Tado Thermostat X battery life
I have a Tado V2 Thermostat (I don't use any radiator valves as I have a small apartment). I'm very happy with it EXCEPT for the battery life. When the thermostat was new, Tado promised the batteries would last for 2 years. Very quickly, people (including me) started complaining that the batteries only lasted for a few months (sometimes just 3 months). Tado did nothing with the complaints, and solved this by removing the text on their site and manual that said the batteries would last for 2 years. Yup.
I'm still annoyed the batteries last so short, so thinking of buying a Tado Thermostat X, but does anyone have any info on how the batteries are holding up in the new thermostat? If I buy the Tado X, I have to buy a subscription (right now I don't need that because model V2 doesn't require a subscription for all the options). I don't really use a lot of the options, so I'm really just buying the new model for the battery problem.
Is there anyone that can share their experiences?
Answers
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I had the same issue. I just reconnected my Tado V2 Thermostat two week when winter came. It said it had a low battery and I was fine to replace a new battery as it hasn't been connected for the past few months. However, it asked me again to replace it after the new batteries were replaced for just a week. I didn't expect it would happen and I knew it when my daughter's room temperature kept at low at midnight. It is annoying. I needed to replace the batteries at 3am while my whole family was in deep sleep.
According to their official website, they suggest using AA alkaline batteries (LR6) or Panasonic Eneloop AA 2000 mAh NiMH rechargeable batteries. Anyone is really using these two models and can the Thermostat work for a longer life?
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I have just ordered the Tado X wireless room starter starter pack (to replace my old nest V2). I would also like to know the expected battery life in the wireless stat. I believe it uses 3x AAA IIRC.
Also, can it operate for a decent time off the slightly lower Voltage that NiMh Eneloops would give (instead of the specified alkaline type). I hate alkaline as they always leak sooner or later, often even when not even flat! Cheers.
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@prawlin Hello. Battery-life from two V3+ wireless temperature sensors.
Original batteries. Low-battery warnings:
- 779 days.
- 745 days
Replacement batteries. In-service:
- Duracell. 201 days.
- Panasonic eneloop. 128 days.
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@wateroakley Thanks so much for that very specific data. It’s reassuring. Though I’m curious to understand why the original batteries lasted massively longer than the Duracells (Alkalines presumably?) did. I can understand why the Eneloops gave a short life as the cell Voltage is much lower to start with.
Out of curiosity, What type were the originals?
Of course everything will be entirely different with the X version as it uses 3x AAA batteries (doesn’t the V3+ use 2x AA?), and is an all new design anyway. Also, I think my original question is probably unanswerable as didn't the X only come out a few months ago? So nobody is likely to have experienced any low batts yet, presumably (hopefully!). Thanks Peter0 -
@prawlin The V3+ wireless sensors with three Duracell or eneloop AAA batteries are still working after 204 and 131 days respectively.
I've looked in a third V3+ wireless sensor and the three AAA batteries are 'GP Alkaline'.
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Thanks again. I got it all now. So it seems like re battery types and expected lifetime, that the V3+ is probably similar to the X model.
Also, I understand now that the Duracell and Eneloops tests are still ongoing, hence the so far shorter durations. But it appears with Alkaline cells we should expect to see 2+ years, which is remarkable (providing the X is as energy efficient as your V3+ is)
You have been vey helpful. I now feel assured that the sensor battery life really should not be a problem in my new Tado (which was despatched to me today). Thanks again and regards. Peter0
