Installing the easytherm boiler controller

Installing the EasyTherm Boiler Controller

Steve Lord

Published by Bookimbo

Copyright © Steve Lord 2013

All rights reserved by Steve Lord

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Published by Bookimbo.com

Contents

1. Installation Safety

2. Overview of the EasyTherm Boiler Controller installation process

3. Understanding how the EasyTherm communicates

4. An introduction to standard boiler wiring schemes - S and Y Plan

5. Preparing for an installation

6. Installing the backplate and cabling

7. Turning on the EasyTherm for the first time

8. Connecting the EasyTherm to your home router

9. Logging In, Configuring your boiler ON and OFF Times and Testing

10. Configuring the EasyTherm for connection to the internet

11. Troubleshooting

12. Specifications

1. Installation Safety

The EasyTherm Boiler Controller must be installed by a suitably qualified person in accordance with the latest IEEE Wiring Regulations.

Always isolate the mains supply before commencing installation.

Ensure that you have read and understood all of the EasyTherm Boiler Controller instructions, before proceeding.

2. Overview of the EasyTherm Boiler Controller installation process

Thank you for choosing to install the Easy Therm Boiler Controller

The EasyTherm Boiler Controller represents a fresh approach to domestic boiler control, which we hope will appeal to those who like the simplicity and convenience of using their smartphone, tablet or pc to control their central heating and hot water systems.

We have tried to ensure that the EasyTherm Boiler Controller is easy to install both for new installations (a new house) and for retrofits (replacing an existing Boiler Controller).

A key feature is the use of an installation approach which complies as closely as possible with the Industry Standard (Boiler Controller) Backplate. This approach has 2 major benefits i). it significantly reduces wiring complexity and effort when replacing existing Boiler Controllers and ii). it makes the EasyTherm Boiler Controller very easy to understand for those who are used to conventional S Plan and Y Plan boiler wiring schemes.

The EasyTherm Boiler Controller has 2 channels (ie 2 relays) which are independently controlled to switch on and off up to 3 times each day. Typically, one channel is assigned to Heating and one to Hot Water. In this way, the EasyTherm is similar to a conventional 2 channel, 7 day programmer. More than one EasyTherm may be used together for larger, multi-zone, installations.

Unlike conventional Boiler Controllers, which are configured via pushbutton interfaces, the EasyTherm Boiler Controller has been designed to be configured via devices such as smartphones, tablets and pcs. This means that you will need to connect to one of these devices during the installation phase to set the Heating and Hot Water ON and OFF times and other information.

Don't worry - instructions for making the connection between the Boiler Controller and your chosen smartphone, tablet or pc are provided later in this manual. A basic understanding of home networking technology will be required to perform the installation, but for those of you who want to 'go mad' and learn almost everything that there is to know about connecting devices to TCPIP networks, it might be worth taking a look at Daryl's TCPIP Primer, which may be found here:-

www.ipprimer.com/section.cfm

Once a connection is established between your smartphone, tablet or pc and your EasyTherm Boiler Controller and you have set up the basic Heating and Hot Water ON and OFF times, the final step is to connect to the world wide web, which will allow you to control your heating and hot water from anywhere in the world where there is an internet connection!

We have designed the EasyTherm Boiler Controller so that it can be installed in 4 distinct steps - each of which can be proven to be working, before the next step is started. This is summarised in the table, opposite:

3. Understanding how the EasyTherm communicatesThe EasyTherm Boiler Controller is available in 2 models: EasyTherm Homeplug and EasyTherm WiFi.

EasyTherm Homeplug We recommend EasyTherm Homeplug for most customers, because it is easier to install and it overcomes the very real possibility that the WiFi signal from your existing wireless router may not reach as far as your Boiler. Most boiler controllers tend to be located close to the boiler, as this reduces the cost and complexity of the wiring installation.

EasyTherm Homeplug uses the Homeplug AV standard to send data between the Boiler Controller and your home router over the mains wiring in your house. Once you have 'wired up' the Boiler Controller it will automatically start to send data onto your home mains wiring. All that is required is to plug in a small Homeplug AV adaptor (supplied) into a mains socket close to your home router and then plug an ethernet cable (supplied) between the Homeplug AV adaptor and your router. Detailed instructions for doing this are provided later.

Once the Homeplug model of the EasyTherm Boiler Controller has been successfully connected to your home router, any local devices which are normally also connected to your router (for instance, a pc, smartphone or tablet, connected via WiFi) will be able to communicate with the EasyTherm Boiler Controller. It is not necessary to buy the WiFi version of the EasyTherm Boiler Controller, if you wish to communicate using a WiFi connected pc, tablet or smartphone.

EasyTherm WiFi Alternatively, the WiFi version of the EasyTherm Boiler Controller may be more suitable under one, or more of the following circumstances:

- There are no ethernet ports available on the back of your home router - either because the existing ports have been used to connect devices (eg a printer) or because you own an older router, which has no ethernet ports.

- There is a small possibility that in very large buildings or blocks of flats, the mains wiring arrangements may preclude the transmission of data between your EasyTherm Boiler Controller and your router via the Homeplug AV standard. In most instances, this is unlikely to happen in domestic properties.

- You favour WiFi over data transmitted over mains wiring and are confident that you can meet the conditions described in the paragraph below:

Note: In order to install the WiFi version of EasyTherm, you will need to have a strong WiFi signal, from your home router, available at the position where you wish to locate the Boiler Controller and you will need to be experienced with the configuration of WiFi equipment, including the configuration of WPA or WEP WiFi security. You will also need password access to your home router and you will need to know any existing WPA passwords or WEP keys..

4. An introduction to standard boiler wiring schemes - S and Y Plan

The installation of boiler wiring, pumps, valves, etc is outside the scope of this manual. However, it does help to have an appreciation of the common wiring schemes for domestic boiler installations within the UK, as this will assist in the subsequentinstallation of the EasyTherm Boiler Controller.

