Heating in small steps with heat pump

[mjanssen (Martijn Janssen)]

Hi,

I’m trying to figure out how to achieve the following:

When out of the house for more than a couple of days, we turn down the thermostat controlling our heat pump a couple degrees, because heating the house when nobody is around, is a bit unnecessary and expensive.

I already have an automation that sets “vacation mode” for the house and 24 hours before the vacation ends, it exists “vacation mode”. Works great.
But for the heating, I basically want to heat per half degree, so the heat pump only uses (excess from the solar panels) power and not use gas for the boiler. When the difference between the current and setpoint temperature is more than a half degree, the heat pump engages the gas boiler to help with heating.

I have thought about this, but haven’t figured out yet how to set the setpoint by half degree at a time, until the real setpoint (I already have this value in a helper) is reached.

I don’t think an automation that has a lot of “waits” is the way to go, as those get cut of when reloading the automations and with a restart of HA.
So it probably have to be multiple automation, firing in order according to triggers.

Not looking for a ready-to-go automation, but a nudge in the correct direction, to get me started.

Anybode who has something similar?

[Didgeridrew]

@mjanssen

I already have an automation that sets “vacation mode” for the house and 24 hours before the vacation ends, it exits “vacation mode”.

When it exits “vacation mode” what does it change to? A different pre-set or “manual” control?

@mjanssen

So it probably have to be multiple automation, firing in order according to triggers.

Use a timer.

You might also find this script blueprint useful:

Increase or Decrease Target Temperature

This script covers a missing function to change the value of a thermostat’s setting relative to it’s current value instead of changing it to a static value. In order to keep setup simple for the new user this script is intended for, it has a few built-in limitations: When using heat_cool mode, the script can set either high or low target temp… not both. While it can be targeted at multiple climate entities. It will not work if the entities in question use a mixture of heat_cool and single set…

[mjanssen (Martijn Janssen)]

@Didgeridrew

When it exits “vacation mode” what does it change to? A different pre-set or “manual” control?

At the moment I set it to the wanted setpoint, which also triggers the gas boiler.

@Didgeridrew

Use a timer.

You might also find this script blueprint useful:

Thanks for both suggestions.

[Sir_Goodenough ((SG) WhatAreWeFixing.Today)]

@mjanssen

not use gas for the boiler.

You cannot set a half degree usually, well reliably anyway.
You could add a normally closed relay in the stage 2 thermostat wire so that on demand, you could just not let it come on.
Also some thermostats let you set the offset to stage2, where you could make that latrger.

[boheme61]

@mjanssen

so the heat pump only uses (excess from the solar panels) power and not use gas for the boiler

" If excess = true & current-temp = set-point - 0.5 , action heatpump-on
" If excess = true & current-temp < set-point - 0.5 , action boiler-on

Simplified

And this with above (SG)facts also shows that 0.5 is a “blow in the wind”, you boiler will keep pendling and crash

[Didgeridrew]

@Sir_Goodenough

You cannot set a half degree usually, well reliably anyway.

In metric countries the thermostats do usually use fractions of a degree.

[Sir_Goodenough ((SG) WhatAreWeFixing.Today)]

But the set-point is likely an integer in the thermostat integration, which means that might or might not do as intended.
In their case I would want full control on that, based on the outside temperature. battery level, and solar output just not let the stage 2 work unless you need it.

[boheme61]

True but we are just talking “thoughts” as we have no facts, in regards to his hardware /settings and current integrations or … anything but thoughts

[mjanssen (Martijn Janssen)]

True.

Some more info.

I can set half a degree with my T6 thermostat. Currently using this for night and (short) away moments.

I can not separately trigger the heat pump and/or the bolier. The thermostat controls the heat pump and when the logic of the heat pump determines it needs gas to get to the wanted setpoint, it triggers the boiler.

[boheme61]

@mjanssen

I can not separately trigger the heat pump and/or the bolier.

ok, are we supposed to help you “Crack the Logic” inside your nonamed control-panel , or are there any “openings” to this moment22 alike situation ?

[mjanssen (Martijn Janssen)]

@boheme61

ok, are we supposed to help you “Crack the Logic” inside your nonamed control-panel , or are there any “openings” to this moment22 alike situation ?

I don’t understand what you mean.

Is more information required? If so, what do you want to know?