Drayton Wiser A couple of years later update

A few years living with the Drayton Wiser product.

Overall its been brilliant, works just as needed. My only reservation is battery usage, its not been amazing, but I can live with it!

[anthonywenban]

You need to use the new lithium rechargeable batteries, they are a full 1.5v or use Duracell pro batteries (which I buy in bulk packs), I get at least a 14 months from these depending on which room they are in before they need replacing.

[anthonywenban]

I also have the insights plus with the extra smart meter, it’s great, it picks up real-time cost of your electricity and gas from your smart meters and gives you graphs of costs and energy usage per hour.

[MrBinabanana]

I've had my Wiser system with 8 TRVs installed for just over a year and it's taken until now for all the original cheapy batteries to fail - I think I'd be irritated if I was only getting 6 or even 3 months! I just replaced them all with Duracell Plus (bulk off Amazon) so we'll see how long I get from these.

[filipp]

I use Panasonic and they last for 8-10 months. I used to have issues 2 years ago with the ECO Mode. It was heating up to only a 1 degree below the threshold. Wiser advised to reset the system by disabling Eco Mode for 2 weeks (I disabled for 4 weeks) and it did the job, for another 2 wks system was learning the rooms temperature and then started working fine, I recommend you this trick if you have similar issues.
For Hot Water I am using Sonoff TH16 with the termal probe inside the cylinder. In this setup it is managing actual temp in the cylinder keeping during the day between 30'C and 38'C and increasing from 5PM to 45'C - 50'C. Highly recommended setup, I saved over 20% a year on gas for Hot Water.

I use 9x TRVs and 3x Room Thermostats all setup with Alexa ;)
PS: If you run Windows Tablet, just install Alexa and you may have a full house manager from one place. This includes: Sonoff, Wiser, Ezviz cameras and more ;)

[MiracleManMatt]

I have 9 TRV's and so far have at least 3 that have failed (new batteries and still completely dead). Given they are £50 a go - not sure I would go with wiser again. I find the coverage and app also a bit sub standard

[andycarter]

Are you using many roomstats with the trvs or just relying on the trv thermostat?

Just installed mine last month and expecting to lose some savings with batteries.

[duncanbridges]

Hi, ref your initial video / comment on the noise being a problem especially in a bedroom. Now you’ve had them a while is the noise still an issue ? Any info appreciated

[markandjennyhesketh]

I have integrated my Wiser system with Home Assistant. Lots more data available now and more flexible.

[velovelo]

I think I know why. You are using the standard AA batteries 1.2V. As far as I know you are suppose to use the rare 1.5V ones. You can buy rechargeable ones Amazon. I'm sure this is why you have low battery or they don't last very long.

[semperidem]

The voltage supplied by a rechargeable AA battery is not the same as a regular alkaline. It's much lower at about 1.2 to 1.25 v. Not everything that can run with 1.5v AAs can use the lower voltage rechargeables. It looks like the Wiser Rad Valves don't either, well not very well at least.

[julianwebb]

Based on this I won’t bother with rechargeable batteries…..have you tried Duracell as they seem superior to most if not all 🤔

[anthonycraig]

Rechargeable batteries will die much quicker because they degrade due to heat. Giving less and less charge each cycle. A good set of alkaline Energise or Duracell should do the trick, not the extra cheap ones, those are normally fake.

[peterwilliams]

I installed a wiser system in November (I work for the company that manufactures it)
I also had my smart meters upgraded free of charge to utilise the insights+ part of the app - but you do have to purchase a Home Display unit for £15 to connect the meters to the app.
This gives much more info to help tune the system and monitor the usage of energy.
The use of Google Home looks very interesting !

[keithcraig]

Rechargeable batteries have a totally different discharge characteristics to once use batteries and aren't suitable for such applications that use relatively high load servo motors. Hence the problem with them only lasting abut a month. Stick with good quality branded batteries - had no problems so far.

[SpacewolfDan]

rechargables are not recommended... jesus dont be thick