By far the two most common wiring schemes used with the UK are the:

Y Plan - Where a single, three port / mid-position valve provides heated water to both the central heating and hot water circuits. This is a very common scheme in small and medium sized houses.

S Plan - Where separate, 2 port valves are used to send hot water to the central heating and hot water circuits. This is a common scheme used in larger houses (eg) where zoned heating might be used.

Note that it is possible to find S Plan schemes in small houses and Y Plan schemes in large houses. There is also a W Plan scheme (which is a lot like the Y Plan scheme) andG or C schemes, which are often found on older heating systems. As this section of the EasyTherm installation manual is for guidance only, the W, G and C schemes are not described - however, a skilled Heating Engineer will be familiar with the wiring requirements of these schemes.

Example of Y Plan wiring SchemePlease note that this diagram is provided for guidance only. Without thorough inspection, it is not possible to know whether an existing installation fully complies with this scheme and whether items, such as the mains switch, provide the requisite levels of isolation.

Example of S Plan wiring Scheme

Please note that this diagram is provided for guidance only. Without thorough inspection, it is not possible to know whether an existing installation fully complies with this scheme and whether items, such as the mains switch, provide the requisite levels of isolation.

The S+ (or S Plus) Plan wiring scheme

With reference to the S Plan diagram on the opposite page - there is also a S+ (S Plus) scheme, where more than one heating zone is created by the addition of further room Thermostats and 2 Port valve. An example of how one extra Room Thermostat and 2 Port Valve might be connected to the circuit shown on the opposite page is shown below. There are several variations of the S Plus Plan

It is worth keeping in mind that new Building Regulations were introduced in the UK in 2010, which required any new boiler / heating systems to have 2 or more thermostatically controlled heating zones. The exact details are beyond this manual - however, it is worth noting that compliance can be achieved by using 1 (or more ) EasyTherm Boiler Controllers with the S Plus Plan wiring scheme.

5. Preparing for an installationGood preparation is required before starting an EasyTherm installation. In particular, we recommend the following steps.

SafetyThe connection between the EasyTherm Boiler Controller and the mains electricity supply must be made via a fuse rated at not more than 6 Amps and a class 'A' switch (having contact seperation of not less than 3mm in all poles). If your existing Boiler installation does not provide this,, it must be fitted, prior to installing the EasyTherm.

Always fully isolate the mains electricity supply before commencing installation. Take time during the preparation phase to familiarise yourself with the location and operation of isolation switches and ensure that full isolation is provided.

If you are intending to drill a hole to pass cables through a wall, always check that there are no cables or pipes buried within the wall, first and locate the Boiler Controller a safe distance away.

If you are intending to mount the Boiler Controller on a metal surface, make sure that the metal surface is fully earthed.

If you are unsure about any of the items above, employ a qualified Electrician or competent Heating Engineer to perform the electrical installation for you.

LocationCarefully identify where you will locate the EasyTherm Boiler Controller.

If you are using the WiFi version of the EasyTherm Boiler Controller, always check that there is a strong WiFi signal. This can be achieved by using a laptop, smartphone or tablet to access the internet at the locatioin where you wish to install the EasyTherm. Most of these devices have some form of WiFi strength indicator at the top or the bottom of the screen. A good starting point is to ensure that you have at least 50% of the full strength signal.

If you are replacing an existing Boiler Controller, it is probably best to place the EasyTherm in the same location. The wall mounting and wiring arrangements for the EasyTherm have been designed to allow the majority of existing UK Boiler Controllers to be replaced by the EasyTherm without the need for drilling more holes or laying additional cabling. Obviously, WiFi signal strength needs to be considered, if you are fitting the WiFi version of the EasyTherm Boiler Controller.

If you are installing a Boiler Controller for the first time (ie a new build) or want to install in a different location to an existing Boiler Controller, we recommend the following:

Identify the location of the existing Boiler Cabling Junction Box. You will need to lay one, or more cables between the Boiler Cabling Junction Box and the EasyTherm - therefore, it makes sense to locate the EasyTherm close to the Junction Box, in order to reduce cabling costs and complexity.

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Locate the EasyTherm where you can easily reach the EasyTherm buttons and see the EasyTherm display.

Locate the EasyTherm where it can easily and securely attached to a flat surface, using the backplate provided, taking into account the type of surface (eg plaster, plasterboard, wood, etc) and the type of fittings that you will require.

Consider whether you will be using the EasyTherm Boiler Energy Monitoring accessory (an aftermarket item which allows the EasyTherm Boiler Controller to measure the energy usage of your boiler. This requires a sensor to be attached to one of the pipes from your Boiler). If you are going to fit the EasyTherm Boiler Energy Monitoring accessory, the EasyTherm should be located within a 1 metre distance from the Boiler.

Tools and Equipment

In addition to the normal tools required for any Boiler Controller installation (eg screwdrivers, wire cutters and stripper, drill, spirit level, etc) you will also need the following:

A PC or Laptop with either a WiFi or Ethernet connection (it is possible to use certain smartphones or tablets, although this document assumes the use of a PC or Laptop for the installation and configuration phase).

A home router with a working internet connection.

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If you are using Homeplug WiFi - The relevant WiFi Password to be able to attach to the WiFi service provided by the home router (if it is a WiFi router).

The relevant router access password to be able to access and modify settings within the router. NOTE you will probably only need this if you intend to configure the Boiler Controller to be accessed from anywhere on the world wide web (ie when you are away from home).

This manual.

6. Installing the Backplate and Cabling - installation STEP 1.

The EasyTherm Boiler Controller has been designed to allow the majority of existing UK Boiler Controllers to be easily replaced by the EasyTherm, without the need to drill more holes or install additional cabling. To facilitate easy installation, a backplate is provided, which should be firmly attached to the wall at the selected location for the EasyTherm Boiler Controller.

Prior to attaching the backplate to the wall, take time to familiarise yourself how the backplate attaches to the back of the EasyTherm Boiler Controller - this will help to ensure that you get the backplate positioned and aligned correctly. Remember to allow enough room below the EasyTherm to be able to access the 2 small screws which fix the EasyTherm to the backplate.

