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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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Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs)

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cathodeRay

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Topic starter 20/06/2025 9:52 am

Posted by: @benson

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I have found a QR code on top of the indoor control panel but this doesn't seem to be doing the trick either unfortunately.

I think that QR code is to download the app SmartHome or whatever it is called). Once you have the app, you have to pair it with the wired controller (which becomes an access point) and your smartphone via wifi. I think it does give you control, but somewhat limited.

Midea 14kW (for now...) ASHP heating both building and DHW

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benson

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21/06/2025 1:31 pm

@cathoderay thanks I have just figured it out. You need to go to the WLAN setting on the Clivet (or midea) control panel and turn on. The control panel then becomes discoverable. I now have the app up and running. It does say that in the instructions in fairness. That'll teach me to read them properly 😆

The functionality seems fine, so I think this alongside home assistant may work well for us. I'll probably start testing it when it gets colder (and temporarily unplug the homely) to see if I can get the heating working well just by setting the curve and no thermostat, as has been suggested.

This post was modified 3 months ago by benson

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cathodeRay

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Topic starter 21/06/2025 6:58 pm

Posted by: @benson

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That'll teach me to read them properly

It took me more than a few goes as well, plus some help from this forum!

Weather compensation curve properly tweaked is the way to go (or if not, the best starting point - I ended up adding an 'auto-adapt' script that takes into account the indoor air temp as well, basically bump up the weather curve a bit when IAT below what it should be). Best done when the heating is on, which hopefully it isn't on Midsummer's Day!

Midea 14kW (for now...) ASHP heating both building and DHW

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benson

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22/06/2025 4:56 pm

@cathoderay how did you get a script to run for that- did you integrate the midea control panel within HA?

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benson

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30/08/2025 8:32 am

posted on wrong thread- apologies

This post was modified 2 weeks ago by benson

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JamesPa

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30/08/2025 8:53 am

Posted by: @benson

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Once anyone has all their money, the only leverage you have is the threat of leaving them a bad review. I didn’t expect anything more from MCS or NAPIT to be honest, than we got.

It's good to be reminded of this! Somehow we think that grant funded works are exempt from this general self-protection principle which applies to all other building work. They aren't.

The difficulty with heating works of course is that, unless they are done midwinter, you don't get to test in ernest for several months after they are completed. However that doesn't stop you checking for obvious poor workmanship, missing documentation etc and withholding payment or grant sign off until that is fixed.

This post was modified 2 weeks ago by JamesPa

4kW peak of solar PV since 2011; EV and a 1930s house which has been partially renovated to improve its efficiency. 7kW Vaillant heat pump.

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benson

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30/08/2025 9:02 am

@jamespa sorry posted on completely wrong topic 🤣 but yes granted that is the problem with fully testing the system if it is a summer install.

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benson

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30/08/2025 9:09 am

Back on topic, with our clivet I now have everything set up for pure weather comp when the heating season kicks in. Our homely is uninstalled and back in the box for the time being, and will hopefully be an interesting comparison.

I have found a way of automating slight adjustments to the curve as well for any under and over shooting, within HA so I will see if that works as well.

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cathodeRay

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Topic starter 30/08/2025 10:31 am

Posted by: @benson

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I have found a way of automating slight adjustments to the curve as well for any under and over shooting, within HA so I will see if that works as well.

I missed your 22nd June post on this. I am sure it can be done in HA as well, but I use a standalone script that runs once an hour, checks the IAT and moves the weather curve up or down a bit if the IAT is too low or too high. I've posted the script before, but for ease of reference here it is again.

auto_adapt_v2_for web.zip

Midea 14kW (for now...) ASHP heating both building and DHW

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