Assessing my OpenTRV bits.

So I have my bits -

On the left is the OpenTRV Rev2 board, the Red and Black wires go to the Big Red Button. It can be powered by USB using a Micro Cable, or by a battery to the most forward pair of green terminals (in photo on left) The other two green connectors can be used to control a valve if the board is used a receiver rather than a transmitter. At the rear is the FTDI 6 pin connector.

My existing Sunvic TRV, the Conrad Wireless one and an FTDI/USB adapter that was developed by Ken Boak for programming the Nanode and produced by Wicked Devices.

The Conrad comes with adapters for use with Danfoss valves (if I understand things correctly)

The first task is to dis-mount the existing TRV and fit the Conrad actuator. When the batteries are fitted for the first time the actuator will calibrate itself to the valve by driving it shut until a big resistance and then reversing back to the open position. The actuator senses conditions and will show diagnostic codes on the little display as it progresses though the calibration.

Here are the instructions I followed:

Installation and Commissioning
• Remove the old mechanical thermostat. In case of tight screws, use a pair of plumber's pliers.
• Remove the battery compartment lid of the valve drive by sliding it downwards.
• Insert the batteries in the battery compartment of the valve drive.  Attention! Please make sure you observe the correct polarity, other-wise the electronics might be destroyed.
• The display shows "C1" and afterwards a double-digit figure, then "C2" and another dou-
ble-digit figure (these two figures are the currently stored 2-digit security code of the valve
drive).
• Then a signal tone sounds and the display "A1" appears.
• Now the valve drive retracts the control pin all the way to ease installation.
• The display "A2" appears.
• Screw the valve drive tightly onto the valve manually by turning the cap nut.
• In case of valves made by Danfoss, you first have to put on one of the supplied adaptors (see the operating manual for the complete system).
• Briefly push the button on the valve drive once.
• The display shows "A3" and the valve drive closes the valve.
• Afterwards the antenna symbol blinks on the display and the display
shows "0%".
• Now transmit the security code according to the instructions in the
chapter "Transmitting the Security Code", see below. If necessary, set the number of radiators as described in chapter "no H" in the operating manual for the complete system.


My actuator now shows 30 and bleeps once an hour and from the manual this is what I would expect as no controller is sending any valid code.

So this is where I am. The next task is to get the OpenTRV controller to talk to the actuator. I will now read This post  that was written by a somewhat frustrated Alasdair Macdonald.

Launching this new blog

Why another blog?

Over the years the promise of an automated home looked as though it may be fulfilled, and then I have been disappointed. We organised three HomeCamp's where great technology, both hard and soft was shown, discussed and demonstrated, but each area is still mostly a silo and mixing & matching is difficult and expensive. 

I now feel things are coming together again, so I am starting this blog to record my experience.

Having just met the OpenTRV team, I am full of renewed enthusiasm. I printed some of the cases for the Rev2 Big Red Button OpenTRV unit as part of the TVRRUG and now have a Conrad valve to connect to the tinkering board I received earlier.

The OpenTRV team are looking for lots of feedback and development help, they recognise that their communications are spread around and there is no connecting resource and are working to improve this. Hopefully this blog will help those on a similar journey to me.

I am thinking this may lead to an OpenHomeCamp in the autumn where we can meet up again.