The backplate has been designed to re-use the fixing arrangements for the majority of existing UK Boiler Controllers by using two mounting screws placed through the holes marked 'A' in the diagram opposite.

Ideally, to keep the installation tidy, any cabling should be brought through a hole in the wall and then presented through the hole provided in the backplate, as shown by the arrow marked 'B', in the diagram opposite.

Alternatively, wall 'surface mounted' cables may be presented through the plastic 'punch outs' provided in the bottom of the backplate.

EasyTherm Backplate

Installing the Backplate and Cabling (Continued)

Once the backplate has been mounted on the wall and the relevant power and boiler control cables have been brought through the backplate (see illustration below), it will be necessary to connect power and control cables to the 7 way push fit connector provided, using the wiring information provided on the opposite page.

Note:- A careful look at the previous S and Y Plan example wiring diagrams would suggest that the connection shown above is probably for a S Plan arrangement. For a Y Plan arrangement, there would most probably be an additional (grey) wire connected to location 1. of the 7 Way Connector.

Note:- It is worth thoroughly reviewing the previous S and Y Plan wiring diagram examples, alongside the the diagrams and notes shown above and on the opposite page. This should help to establish a good understanding of EasyTherm cabling.

Installing the Backplate and Cabling (Continued)

Once you have completed the wiring, insert the 7 way connector into its receptacle inside the EasyTherm box (please do not disassemble the EasyTherm box - the 7 way connector can be pushed onto its receptacle through the hole provided in the back of the EasyTherm box.). With the connector in place, attach the EasyTherm box to its backplate by hanging the top of the box onto the plastic 'lip' provided on the top of the backplate and then swinging the EasyTherm box down onto the 2 mating plastic lugs provided on the backplate to receive the 2 fixing screws. Once again, a good 'play' withthe EasyThyerm box and backplate, prior to mounting will clarify the instructions above.

6. Turning on the EasyTherm Boiler for the first time

When you have completed the cabling and attached the EasyTherm Boiler Controller to the EasyTherm Backplate, make sure that all other aspects of the installation are safe (eg replace the boiler wiring junction box cover) and then apply power to the boiler system and the EasyTherm via the isolating switch.

If the power cabling to the EasyTherm has been installed correctly, you should see the following 'start up message' appear on the EasyTherm display:

Turning on the EasyTherm Boiler for the first time (Continued)

Within a few seconds, the 'start up message' will disappear and the display will change to look similar to the display shown in the picture below. Don't worry too much if the time (shown at the top of the display), is wrong on your EasyTherm - you will learn how to change the time, later.

For now, it is important that you notice only 2 things on the display - the first is the numbers at the bottom left hand corner of the display (169.254.1.1) this is the IP Address for the EasyTherm. Also notice the word "WFScan" (EasyTherm WiFi) or "NoDHCP" (EasyTherm Homeplug) shown in the bottom right hand corner of the display - this is the Network Status Message and will be very important when you come to connect your EasyTherm to a home router.

You have now completed the first step of the EasyTherm installation.

This page has been left blank, intentionally.

8. Connecting the EasyTherm to your home router - installation STEP 2

The EasyTherm Boiler Controller is available in 2 models: EasyTherm Homeplug and EasyTherm WiFi. (We strongly recommend that you read section 3 of this manual "Understanding how the EasyTherm communicates" to gain an appreciation of the differences between the 2 models)

Connecting the EasyTherm to your home router - EasyTherm Homeplug

IMPORTANT: Please skip to the next section of this manual, called 'Connecting the EasyTherm to your router - EasyTherm WiFi' if you are using the WiFi version of EasyTherm.

Once the EasyTherm has been connected to the electrical mains power supply, the Homeplug version of the EasyTherm will immediately start to broadcast data onto the mains wiring, as shown by the thick red line in the diagram below:

Connecting the EasyTherm to your home router - EasyTherm Homeplug(Continued)

All that is now required to get the EasyTherm Homeplug to communicate with your router is to plug the Homeplug Adapter (provided with EasyTherm Homeplug) into a wall socket, close to your router and then connect the Homeplug Adapter to a spare LAN port in your router, via the ethernet cable (also provided), as shown in the diagram below.

You should now see the indicator lights on the Homeplug Adapter (see drawing opposite) start to flicker.

If all three of the Hompelug Adapter indicator lights continue to stay on and flicker, then the Homeplug adapter is likely to have successfully found the EasyTherm AND the router and you should progress to the steps shown on the next page.

If all three indicator lights go out after a few seconds, the Router has not been found and you should check that the ethernet cable between the router and the Homeplug Adapter is correctly connected and the router is powered on. It is worth noting that; on some routers there are sockets which look like LAN sockets, but are not LAN sockets. Make sure that you have the Ethernet cable connected to the correct socket.

If, after approximately 30 seconds, just the outer 2 indicator lights on the Homeplug Adapter are permanently on and the centre indicator light is just very occassionally flickering red, it is likely that the Homeplug Adaptor cannot connect to the EasyTherm unit. In this instance, you should check the EasyTherm display (and, if necessary) your cabling to ensure that power is applied to the EasyTherm. It is also worth re-starting the EasyTherm unit either by carefully pressing the small black reset button (on top of the EasyTherm enclosure) or via turning OFF and the ON your boiler isolator switch. Once you are sure that power has been correctly applied to the EasyTherm, re-connect the Homeplug adapter to the mains socket and router, as described previously.

Connecting the EasyTherm to your home router - EasyTherm Homeplug(Continued) Most home routers are configured to automatically assign a unique address, called an IP address, to devices which are connected to the LAN ports (using a technology called DHCP or Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). When the EasyTherm Homeplug connects to your router, you should see the network status and IP Address change, as shown in the diagram below. Don't worry if your EasyTherm shows a slightly different IP address, eg something like 192.168.1.2 or 192.168.0.5, as there are many factors which determine the IP address chosen by the router.

