on the display.
> 
> 5 Install the Conrad valve onto your radiator and tighten up the cap nut
> 
> 6 Prepare the batteries to plug in to the OpenTRV unit (batteries) or
> ready the mains plug with power (mains). You will need them
> quickly after the next step.
> 
> 7 Make a momentary press of the round grey button until a beep is
> heard. The valve will close, the motor whirr and A3 appears on the
> display
> 
> 8 As soon as the valve stops you will see the flashing antenna on the
> display. Quickly put the batteries into the OpenTRV unit (batteries)
> or plug the mains adapter into the OpenTRV unit (mains).
> 
> 9 The LED light on the OpenTRV unit will be flashing constantly until
> the Conrad valve beeps (this may take 30 seconds). Once the
> OpenTRV unit stops flashing and you hear a beep from the Conrad
> valve, they are connected. At this point you can put the battery
> cover back on the Conrad valve and start using OpenTRV.
> 
> 10 If this has not worked, you may see an error code on the Conrad
> valve or the OpenTRV unit will not stop flashing. Try the whole
> sequence again. If it still fails, contact the OpenTRV team (see the
> CONTACT US section later)
> 
> ===============================
> 
> It's probably worth mentioning that in my rush to "quickly" repower the openTRV controller, I mistakenly attached the FTDI connector the wrong way round. A minute or two of being powered thus doesn't seem to have damaged the controller …
> 

In due course I’d really like to switch to using the (non-reverseable) USB connector for control also to avoid this, but there are various complications, naturally.


> This is what I got when I powered the controller a couple of seconds after seeing the flashing antenna on the TRV:
> 
> ===============================
> OpenTRV booting: board V0.2 REV2; code 2014/Mar/23 18:16:08
> DEBUG mode with serial logging
> Reset count: 39
> Free RAM: 1433
> posPOST: 1: about to test RFM23
> posPOST: 2: RFM23 OK
> Vcc: 3315mV
> Int temp: 29C / 459
> posPOST: 3: internal sensors OK, next light/temp/other
> Gathering initial inputs and computing target/demand...
> light: 737
> temp: 430
> temp pot: 1006
> posPOST: 4: light/temp OK
> posPOST: 5: slow RTC clock OK
> ? at CLI prompt for help
> =F0%@26CE;T11 8 W255 0 F255 0 W255 0 F255 0;S10 10 21 cffO;HC93 74 s
> 668:22:0 FHT8V SYNC...
> =F0%@26CE;T11 8 W255 0 F255 0 W255 0 F255 0;S10 10 21 cffO;HC93 74 s
> =F0%@25C1;T11 8 W255 0 F255 0 W255 0 F255 0;S10 10 21 cffO;HC93 74 s
> 
> <snip blank lines>
> 
> 670:26:73 FHT8V SYNC FINAL
> 672:22:73 FHT8V TX
> =F0%@24C4;T11 12 W255 0 F255 0 W255 0 F255 0;S10 10 21 cffO;HC93 74
> 
> 674:18:73 FHT8V TX
> 676:14:73 FHT8V TX
> =F0%@24C0;T11 16 W255 0 F255 0 W255 0 F255 0;S10 10 21 cffO;HC93 74
> 
> 678:10:73 FHT8V TX
> 680:6:73 FHT8V TX
> =F0%@24C0;T11 20 W255 0 F255 0 W255 0 F255 0;S10 10 21 cffO;HC93 74
> 
> 682:2:73 FHT8V TX
> 683:58:73 FHT8V TX
> 
> ===============================
> 
> There were I think two beeps. I thought that the TRV had synced at the first one, but it beeped again when I wasn't looking at it (probably between the line with the "s" terminator above and the subsequent "670:26:73 FHT8V SYNC FINAL”?)
> 

You will get an extra early beep if the FHT8V is listening for its first radio signal from the controller after power on: you will always get a beep on completion of sync.


> Now the TRV is showing a steady antenna symbol at "0%". I believe this is correct and normal (and indicates that the valve is 0% open, ie not supplying heat).

Correct.

> 
> Certainly the TRV *was* in pairing mode overnight. My controller has been connected to my PC constantly for the past 7 weeks, but the PC is rebooted at least once daily. However, so far as I can tell, the USB ports still receive power whilst the PC is shutdown (my phone and tablet battery indicators suggest as such).

Rebooting the PC probably wiggles the RTS line, which will cause the OpenTRV unit to restart if connected, which shouldn’t do any harm except some clock wobble, and a forced resync with the valve.

Rgds

Damon