Homely Smart Controller

Being somewhat of a nerd when it comes to renewable energy, I was very keen to ensure that our newly installed heat pump not only kept us warm but also ran as efficiently and effortlessly as possible.

For these reasons, when we had our Daikin EDLA08 8kW monobloc air source heat pump installed, I was eager to have a smart controller. I believed it would further enhance the efficiency of the heat pump, without the fuss or faff.

At the time of installation, the Homely team informed me they were working on the integration for my pump, but that it would take a few months before a suitable controller became available.

In November 2023, our installer arrived with a package consisting of the Homely controller, a ‘node’ (a small rectangular case containing a temperature probe, battery, and other sensing electronics) that communicates with the controller via Zigbee, various connectors, two 13-amp plug-type PSUs for powering the system, a terminating resistor for the network connection, and a D.Comm unit for communicating between Homely and Daikin.

The installation was straightforward for the installer, involving two connections (P1 and P2) into the back of the Daikin MMI controller panel and some wiring into the D.Comm unit. The terminating resistor was fitted, and configuring the myriad of dip switches on the D.Comm completed the setup.

Homely required the Daikin MMI controls to be reset to a default state before powering up Homely and allowing it to ‘do its thing.’ During this time, the unit communicates with the heat pump and sets a range of parameters as a starting point. This setup takes about 20 minutes, after which Homely begins monitoring the system and communicating with the node, which is recommended to be placed in a living or relaxing area.

The Homely smart controller then tweaks the heat pump system’s parameters to optimise performance and continues to ‘learn’ the system for a week or more. It improves factors like flow and return temperatures, the time it takes for the room to warm or cool, and it even accounts for weather forecasts, air temperature changes, and solar gain.

Of course, there’s an app (available for iOS and Android via WiFi and internet), allowing users to set up their heating and hot water schedules for individual days. The app also accommodates Time of Use (TOU) tariffs, letting Homely calculate the best times to run the pump to take advantage of lower electricity rates. You can configure preferences for temperature stability, allowing Homely to adjust the system to maximise efficiency and minimise overall energy bills. It’s like micro-managing your heat pump’s operation without having to do so manually.

My Homely smart controller has been in use for a year now and has worked extremely well. There were a few minor teething problems in the early days (I believe mine was the first Daikin pump of this type with a secondary pump fitted with a Homely controller), but the Homely Technical Support team were friendly, helpful, and quick to resolve all the issues I raised.

The performance of the heat pump has been excellent, providing all the warmth we need, with Homely at the helm, ensuring this comfort is delivered economically.

Our registered installer has access to EverGreen Energy’s Connect app, which allows them to monitor the system’s performance parameters. Unfortunately, this app isn’t available to end users unless they are registered installers with EverGreen Energy, who produce the Homely Smart Controller. I’m hopeful this will change, allowing more savvy users to access and monitor their system’s performance.

Overall, I’m confident leaving Homely to do its job, but I can’t help checking the app’s controls occasionally—just like I enjoy keeping an eye on my solar PV production!