If you can now see the "LinkOK"' status message on your EasyTherm Homeplug display, the EasyTherm is ready to communicate with other devices which are connected to your router. It should now be possible to connect to the EasyTherm by entering the IP address shown on the display of your EasyTherm into the address bar of your browser. If you look at the example shown on the previous page, the IP address on the display of the bottom EasyTherm is: 192.168.1.37. This IP address has been entered into the address bar of the browser, shown below.

If you can see the Login Screen (see example above) you should now skip to the next section of the manual "Logging In and Configuring your boiler On and Off Times".

Connecting the EasyTherm to your home router - EasyTherm Homeplug(Continued)

If you find that the status message continues to display "NoDHCP" - you should first of all check the Homeplug status lights and the ethernet connection, as previously described. If you are happy that the Homeplug status lights are showing that the EasyTherm is communicating, there is a (small) chance that your router is not set to automatically assign an IP Address and you will need to log into the router to configure the DHCP correctly. As there are many different types of router, it is beyond the scope of this manual to describe how to log into a router and configure DHCP. Fortunately, this process is usually well documented on the router manufacturer websites. (For those who are TCPIP experts - it is possible to set a static IP address for the EasyTherm via the EasyConfig mode, which is described later in this manual).

It is also worth giving consideration to performing the various diagnostic steps for determining the cause of network problems, as described in the 'Troubleshooting' section of this manual.


Connecting the EasyTherm to your home router - EasyTherm WiFi

IMPORTANT: Please skip to the previous section of this manual, called 'Connecting the EasyTherm to your router - EasyTherm Homeplug' if you are using the Homeplug version of EasyTherm.

Once the EasyTherm has been connected to the electrical mains power supply, the WiFi version of the EasyTherm will need to be informed of the WiFi name (sometimes called an SSID) and WiFi password of the WiFi network to which you want to connect. If you regularly connect devices, such as laptops, smartphones, pads, etc to your home router, it is highly likely that you will have the WiFi network name (SSID) and password memorised or written down somewhere. If not, follow the instructions in the 2 paragraphs, below:

WiFi Network Name (SSID)This is usually fairly easy to find by looking at any device which is currently connected to your home router via WiFi.. For example, the Windows 7 screenshot shown opposite was taken from my laptop, which is connected to my WiFi network - the WiFi Network Name is: 'Belkin37'. By clicking on the WiFi Network icon at the bottom of the screen, I can see all local WiFi network names. A similar list can be found on Android via Settings/WiFi.

WiFi PasswordIf you are unable to find or remember the password to the WiFi connection, then it will be impossible to connect the EasyTherm (or any other new device) to the WiFi network, without logging into the router to either create and configure a new WiFi connection or locate and copy the existing WiFi password. As there are many different types of home router, the process for logging into your router to create a new WiFi connection is beyond the scope of this manual - for this reason, it is highly recommended that you try to remember the password of any existing WiFi connections. As a last resort, the correct process for logging into a router and configuring a new WiFi connection can usually be found on the router manufacturer websites.

Connecting the EasyTherm to your home router - EasyTherm WiFi (Continued)

WiFi Security TypeBy default, the EasyTherm is configured to use either WPA with Passphrase, or WPA2 with Passphrase type WiFi security. If you do not know what this is, don't worry too much as almost all home routers are already set up to use one of these two WiFi security types, too. The great news is that the EasyTherm can detect whether you are using WPA or WPA2 and will automatically work with your chosen WPA or WPA2 setting.

However, there is a very small chance that your home router is configured to either use no WiFi securityat all, or to use a very old type of WiFi security, known as WEP.

The EasyTherm does not allow communication on an unsecured WiFi network (ie where there is no WiFi security), because of the risk of a person from outside your household gaining access to your EasyTherm and tampering with the heating controls.

If your router is currently configured to use the WEP wireless security type, we strongly suggest that you consider reconfiguring your existing Wireless network to support WPA or (ideally) WPA2, as WEP is considered to be unsecure. However, the EasyTherm will support WEP (WEP-104 only), if there is really no other alternative. WEP is a complex protocol to set up and should always be avoided in favour of WPA / WPA2. It is possible to set up WEP for the EasyTherm via the EasyConfig mode, which is described later in this manual

Once you have obtained your WiFi network name (or SSID) and password, the next step is to put this information into the EasyTherm.

The EasyTherm has been designed to allow you to configure the WiFi Network Name and Password via WiFi. This may seem a little strange, but as you follow the instructions over the next few pages, it will become clear how this is done.

The first step in this process is to choose a device which is capable of establishing a computer to computer WiFi network (sometimes called an 'ad hoc' network) between itself and the EasyTherm. Most modern laptops (eg Windows 7, Windows 8, Snow Leopard) and some hand held devices (eg Android version 4 + via WiFi Direct) allow the creation of computer to computer, or 'ad hoc' networks.

For the example shown over the next few pages, we have chosen a Microsoft Windows 7 Laptop with a known working WiFi card and we have placed this laptop close to the EasyTherm Boiler Controller that we wish to configure.


The example shown on the last few pages is for creating a computer to computer, or ad-hoc wireless interface on a Windows 7 computer. A brief description of setting up a computer to computer, or ad-hoc connection on Snow Leopard is also shown below, for those using Apple Mac computers.

1. Open the Network pane in System Preferences and choose the AirPort entry. The Airport entry is in the list at the left of the pane.

2. Enable the Airport Status in the Menu Bar checkbox.

3. Close System Preferences - this will automatically save your changes.

4. Click the Airport Status icon on the Menu Bar.

5. Click Create Network.

6. Enter 'EasyConfig' as the name of your network (without the quote marks, of course)

7. Make sure that the Require Password check box is NOT checked - ie we will want our computer to computer / ad-hoc wireless network to have no security.

