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Getting the best out of a heat pump - is Homely a possible answer?

cathodeRay · 2023-01-03T10:37:51Z

Homely, currently only available for Samsung and Midea heat pumps, claims to be a 'smart' control system for these heat pumps, smart insofar as it can tune the weather compensation to suit varying conditions, thus solving the basic weather compensation curve's Achilles' heel of being a 'dumb' curve. Apparently it uses modbus and RS485 to interact with the heat pump, which makes sense, the Midea unit has these. No doubt Homely have plans to make it applicable to other brands in due course. Has anyone had any real world experience with Homely? If so (a) does it work as in achieve more effective (rooms more reliably at desired temps) and efficient (lowest possible COP at all times) control and (b) what if any monitoring does it do (and if it does monitor, can the data be downloaded, or is it a pencil and paper job, as it is with that blasted Midea app)? Lastly, how does it compare to the various open source home automation projects like Home Assistant and domoticz? Clearly it is proprietary, and it only manages an ASHP, but does it do that better or worse than the open source projects. The latter, so far as I can tell are still at the 'enthusiasts' stage, fiendishly complicated to set up, and more often than not definitely do not work 'out of the box'.

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Alfapat

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10/01/2025 12:52 pm

Can anyone tell me how much is the Homley costs please.

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JohnnyB

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10/01/2025 1:07 pm

It is for sale online at about £200 but it needs fitting and some/most? heat pumps need extra boards added. For a Samsung that is another £140ish. I'm not sure if you can actually buy Homely without being an installer. I signed up for the Energy Sure trial here that incudes a Homely and fitting it, but also means changing electricity providers and signing up to their tariff until the end of March. I think it is still open to sign up but don't really know as it is supposed to end in March and they say they always switch at the beginning of the month.

This post was modified 7 months ago by JohnnyB

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JohnnyB

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10/01/2025 1:41 pm

@toodles Is it possible to see any more details than the phone app shows without the installer app? I can't find anything other than the phone app to view what is going on, and that shows less than the Samsung controller. I was expecting to have at least some basic details to see if it is improving the efficiency.

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Alfapat

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10/01/2025 1:42 pm

@johnnyb Thanks , Yes its Samsung I have , typical for that make it always costs more . The Homely sounds good but as I read it (correct me if I;m wrong) it doesnt adjust Water Law . I am thinking of installing Solar and Batteries and I also think its not configured for that.

Meanwhile Ive just learnt by way of my long thread on flow that my Rads have been incorrectly set up , once I get lockshield keys to make it easier , I will get the flow much better , heres hoping anyway.

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JohnnyB

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10/01/2025 1:47 pm

@alfapat I was told they switch off the waterlaw so the Homely can control the heat pump. I read on the homely website that they have a beta trial for solar and batteries so it looks like they are working on that.

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Toodles

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10/01/2025 1:48 pm

@alfapat Ours cost £370 plus fitting and VAT. Regards, Toodles

Toodles, he heats his home with cold draughts and cooks his food with magnets.

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Toodles

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10/01/2025 1:50 pm

@johnnyb You will need the ‘Dashboard’ available via your usual app supplier, but, you may need to register to get it. Regards, Toodles.

Toodles, he heats his home with cold draughts and cooks his food with magnets.

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Alfapat

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10/01/2025 1:55 pm

@toodles like an App on the phone . And do you consider it works well and saves money?

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Toodles

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10/01/2025 2:02 pm

@alfapat Part of the setting up for Homely requires (with Daikin anyway) that WC is turned off because Homely does the job itself. Regards, Toodles.

Toodles, he heats his home with cold draughts and cooks his food with magnets.

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JohnnyB

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10/01/2025 2:13 pm

Posted by: @toodles

↑

You will need the ‘Dashboard’ available via your usual app supplier, but, you may need to register to get it

Is that register as an installer? I can only see the installer app and the one I have, checked on Andriod and Apple app stores.

Or is that an online or PC app?

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Toodles

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10/01/2025 2:57 pm

@johnnyb I cannot ‘capture’ the url on this image for you as it takes me to my dashboard if I try to go to the URL, but, here are the details you need to input. I was giving ‘permission’ as my installation was an early trial for my Daikin and Evergreen Energy granted me permission; you may well need to use your ‘installer credentials’ to use it.😉

Regards, Toodles.

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Toodles, he heats his home with cold draughts and cooks his food with magnets.

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Toodles

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10/01/2025 3:10 pm

@alfapat I had the Daikin in use via the MMI for a short time (Feb. 23 for just a month or so) during which I found the WC settings worked very well except at the extremes (very cold or mild regions) I then had to faff to increase heating as the MMI’s ideas of 22.5 C only held through some of the OAT range - despite trimming the curve. Once the Homely went in before the winter of ‘23, everything stabilised - regardless of the OAT. Was it worth the investment? I think so and my heating bills are lower than when we were using a gas boiler. As I say, we only used the Daikin for a matter of a month or two using the MMI for all control and the spring came along then the Homely was installed before the next winter. Regards, Toodles.

Toodles, he heats his home with cold draughts and cooks his food with magnets.

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