I have my DHW cycle set to 14.00 to coincide with excess PV output or winter max OATs. Just noticed the heat pump unexpectedly at full pelt at 15.00. That means the homely is taking the time input from my Samsung controller, which is not internet enable and does not auto adjust for BST rather than the actual time via the homely servers/cloud and adjusting for BST. 

That’s archaic and very odd, as part of the installation set up is to ensure all heat pump controller schedules are disabled. That means I now need to remember to manualy adjust the controller every 6 months. Annoying in this day and age.

I suppose it’s also a possibility that it might be even more efficient without the homely, it’s just I’ve never tried. 

Worth trying perhaps. Time saving in commissioning with some units is definitely the USP of something like homely, no doubt about that. 

Your house, and ashp, is completely different to mine, thus comparing COP is meaningless. I'm not aware of anyone else who's done the direct comparison that I have with and without homely, so just sharing my experience. 

I suppose it’s also a possibility that it might be even more efficient without the homely, it’s just I’ve never tried. 

I was reading your thread about your change from Homely to HA at the weekend and I would like to do something similar once I have time, but that is a way off at the moment so Homely is an easy option. 

I would definitely recommend it. Now that I think I have nailed my settings, it is better all round really- cost and comfort-wise without homely. Looking at this month already my consumption is on track to be under what March 25 was. COP for the whole of March 25 was 3.2 (and looking at the historical local weather data it was quite warm for the second part of that month), and COP currently for this March is 4.2. 

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It seems that they have ‘downplayed’ the comfort factor in favour of the COP optimisation for TOU tariffs.

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It's not surprising, though.

Using a home as a heat battery does allow them to claim financial savings and financial savings look good on marketing literature. Financial savings are also something most potential customers immediately understand whereas having to live in a sweatbox isn't as immediately obvious until the controller and Smart+ subscription have been bought.

The TOU functionality is tricky, but for those without a battery and on a tight budget I can see a little bit of overheating a reasonable compromise to keep heating costs down. Everyone has their unique priorities, for me I most object to the warm bedrooms, if I knew I was unable to set them back effectively I’d never have agreed to install it. The thought of yet additional overheating to capture the cheap overnight power tariffs makes me cringe. 

It seems that they have ‘downplayed’ the comfort factor in favour of the COP optimisation for TOU tariffs. I explained to them that overheating for an hour or two to enable reducing higher cost energy consumption did not really suit our requirements. I also explained that although we were using a TOU tariff, we used a buffer in the form of a battery so using the energy at the time of most need didn’t incur the higher rate(s) of the tariff.

By the way, I haven’t yet heard about the recent(ish) trial of updated soft/firmware that I may or may not have participated in. I say ‘may or may not’ as I understand opting for the trial may have meant my Homely controller was particpating or might have remained as part of the ‘control’ group. Regards, Toodles.