8. Click OK.

If you have followed the steps described over the last few pages, you should now have either a Windows or Apple PC or laptop set up with a computer to computer wireless network within wireless range of the EasyTherm Boiler Controller that you wish to configure.

This computer to computer wireless network should have:

Network Name: EasyConfigNetwork Password: (ie no password)Network Security Type: None (ie no security)

You now need to put the EasyThem Boiler Controller into 'EasyConfig Mode' - this is done by pressing the 2 buttons on the front of the EasyTherm whilst either resetting or re-powering the EasyTherm. See diagram below:


Once the EasyTherm has been placed into Easy Config mode, as shown on the last page, the EasyTherm display will briefly show the 'Easy Config Mode' splash screen and then switch to the display shown below:

If your computer to computer wireless network has been set up properly and your computer or laptop is within wireless range of the EasyTherm, the EasyTherm will join the wireless network and it will be possible to connect to the EasyTherm by entering http://169.254.1.1:8080/ into the address bar of your browser - as shown on the next page:

If you can see the Login Screen (see example above) you should now skip to the next page of the manual, which describes how the Wireless Network Name and Password for your home wifi network will be entered into the EasyTherm.

If you cannot see the EasyTherm Login screen when you type the (http://169.254.1.1:8080/) address into your browser, you should check that you have set up the computer to computer network correctly (eg try clicking the Wireless Network icon in Windows and check that the 'EasyConfig' network is shown and is connected). You could also test with a 'Ping 169.254.1.1' command from inside a command prompt window, as described in 'Troubleshooting'.


It is now time to Log In to the EasyTherm via the EasyConfig Mode (see previous pages) to set up the correct Wireless Network Name (SSID) and Password for your home WiFi network.

If your EasyTherm is within wireless range of your home router and you have entered the correct Network Name and Password, you should see the Network Status Message change to 'LinkOK' after about 30 to 40 seconds.

Connecting the EasyTherm to your home router - EasyTherm WiFi (Cont.)

If you can see the "LinkOK"' status message, you should disconnect the PC or laptop that you used to configure the WiFi Username and Password from the computer to computer WiFi network and then re-connect to your home WiFi network.

Once again, connect to the EasyTherm, this time, by entering the IP address shown on the display of your EasyTherm into the address bar of your browser. Don't forget to add the :8080/ to the end of the address, as shown in the example, below:

If you can see the Login Screen (see example above) you should now skip to the next section of the manual "Logging In and Configuring your boiler On and Off Times".

If the "LinkOK" message does not appear on the EasyTherm Network Status display, then:

- Check that you have definitely entered the correct WiFi Network Name and Password, making sure that you have used capital and lower case letters, spaces, etc where required. You could try connecting another device (smartphone, laptop, pad, etc) to your home WiFi network to confirm that you have the network name and password correct.

- Check that the EasyTherm is within wireless range of your home router, by taking a laptop, pad or smartphone to the location of the Boiler Controller and checking that you can browse the internet and checking that the Wireless Network Icon is showing plenty of wireless signal strength.

- Try re-powering or re-setting first the home router and then the EasyTherm unit, allowing plenty of time (3 minutes) for the router to fully recover, before re-powering / re-setting the EasyTherm.

- Check the Network Status Display on the EasyTherm, if it is stuck on "NoDHCP" then it is possible (although, very unlikely) that your home router has been configured not to use DHCP. This router setting will require changing if you persistently get the "NoDHCP" message. (For IP Experts - it is possible to set a static IP address, via the 'Config Network' option of the EasyConfig menu).

9. Logging In, Configuring your boiler ON and OFF times and Testing - STEP 3

If you have successfully completed the network configuration to the point where you can see the EasyTherm login screen, you are now ready to log in and check whether the boiler fires correctly and then set the heating and hot water ON and OFF times.

Press the "Login" button (see example on previous page) and then enter a the UserName: 'Username' and Password: 'Password' as shown in the example below, before pressing the small "Log In" button at the bottom of the form.

Note on Browser CompatibilityUp to this point, most browsers will have worked OK, but we are now about to start using functions within the EasyTherm which demand more from your browser.

The EasyTherm Boiler Controller makes use of Javascript - you may need to turn on support for Javascript in your browser if some things are not working. If you use Google to search "How do I turn on Javascript in my Browser", you will find lots of useful guides for the various browsers. However, it is worth noting that most browsers will already have Javascript turned on

EasyTherm also uses a new(ish) technology called AJAX, so check the version of your browser (maybe, by using http://www.whatismybrowser.com, or by using 'About' on your browser Help menu). Examples of browsers that work well with EasyTherm are:

- Google Chrome Version 28 (+) works well and some earlier versions may work too.- Microsoft IE9 (+) works well..- Firefox 19 (+) probably works well, although we have not tried it.- Android Native Browser from Android 4.0 onwards seems to work well.- Safari 5.1.9 (+) in Snow Leopard (onwards) seems to work well.- iPhone / iPad native browser - IOS 6 (+) is fine. May also work with IOS5

If you find that the EasyTherm clock is not appearing, or updating on the EasyTherm web Status Screen (see example on next page), or the buttons are not working properly, then there is likely to be an issue with Ajax and you should consider updating your browser.

Logging In, Configuring your boiler ON and OFF times and Testing - (Continued)

If you have successfullly logged in, you should now see the EasyTherm Status Screen displayed, as shown below. Take some time to familarise yourself with this picture, as we will be referring to the named parts of the Status Screen a lot!

Setting the correct time on EasyThermBefore we do anything else, it is probably a good idea to set your EasyTherm to the correct time and 'Day of Week'. First of all, select 'Set Clock' from the EasyTherm User Menu and then use enter the correct Hours and Minutes, using the 24 Hour clock format, eg 09:25 for 9.25 am. Then use the pull down selector to set the correct Day of Week.Finally, select the 'Set New Time' button to save the time. See example below:

Once the time has been saved, the correct time should be shown on the Status Screen.


