Vaillant ecotec plus system boiler with vr400

[mark]

I've just replaced my venerable Worcester 35 with one of these and my wife is bemoaning the lack of a 'heating advance' button as we called it here. Does such a thing exist, I've trawled the hand books and the only thing that comes close is something called 'party mode' which requires one of a myriad similar buttons to be pressed 3 times. Now seeing as pressing the wrong button 3 times may well alter the setting for th_nd_world setting I'd be pleased if there was an easier way that I've missed.

Any ideas?

[Gary]

I've got the VR360 programmer and it is very similar to yours. I couldn't find a heating advance function either. This model can be configured to set up to 3 different temperatures a day, so what I did is to set-up an early morning programme of say 20degrees for getting out of bed, then immediately after set up another all day programme at a low temp say 15degrees. Then if heat is reqd during the day, use the quick veto function which allows you to over-ride the current set temp. Basically you press the f(unction) button once then turn the dial to select the new temp reqd. Pressing the f again turns quick veto off and returns back to the 15degress. Cheers Gary

[Ed Sirett]

You have not chosen (or had chosen for you) a very user friendly control.

Unclip out the VR400 (if you still have the trim plate it can be put back).

Wire up a Horstmann C12 or C17 single channel programmer and connect in series with the wall thermostat.

Or replace the wall themrostat with a suitable programmable thermostat.

(I'd go for a Centaur stat 7) to advance the heating she simply has to press the plus button a few times to bring up a higher target temp until the next "program point".

[mark]

In message , Ed Sirett writes

I chose this one specifically as I wish to use the weather compensation feature which seems to be working as required.

So; there is no easy way then :)

Ah well thanks for all the help everybody , looks like 'piece of paper with instructions taped to the wall' then :)

[Jim Alexander]

Well I've read the VRC400 manual and reckon that the "quick veto" function is what you are looking for.

Jim A

[mark]

In message , Jim Alexander writes

I think you have to be in an 'on' phase for this to work. I don't think it works when you are in an 'off' phase.

I think it's going to be OK though. The party mode seems to work and having it written done on a piece of paper seems to have satisfied the wife :)

3 presses of 'f' no less and no more and then another single press to cancel. :)

One more moan though; why on earth aren't these boiler displays back lit? The Worcester was the same. Are there any with back lit displays? If not; why not? It surely cant be that expensive can it?

[Ed Sirett]

You EITHER go for a highly complex but essentially automatic heating controls which you leave well alone. OR You go for simple controls and operate them as you feel you need to.

It seems that he and she are wanting differing things, is that not ever the case though...

[mark]

In message , Ed Sirett writes

Really? If there is a function that allows 'advancing' (i.e. the three presses of the 'f' button) then surely they knew that people might wish to do this. Its basically an over ride function. :)

Anyways it seems the problem is solved and so far; the setting for s.dis_ster has remained 0

Nah. She loves the way we can have a nice warm house without the stifling heat you get when someones cranked everything up because they felt a bit cold.

Actually folks I can recommend the whole system, and its a tad cheaper than a micromat. :)

vaillant ecotec plus 630 vaillant vr65 control box with 2 off 2 port valves vaillant unistor cylinder vaillant vr400 weather compensator using the vr10 cylinder control.

I'll let you know if it breaks...................

[Jim Alexander]

might be what I am looking for...

can you tell me if you can program a higher flow temp in the DHW loop than the heating loop to maximise condensing efficiency?

Jim A

[mark]

In message , Jim Alexander writes

Not without looking but the manuals are available at Vaillants site in pdf form. I'll have a look myself as soon as I'm less unsober.....

[mark]

In message , Jim Alexander writes

AIUI it sorts its own flow temperatures for the heating depending on how cold it is outside. It also works out its own flow temperature for the heating (subject to a maximum which you can program). There is of course only a single flow and a single return controlled by motorised valve/s ( 2x2ports in my case)