Underfloor heating thermostats

Discussion in 'Electricians' Talk' started by vincenoir, Feb 20, 2014.

  1. vincenoir

    vincenoir New Member

    Can I use any thermostat I want? I don't like the Warmup 'stat so have got another but then the fitter wonders whether they are compatible? Logic says they should be but don't want to waste a ton.

    I've bought the thermotouch 4.3iC and the Warmup ProWire heater.

    Neither company will commit to saying it will or won't work.
     
  2. Lectrician

    Lectrician Screwfix Select

    If the thermotouch comes with it's own floor probe, I would say it's fine. I wouldn't think it a good idea to swap probes and stats around.
     
    FatHands likes this.
  3. vincenoir

    vincenoir New Member

    It does come with it's own probe. I only have the one thermostat so I'm not in a position to try different stats unfortunately!
     
  4. Quiche81

    Quiche81 Member

    Check the probe resistances between the units, to be honest they're probably going to be the same but you do need to be sure, providing the mat loads are within the controllers rating and the probe is ok then its unlikely to be a problem.
    (You can check this on the data sheets usually available online)
     
  5. vincenoir

    vincenoir New Member

    I will be using the probe that came with the thermostat so would I need to check this still?
     
  6. unphased

    unphased Screwfix Select

    No. I don't think testing the probe is going to matter two hoots. Its the mat resistance that is measured. All the probe is for is temperature sensor, it will work if its supplied with the stat so its calibrated to it. All this fuss over compatibility is wasted.
     
  7. Quiche81

    Quiche81 Member

    Yeah, Scrap that, I didn't read the original question properly.

    OP, the controller just turns the mat on and off, use the probe that came with it and it'll be fine.
     
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2014
  8. snezza30

    snezza30 Member

    Vincenoir,

    What have you got against the Warmup stat?

    They do various models of stat, a touch screen and a standard analogue one.

    I generally fit the touch screen type as it is very popular, especially now that they are available in different colours.

    Snezza.
     
  9. vincenoir

    vincenoir New Member

    The reviews aren't glowing. I've read a few times it comes on way before its supposed to being the main one.
     
  10. unphased

    unphased Screwfix Select

    I have fitted WarmUp stats and had no negative feedback from them. I think that they activate intentionally before the set time to allow for a warm up period and give the floor time to reach temperature. Its in the instructions, you know, the ones that nobody reads. :) Remember that floors aren't instant heat! So the early start is built in. The problem with reviews is you can get flawed complaints from people who think that the mat heats instantly and turns off instantly like a wall heater. So IMHO the 'reviews' are flawed because they don't understand the principle of this type of heating. If you need the floor to be at, say 30 degrees it would take a good hour to reach that temperature so there is no point setting it to come on at 7.30am and expecting it to be hot! It will come on at 6.30am and be at the required temperature at 7.30am.
     
  11. Rulland

    Rulland Screwfix Select

    Try explaining that to a women!, my wife thinks that because the UFH is set for 0600 on, it should be warm at that time........
    I actually set it for a 0430 on!-the stats do the rest.
     
  12. mr reflex

    mr reflex Member

    Manufacturers Instructions all the way..............................Deviate..............................Your Gamble ( or stupidity )
     
  13. Sean_ork

    Sean_ork Screwfix Select

    and then there's the wife who (while I was away) turned the mixer valve stat u
    that's exactly right - as long as the area covered by the loosewire doesn't exceed the switching capacity of the controller

    3600w for the controller - 150w/m² output from the loosewire
     
  14. Lectrician

    Lectrician Screwfix Select

    Some standard heating controllers also do this, bringing the boiler on early. Many people HATE this, feeling they're not in control. Fare enough really! This feature can be turned off on many controllers, but it does not appear so with the warmup one.

    Incidentally, warm up controllers do have settings for three different ratins of typical probes, 10Kohm, 12Kohm, 15Kohm. This allows their stats to be retrofitted to other systems if you are unable to replace probe. You should always install probe in such a way that you can remove it to replace. It's the first thing to fail.
     
  15. unphased

    unphased Screwfix Select

    I haven't yet seen a probe installed correctly. Always grouted in with the tiles. :rolleyes:
     
  16. snezza30

    snezza30 Member

    With the Warm-Up system, they send a length of black corrugated conduit in the kit that has to be recessed into the floor and it protects the probe wire and also allows for the probe to be replaced, as it is a loose fit in the conduit. There are no excuses not to fit everything correctly as Warm-Up give you all that is needed.

    I've fitted loads of the Warm-Up UFH and so far (Touch wood !) I have never had any problems with their probes.

    Snezza.
     
  17. Lectrician

    Lectrician Screwfix Select

    I like to bring that flexi conduit up into a flushed box at low level, and have conduit from there upto the stat vertically above. The lower flush box can have the FCU, and I often then simply run some 1.5mm 3C and E upto the stat. The mat tails connected at the FCU, the sw live in a terminal block.
     

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