Changing your Username and Password on EasyThermIt is now a good idea to set your EasyTherm to use a Password and Username that will prevent other people from logging in and changing your heating settings! First of all, select 'Set Password' from the User Menu and then type over the existing User Name (Username) and Password (Password) with your own chosen Username and Password, before pressing the 'Set New' button, as shown in the example, below. Please make sure that you do not forget or loose your new Username and Password , because the only way that you can recover is to do a Factory Reset of the EasyTherm and this will require you to re-enter all of your network configuration, ON OFF times, etc

Setting the correct ON and OFF times for your Hot Water and HeatingBy selecting any of the 7 days of the week from the EasyTherm UserMenu, you can see and, if necessary modify, the times that your Hot Water and Heating will switch ON and OFF. Start by selecting 'Monday' from the User Menu and you will see the screen below.

The EasyTherm Boiler Controller allows you to have up to 3 periods per day during which the Heating can be ON and 3 periods per day during which the Hot Water can be ON. The 3 ON periods for the Heating can be seen in the left hand column of the table and the 3 ON periods for the Hot Water can be seen in the right hand column.


The EasyTherm is delivered with default settings for Heating ON and OFF times already set up. However, it is highly likely that you will want to change these setting, which can be done by clicking on any of the ON and OFF times in the table and entering a new time in the 24 hour clock format, not forgetting to place a zero in front, if necessary :- eg 07:45 for 7:45 am and 19:45 for 7:45 pm.

The EasyTherm has plenty of checking built in, to stop you from entering incorrect times, such as 24:79. It also checks whether the ON and OFF times are in the correct sequence - eg you cannot have an ON time which precedes a previous OFF time. If you see a warning message, click 'OK' and you will find that the incorrectly entered time has been replaced by the word 'ERROR' - just replace the word 'ERROR' with the correct time. When you have finished, press the 'Set New Times' button.

Once you have set your favoured ON and OFF times (eg) for Monday, it is possible to easily copy these times to any other day of the week. Select the day that you wish to set the ON OFF times for, from the 'User Menu' on the left hand side of the Status Screenand then use the 'Copy ON OFF times from:' drop down box, as shown in the example below and the new times will be copied across. Using this method, it is very easy to set up a template for (eg) Monday to Friday ON OFF times. If necessary, these can then be fine tuned for each specific day.

Logging In, Configuring your boiler ON and OFF times and Testing- (Continued)

Setting the Hot Water and Heating ProgrammesThe final stage in setting getting the Boiler Controller ready for controlling your Hot Water and Heating is to set how many times you wish the Hot Water or Heating to come on each day. Remember that you have already set up 3 sets of ON and OFF times for each of the days of the week (see last 2 pages). You now need to tell the EasyTherm how many of these ON and OFF times you actually want to use. For instance, you might want to set the Water to just come on twice a day and the Heating Three times a day. This is done using the 'Water and Heating Programs' drop down boxes. See below.

Some notes about setting Water and Heating Programmes i). There are five possible settings for the Hot Water and a further five settings for the Heating, these are: OFF, Once, Twice, Thrice and ON.

ii). If the Hot Water is set to OFF, the hot water will never come on. If the hot water is set to ON, the Hot Water will always be on - likewise for the Heating. eg the BOOST buttons will not work when the program is set to OFF or ON (the two BOOST buttons give an instant additional 2 hours of Hot Water or Heat).

iii). You might want to use the OFF programme, if you go away (don't forget the risk of freezing weather, though!). You might want to use the ON programme to test that the EasyTherm correctly fires your Heating or Hot Water. (See the next page).

iii). Using the 'Once' programme will cause the Hot Water or Heating to switch on for the first of the ON OFF times set for each day, only - the second and third set of ON OFF times will be ignored. Likewise, using the 'Twice' programme will switch on the Hot Water or Heating for the first and second of the ON OFF times set for each day.

iv). If you want to have the effect of 'Thrice' programmes on some days and 'Twice' programmes on other days, you can set 'dummy' ON OFF times, such as an ON time of 12:00, followed by a corresponding OFF time of 12:00. Eg, with the Heating programme set to 'Thrice' and the Heating ON OFF times set to: ON1 06:30 OFF1 08:00, ON2 12:00 OFF2 12:00, ON3 18:00 OFF3 22:00, the Heating will only come on between 6:30 to 8:00am and 6 to 10pm.


TestingNow that you have set the EasyTherm clock, password, username and the Heating and Hot Water ON and OFF times, test that the EasyThem installation works, by switching the EasyTherm programme from OFF to ON for first the Heating and then the Hot Water. (Note: the EasyTherm leaves the factory with the programme set to OFF).

Once you have set either the Hot Water or Heating to ON, check that the Heating or Hot Water blue Status LED is lit on the EasyTherm Boiler Controller and then listen to the boiler for a good few minutes and you should eventually hear the boiler 'fire'. Many modern boiler installations take a few minutes to 'fire', because valves have to open and various processes have to take place in the boiler, first.

Note; you should check that the room thermostat or cylinder thermostat is set at a level where the boiler will fire. Eg, if the ambient temperature is 25 degrees centigrade and your room thermostat is set to 22 degrees centigrade, the boiler will not fire the Heating.

If you do not hear the boiler fire after 10 - 15 minutes, isolate the Boiler and Boiler Controller circuit to ensure that there is no mains voltage present and that it is safe to inspect the wiring - and then double check your wiring to the EasyTherm and Boiler Junction Box.

Once you have successfully tested the EasyTherm, select your chosen programme (eg Once, Twice or Thrice) and 'Logout' via the 'User Menu' and then enjoy your Hot Water and Heating!


10. Configuring the EasyTherm for connection to the Internet - STEP 4

If you have successfully reached the end of the last section, your EasyTherm should now be controlling your Hot Water and Heating and you should be able to log in to view the EasyTherm status and modify the EasyTherm settings, using a browser, from devices which are connected to your home network.

