Topic: Piloting radio-controlled radiators

[wxfan]

Hi All,

I know this is a bit off topic but I am desperate to find a solution.

I have several electric radiators which are radio controlled with a remote that works on frequency 433mhz, the same as my Ecowitt setup. The problem is that ONE remote controls ALL radiators in the house. This is really undesirable for many practical and economic reasons.

I think the company who made these has closed (no wonder...) but I need to find a solution.

Obviously the remote must have a completely different data protocol than my Ecowitt hardware, but is there anything I can do to control these radiators with home connect or my Ecowitt hub? Or is there any other solution? I cannot use smart plugs everywhere because the radiators are wired directly in the wall mains, also once they are connected to the mains they are in stand-by and are only turned on with the remote. If the remote is not connected there's a physical button. You can see how this is problematic.

Any idea of how I might be able to control these radiators?
Thanks!

[davidmc36]

Any chance of bypassing the physical button and connecting some IoT device to each radiator?

[wxfan]

Any chance of bypassing the physical button and connecting some IoT device to each radiator?

I think the only way in that sense would be to install it inside the wall plug, there's no room in the radiator for anything like this and no screws to access the electronics.

[R.Sidetrack]

I suggest posting more details of your electrical situation, including  a photo of the "plug", but if its a USA style plug something like this should work:

https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/smart-plug/ep10/v1/

As its a heater, the current draw of the heater may be more than that device is rated for, so specs of the heater should be considered first, but an alternative device may be a solution. Those Kasa plugs are easy to integrate with Home Assistant or use the manufacturer's app. The plugs use wifi so you need functional 2.4GHz wifi in that part of the house for this to work.

And Home Assistant has a "generic thermostat" that can be set up to work with that plug to turn the plug/heater on/off to keep the temperature within the limits you set. It works well.

I expect that the Ecowitt IoT plugs are an alternative, but the ones I have used are the Kasa plugs linked above. I am using the  Ecowitt sensors to report the room temperature to Home Assistant.

[davidmc36]

..... if its a USA style plug ....

..... I cannot use smart plugs everywhere because the radiators are wired directly in the wall mains, .....

This seems to be the major drawback to "Smart" devices.

[R.Sidetrack]

Well, I was responding to his use of the word "plug", here:

I think the only way in that sense would be to install it inside the wall plug, there's no room in the radiator for anything like this and no screws to access the electronics.

A "plug" implies to me that it is removable, thus a possibility of adding a 'switch'.  A hardwired connection is more difficult, which is why I suggested a photo.

Controlling a hardwired heater is not impossible, but likely involves a suitable relay (depends on voltage and amps) plus a wifi controller, perhaps like this: https://us.shelly.com/products/shelly-plus-1pm-list-copy?srsltid=AfmBOopdCtkwd93We3UFMv7Nlkp3USSmvHn-sP14UUp-UNZsH1Pge7nu

If there is no room inside the wall, then add a box to the surface of the wall. Or replace the heater with a different model. But all options involve time, effort and money that in the end may be deemed not worthwhile.