Honeywell Home Rondostat HR20-Style programmable Radiator Controller, White

BACKGROUNDI bought this HR20 unit for our kitchen radiator. We currently control our boiler using a wireless thermostat which we place in which ever room we are currently using. Our home is occupied for most of the day.GOOD ASPECTS OF THE HR20* Well built* Ultimately, it does what it sets out to do* Lasts for a long time on one change of batteriesBAD ASPECTS* When mounted on our radiator, the HR20's controls and display are upside down! (Although it is easy to remove the HR20 display from the connector)* The HR20 allows for a maximum of 2 heating periods per day (e.g. 6am-9am and 5pm-7pm). Which makes this unit less than ideal for a kitchen where we need at least 3 heating periods each day (breakfast, lunch, dinner).* The unit only displays the current target temperature. It doesn't display the current temp, or whether the valve is open or not. I much prefer appliances which tell me what they are doing.* This unit cannot communicate with the boiler (which I knew before I bought it but I hadn't entirely thought through the implications).* Opening / closing the valve is a little noisy (which seems to be normal for electronic TRVs)CONCLUSIONThe HR20 wasn't suitable for use in our kitchen but it is fine in my young daughter's bedroom.Ultimately I'd much prefer a wireless TRV which can call for heat from the boiler. These are currently available but are quite expensive.

If, like me, you want a electronic TRV that thermostatically controls the radiator switching, comes on and off at simple set periods and doesn't cost the earth then this unit is for you. I have installed 4 of these devices throughout my house and they have exceeded my expectations. They are not as noisy as some would have you to believe and when you hear them it's actually reassuring that you can hear them working. The build quality is also very good. The only gripes i would have are that, as some have already mentioned, when they are installed vertically, the display is upside down, there are only 2 switching periods and they can be very difficult to install without the right valve fitting. On the last point I actually ended up replacing the valves on a few of my radiators to accommodate these units. Overall a good unit for it's price.

I have to admit I have bought this product as a peripheral for an overall controlled home heating project, where there is more emphases on the best compromise use of an erratic heat source rather than 'optimum comfort temperature'. The processor is a standard Atmega, and all the i/o pins necessary to re-program it and electrically 'talk to' it are brought to a suitable socket. Furthermore, the open source community, (to whom I currently feel greatly indebted), have produced their own (free) documented version of the valve's proprietary firmware, for easy modification. Therefore, as a very reasonably priced moderately well constructed motorised intelligent radiator control valve, I believe it quite good with very little competition at present. (Search 'Kemputa' to contact for more detail.)I feel I should review the product for use as intended, not for my use. It switches between two temperatures in a moderately controllable way according to a user defined time program, and appears to perform. Whether this makes it worth its expense is an individual decision. The ergonomics of user programming it I would rate as moderate. The big control knob on the top is an attraction to children, and is easily accidently turned. It can be 'child disenabled'. However, as an experiment, I left it fitted to a radiator with a young curious child, without mentioning it. The child soon noticed. As I predicted, It de-activated the child protection in about two minutes, without understanding what it had done. I cannot comment on durability or battery life. Hence my okay rating.

Pros : Nice looking valve heads if a bit big ,Easy to fit approx. 5 mins (Honeywell Valve bodies), Easy programming (search google for English instructions)Cons : Slighty Bulky design , No Batteries included, Instructions in German , Does not fit some valves even with supplied adoptors , because German and intended to mount on top of Radiador the screen is upside down but who cares once it is fitted !Overall once fitted and programmed they wont need much tweaking so hopefully will start saving some money .

Classic TRV working perfectly both on horizontal and vertical positions (UK or Eu radiators). Its old school system leaves it out from domotic implementation but Honeywell is a well known brand in the trade for its reliability and precision, with these valves being a good example of such qualities. Recommended

This works fine - the multiple switching points per day are good. The adapters supplied are fine for adapting if you don't use a standard TRV.You should ensure your TRVs are facing outwards rather than upwards in order to have the text legible

This is not a standard fit for UK radiators and does not come with appropriate fittings. It has a poorly written guide and excessively complicated set up which is very poorly designed and could be much better done. You can get the same sort of product much better - it is so bad I junked it and replaced with a different brand.

easy to programme a more stylist up grade from basic model a great way to save money on rooms you only use a few times