Vaillant developed the senso range of controls in response to both consumer and installer feedback, offering increased connectivity, a smart modern design, ease of installation, and guided commissioning. Here, Steve Keeton, training and technologies director at Vaillant, answers installers’ frequently asked questions.
1. Can the new senso range control multiple heating circuits?
Yes, both the sensoHOME and sensoCOMFORT can control multiple heating circuits.
In the sensoCOMFORT range, the wired version can control up to five heating circuits, while the wireless version supports up to three heating circuits. In terms of wiring centres, installers will need a VR71 for the first three heating circuits, plus a VR70 for the additional two circuits.
The wired sensoHOME can support up to two heating circuits when used with the VR66/2 wiring centre and a VR92 remote control. With the VR66, if it’s a combi boiler you don’t need wiring centre.
With the development of both controls we really focused on ease of installation, so as part of the guided commissioning the device will ask how many zones are to be controlled and then set itself up.
2. What is the time programme assistant and what is the scheduling like?
This is a really great feature of the senso controls range, which is designed to give homeowners greater control over their heating. So, once the senso device has been turned on and the guided commissioning has been completed, installers and homeowners are able to utilise the time programme assistant to create a bespoke time programme assistant.
Again, focusing on ease of installation, this covers six really simple questions, for example ‘what time does the homeowner get up in the morning’ and ‘what time do they go to bed’ etc. Using this insight, the senso control develops an individual heating schedule which has been customised around the homeowners exact needs. If more time slots are required throughout the day, you access the weekly planner where a total of 12 different time slots can be added for each day.
3. Can you control the senso heating controls via an app?
Our new sensoNET internet gateway (VR921) can be used with wired and wireless versions of both the sensoHOME and sensoCOMFORT, to enable remote app control of all individual circuits within the heating system via Wi-Fi.
Once installed with sensoNET gateway, homeowners will need to download the sensoAPP from either the Apple or Android app store, for enhanced control at their fingertips.
4. Does the senso range of controls support Vaillant heat pumps, including aroTHERM plus?
Heat pumps will play a key role in decarbonisation, so when we developed the senso range it was really important that it included support for heat pumps.
sensoCOMFORT is a weather compensating control that supports Vaillant’s entire portfolio of heat pumps, including the newly launched aroTHERM plus. So, installers who are working on a heat pump project just need to fit a sensoCOMFORT pack for the amount of heat zones required, and everything else is supported by the guided commissioning, meaning they can be up and running in no time.
For more information on Vaillant’s senso heating control range, click here.