This section of the manual deals with the configuration of EasyTherm to allow the EasyTherm status and and ON OFF settings web pages, to be visible on devices which are connected outside the confines of your home network. For instance, you could use a smartphone with a 3G or 4G network connection to log into your EasyTherm, whilst you are on the way home from work and then switch on your Heating or Hot Water (maybe, by using the BOOST button).

Unlike using the EasyTherm within the confines of your home network, using the EasyTherm on the Internet presents three challenges:

i). The first challenge is that there are circumstances where the IP address given by your home router to the EasyTherm may change. For instance, this could be because there has been a power cut and your home router has re-started - or, it could be just because your home router is configured to issue new IP addresses every day. Either way, a moving EasyTherm IP address can cause problems. Fortunately, there are, at least, two potential cures for this problem - you could configure your home router to provide a 'DHCP reservation' for the EasyTherm, or you could set your home router to provide a 'permanent DHCP Lease' for the EasyTherm

ii). The second challenge is that home routers tend to to be configured to allow users tobrowse the web sites on the Internet from within their homes. If you think about it; the EasyTherm is a web site and when you want to log into to the EasyTherm from outside of your home network, you are browsing a web site in your home from the Internet - ie the exact reverse of what a 'home' router is designed to do! The good news, is that most modern router manufacturers have a method for dealing with this, called 'Port Forwarding'.

iii). The third challenge is that; on the Internet, it is not possible to just type the IP address of your EasyTherm into your browser - a different way has to be found to 'locate' your EasyTherm amongst the millions and millions of devices on the Internet. Luckily, there are services which allow you to give a unique name to your EasyTherm, which you can then use to easily 'find' your EasyTherm. These services are called Dynamic Domain Name Services or Dynamic DNS.

So, in summary, there are 3 steps which have to be taken, before you can log into your EasyTherm from the Internet:

i). Check whether you have a problem with the EasyTherm IP address changing and fix by using either a DHCP Reservation in your home router, or applying a permanent DHCP Lease to your home router for the EasyTherm.ii). Configure your home router to apply Port Forwarding for the EasyTherm.iii). Set up a Dynamic DNS account to allow you to access the EasyTherm by name.

Details of how to complete these 3 steps are provided on the next few pages.

Configuring the EasyTherm for connection to the Internet - (Continued)

A few words about Home Routers

- Making changes to your home router can be difficult and there is plenty of opportunities for things to go wrong, resulting in the loss of internet connectivity and other problems. If you have not had experience of setting up home routers in the past, there is a good chance that the next few pages may be too difficult. We strongly recommend that you should seek help from a 'seasoned' router expert.

- You will need to access your home router configuration. For almost all home routers, this is done by entering either the IP address 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1, 192.168.2.1 or 192.168.1.254 into the browser of a device which is currently connected to your home network. Once you have entered the correct address, you should be presented with a Login Box, into which you will need to enter the Password and Username to access your router. Check your router User Manual, if none of these four IP addresses work.

- Hopefully, you have kept the Password and Username for your home router in a safe place. If not, good places to look are: Check the original home router packaging and instruction manual as the password and username is often written on or inside. Check the router enclosure (the outside of the router, itself) - companies, such as BT sometimes write the password and username here. You may be lucky and find that your home router is still set to the factory default username and password and these can usually be found on manufacturers websites. If all else fails - you could do a Factory Default Reset on your home router - but this should only be done by an expert, who knows how to re-connect your router to the Internet.

DHCP Reservations and permanent DHCP Leases

Before you start to make changes to you home router, it is worth checking that there is any risk that the IP address of your EasyTherm will change - some modern home routers seem overcome this issue altogether and retain the same IP address for the EasyTherm through power failures, re-boots, etc. The way to test this, is to:

i). write down the IP address displayed on the front of the EasyTherm display (eg 192.168.0.3, or similar).

ii) then reset or re-power your home router and give the router approx 3 minutes to complete the re-starting process.

iii). then reset (using the small Reset button on the top of the EasyTherm Enclosure) or re-power the EasyTherm and wait for approx 1 minute, before checking that the EasyTherm has retained its' original IP address.

You might want to retry the test a couple of times - comparing the old and new IP addresses, each time. If they have not changed, there is a chance that you will not need to configure DHCP Address Reservations or assign permanent DHCP leases.

How to configure a DHCP address reservationEvery home router seems to have a different way of configuring a DHCP Reservation, so it is not possible to give precise instructions. Instead, we are going to provide a typical example and we then recommend that you follow your router documentation.


TO BE COMPLETED WHEN I HAVE SAMPLE BT HOME HUB ROUTER - IE AUG 2013



Configuring Dynamic Domain Name Services on the EasyTherm

First of all, you will need to register with one of the following Dynamic DNS services, on the Internet:-

www.dyn.com OR www.noip.com

If you use NO IP, you can sign up for a free account. The DynDNS Pro Remote Access (from www.dyn.com) is currently US $25 pa. We have tested both with the EasyTherm

Regardless of which service you use, you will be assigned a Username, a Password and a Hostname for your Dynamic DNS account. These will need to be entered into the EasyTherm via the EasyConfig mode, which can be invoked on the EasyTherm by using the process below:

If you are using EasyTherm WiFi, you should set up an 'ad hoc' or computer to computer network on your PC or laptop, this should have the following configuration::


If you are using EasyTherm Homeplug, you just need to unplug the ethernet cable between the Homeplug and the router, at the router end and then plug the ethernet cable in to the ethernet port of your PC or laptop, such that the Homeplug adapter is plugged directly into your PC or laptop.


After a few seconds, the display should change and you should be able to log into the EasyTherm by entering http://169.254.1.1:8080/ into your browser.


Now Login to the EasyTherm and select 'Dynamic DNS' from the EasyConfig Mode Status Screen, as shown below:

Then fill in the correct Dynamic DNS Username, Password and Host Name for your NO-IP or DynDNS account, before pressing the 'Set DDNS Configuration Button' as shown in the example on the opposite page.:

Finally, select 'Re-start' from the EasyConfig User Menu. Don't forget to delete the ad hoc / computer to computer network (if you are using EasyTherm WiFi) or re-connect the ethernet cable to the router (if you are using EasyTherm Homeplug).

