Wireless Boiler Controls - Are ESi any good

[Hypergolic]

My daughter has recently moved into her first house which has a Worcester Greenstar 25Si Combi. It has an ESi ESRTP4RF Wireless Programmer/Thermostat fitted, but the wireless connection keeps dropping out.

Does anyone rate these units?

There seem to be plenty of DT20RF/LP20RF units up on ebay. Should I go for one of these instead or do people recommend something else?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

try moving the prog closer to the reciever see if it still happens

 

[Riley]

They are my more budget option but I’ve never had issues with them

 

[Hypergolic]

They are my more budget option but I’ve never had issues with them

Unfortunately, it seems to drop out even when the Programmer/Thermostat is in the kitchen right next to the receiver unit

 

[Riley]

ESi customer service are excellent I’d give them a call. Could just be a faulty unit

 

[Hypergolic]

ESi customer service are excellent I’d give them a call. Could just be a faulty unit

The problem is it was in the house when she moved in so I've no idea how old it is or where it was bought from. As you give their customer service a good name I might well give them a go though. Thanks.

 

[Riley]

Not with thermostats as I’ve never had a problem with them but they were excellent replacing a faulty valve

 

[I-kal]

Have you thought of getting the hive installed, sometimes they come with cracking deals with installation included

 

[Hypergolic]

Have you thought of getting the hive installed, sometimes they come with cracking deals with installation included

Yes, I've been looking at Hive as an option, but they have also have a new baby so they're a bit skint at the moment, and splashing out on boiler controls is not really their top priority, hence why I was looking on ebay for a cheap and simple alternative solution (DT20RF).

A hive single channel receiver, Programmer/thermostat and hive hub could be the wierdest christmas present they've ever had though!

 

[Aire]

Simple question but have you tried new batteries?

 

[Hypergolic]

Simple question but have you tried new batteries?

Yup. Twice. I've read various posts about wireless units dropping out due to interference, but I've no idea how I would rule that in/out.

 

[Hypergolic]

What about a DT20RF Programmer (Rev A, P/N 7-716-192-054). Anyone know what RF Thermostats work with this unit?
Are they any good, RF wise?

 

[Riley]

Are you obsessing over the DT20RF because it looks like it just slots in ?

 

[Burger]

Yup. Twice. I've read various posts about wireless units dropping out due to interference, but I've no idea how I would rule that in/out.

I fit Siemens and Honeywell, both recommend Alkaline batteries for signal strength, are you using them or cheap zinc ones? Had so many customers using zinc batteries.

 

[Burger]

Is it dropping out, or does it need re-paring? Do you have the instructions? If not:
https://www.esicontrols.co.uk/assets/esrtp4rf_user-instructions_web2.pdf

 

[Hypergolic]

Are you obsessing over the DT20RF because it looks like it just slots in ?

Yes. And because it looks like I could get one cheap on ebay! Is this a poor choice? I don't want to spend a lot of money only to find out we're no better off.

 

[Hypergolic]

I fit Siemens and Honeywell, both recommend Alkaline batteries for signal strength, are you using them or cheap zinc ones? Had so many customers using zinc batteries.

Good point. I'll check tomorrow.

 

[Hypergolic]

Is it dropping out, or does it need re-paring? Do you have the instructions? If not:
https://www.esicontrols.co.uk/assets/esrtp4rf_user-instructions_web2.pdf

I downloaded the instructions some time ago when she moved in. When I say it keeps dropping out, what I suppose I really meant was that we keep having to re-pair it as the indicator on the Programmer/Thermostat shows it is not receiving a signal, even when in the kitchen next to the receiver unit.

 

[Brambles]

My experience of ESI units is that they are robust and of a good quality. Their technical support team are (in my experience) very responsive.

The symptoms you describe are that of an incorrectly bound unit. Sometimes units have been reused and paired without the previous bindings having been properly cleared.

Clear the bindings, reset the units and rebind.

 

[Riley]

Yes. And because it looks like I could get one cheap on ebay! Is this a poor choice? I don't want to spend a lot of money only to find out we're no better off.

You will need a gas safe engineer still to fit it as you’ll need the old one unwiring and the case will need to come off the boiler

 

[Hypergolic]

Thanks one and all for the sound advice. I'll check the battery types, unbind/rebind/repair the units and let you know how I get on.

 

[Murdoch]

Yup. Twice. I've read various posts about wireless units dropping out due to interference, but I've no idea how I would rule that in/out.

Interference can be caused by led bulbs and also phone / device chargers ...

 

[Zippymark]

Is there any way of changing the frequency it operates on? I don't know the exact one you have but on a lot of them you can alter it by pulling some of the jumpers out and repairing, that might be worth a try if you can.

 

[Tom Woodward]

Fit Honeywell work all day every day but have just fit new salus rt520 only £60 and nice to use unlike old rt500 has tpi and opentherm and optimisation

 

[TonyWest]

What does rebind the unit mean?