After about 10 minutes you should see the Network Status Message on the EasyTherm display start to alternate between 'LinkOK' and 'DynDNS' found and a few minutes later, you should be able to connect to your EasyTherm over the Internet, by using the Host Name provided - eg in the example shown above, this EasyTherm can be reached by anyone on the web using the address 'http://stevesboiler.selfip.com:8080/' (don't forget to add the :8080/).

9. Troubleshooting

Boiler Does Not Fire

Check that the EasyTherm display is lit and that the EasyTherm clock is working as expected. This is an important test, because the EasyTherm clock is operated via the EasyTherm software - ie if the clock has stopped, the software has stopped working. If this has happened, Reset or re-power the EasyTherm.

Test that the EasyThem installation works, by logging in to the EasyTherm Status Screen and switching the EasyTherm programme to ON for first the Heating and then the Hot Water (via the Status Screen programme selector drop down box).

Once you have set either the Hot Water or Heating to ON, check that the Heating or Hot Water blue Status LED is lit on the EasyTherm Boiler Controller and then listen to the boiler for a few minutes and you should eventually hear the boiler 'fire'.

Note; you should check that the room thermostat or cylinder thermostat is set at a level where the boiler will fire. Eg, if the ambient temperature is 25 degrees centigrade and your room thermostat is set to 22 degrees centigrade, the boiler will not fire the Heating.

If you do not hear the boiler fire after 10 - 15 minutes, isolate the Boiler and Boiler Controller circuit to ensure that there is no mains voltage present and that it is safe to inspect the wiring - and then double check your wiring to the EasyTherm and Boiler Junction Box.

Cannot See Boiler Controller Login Page inside Browser

If nothing appears when you enter a correctly formed EasyTherm web page address (for example: 'http://192.168.1.4:8080/' into your browser, check the following:

- Check that you are using the correct IP address. This can be found by looking at the Boiler Controller display screen. Always remember to append ':8080/' to the end of the IP address, when you enter the address into a browser.

- If the IP address shown on the EasyTherm display is '169.254.1.1', this would suggest that the EasyTherm cannot connect to your home router, because:

i). If you are using EasyTherm WiFi - perhaps the WiFi router is out of range or the WiFi has not been configured properly on the EasyTherm?

OR

ii) If you are using EasyTherm Homeplug - perhaps there is a network cabling problem or the HomePlug adapter is switched off?.

OR

iii). There may be an issue with your router DHCP setup (eg DHCP may be off).

- If the Network Status Message is showing 'LinkOK' and the EasyTherm display looks like it has a sensible address (ie not 169.254.1.1), then the link between your router and the EasyTherm is probably working and you should check the connection between your router and pc, laptop or whatever device you are using.

Troubleshooting - (Continued)

For Networking Experts:

- The EasyTherm does respond to Ping tests. Therefore, if you open a DOS or Command Line window and type the command:-

Ping xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx

Where xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx is the IP address, taken from the display of the boiler controller, then you will be able to use the Ping test to confirm connectivity.

For the EasyTherm Homeplug version, this would include connecting an Ethernet cable directly between a working ethernet port on a home computer or laptop and the Homeplug Adapter and then using the "Ping" command from inside a "Command Prompt" window to check the communication between the home computer and the default IP address of the EasyTherm - eg 'Ping 169.254.1.1'

- Likewise, the EasyTherm responds to Trace Router (tracert) tests - although, this test is of limited use on home networks.

- The boiler controller leaves the factory with a preset Netbios Name of BOILERCONT1. This can be changed within the EasyConfig mode (see below).

This page has been left blank, intentionally

Troubleshooting - (Continued)

Placing your EasyTherm into EasyConfig mode can be a useful diagnostic / resolution tool for 2 specific reasons:-

- EasyConfig Mode allows you to eliminate your home router as a potential cause of any issues and confirm that the EasyTherm is at least capable of establishing a network connection.

- If you are a Networking expert, then you can configure Static IP addresses and Subnet Masks within EasyTherm. This can be used to overcome issues where the EasyTherm address keeps changing, due to the behaviour of DHCP within your home network.

If you are using EasyTherm WiFi, you should set up an 'ad hoc' or computer to computer network on your PC or laptop, this should have the following configuration::

Placing your EasyTherm into EasyConfig Mode


If you are using EasyTherm Homeplug, you just need to move the Homeplug adapter to a mains socket which is in easy reach of the Easytherm and plug the ethernet cable in to the ethernet port of your PC or laptop.


After a few seconds, the display should change to look like the example below and you should be able to log into the EasyTherm by entering http://169.254.1.1:8080/ into your browser.

Troubleshooting - (Continued) Static IP addresses may be set from the 'Config Network' item on the User Menu, as shown in the example, below.

Don't forget to select 'Re-Start' when you want to leave the EasyConfig mode and then make sure to delete the 'ad hoc' or computer to computer network from your PC or laptop.

This page has been left blank, intentionally

12. Specifications

Power Supply:- 230 V AC (+10% -15%), single phase, 50Hz to 60Hz, 5 W max.

Relays:- 2 x SPDT, 3 Amps Max at 230 V AC

Programmer:- 7 Day Programmer with 3 individual, configurable ON OFF times for Hot Water and Heating each day

Time Keeping Accuracy:- Less than 2 minutes drift from set time per month

Battery Backup:- All settings are either held in NVRam or Battery Backed Ram. The battery will retain data for at least 7 days, unless multiple, repeated power failures have occurred.

Backplate:- Designed to easily replace the majority of existing boiler programmers, by retaining the same fixing centres and dimensions.

Enclosure:- Flame retardant plastic enclosure

Approvals:- CE Mark (pending), WEEE and RoHS Compliant

Copyright © Steve Lord 2013

All rights reserved by Steve Lord

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Installing the easytherm boiler controller