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Explanation of the 3 Wavy Lines....???

GrayDav4276
GrayDav4276 ✭✭✭
edited June 2022 in General Questions & Topics

Hi everyone,

Earlier today I raised a question with Tado Support....

I have asked them to give me a 'definitive' explanation of Exactly what is happening when any of the 3 wavy lines are displayed.,,,,,,,,,ie

1 wavy line means.......???

2 wavy lines means.....???

3 wavy lines means.....???

There are actually a few possible explanations (and we 'the users') will have our own idea of what we think the Tado system is actually doing when we have a "wavy line" display.

Please feel free to 'add' your interpretation of what you think each of the 3 wavy lines means to you.

Best Answers

  • Rob2
    Rob2 ✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    Those are a crude indication of the modulation level. 1 wave = low 3 waves = high.

    When you don't have modulation (relay control on the COM/NO/NC connections) there is no meaning.

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Answer ✓
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  • NeeWii
    NeeWii ✭
    Answer ✓
    Going against some of the comments above, I don’t think tado is capable of “partially” opening or closing a valve. It’s either entirely closed or entirely open.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Answer ✓
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  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Answer ✓
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  • GrilledCheese2
    GrilledCheese2 ✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    Boiler output modulation is the ability for a boiler to turn down its output. If you have a 20kw boiler, but the home only requires 10kw of heat for the next hour, rather than outputting 20kw for 5 minutes then resting for 5 minutes repeatedly (short cycling), the boiler will simply turn down its flame by 50%. The boiler achieves modulation by measuring the water flow temperature and adjusting the size of the gas flame to keep the flow temperature constant. The fewer stops/starts the greater the boiler efficiency and the less strain on all system components. The room thermostat has no influence over this type of modulation.

    Modulation of the boiler flow temperature is used for load compensation. Load compensation comes in two forms: weather and room. When referring to room compensation the room thermostat will modulate the boiler flow temperature to achieve the required indoor temperature without overshooting. When the room is cold, the water temperature going to your radiators will be high, but as the room warms up less heat is required, so the thermostat gradually reduces the water flow temperature going to the radiators. The water temperature might start at 70°C but reduce to 50°C as the room temperature reaches its target.

    Weather compensation is achieved with an outdoor thermostat that will modulate the boiler flow temperature depending on the temperature outside. So on a cold winter’s night the boiler flow temperature might start at 75°C. During autumn and spring the boiler flow temperature might start at 60°C because the heating load is a lot less due to less heat loss.

    Modulation of the boiler flow temperature cannot be achieved using relay control. It needs a communication bus protocol such as open therm. The benefit of a lower flow temperature is the boiler will condense more, making it more efficient.

    Modern boilers should be capable of all of the above, it just depends on how they are wired up.

  • dawsonweb
    dawsonweb
    Answer ✓
    @samd I'm with you there, modulation would require more than a simple on/off relay. Can @Tado tell us if the Tado stat can send modulation instructions? Or is the wavy demand simply a visual guide and your letting the boiler auto modulate?
  • limeyard
    limeyard ✭
    Answer ✓

    An interesting question, is this. It has intrigued me for a while. Regarding the strv's, I read somewhere that they are 'proportional' but I cannot confirm that, although it is obviously perfectly feasible. Clearly, a two-port zone valve is either open or closed. I believe the valves that are able to be partially open are called actuators - usually found in underfloor systems.

    Most (or many) users will be aware that tado systems allow for 'Devices' to be associated with 'Rooms'. (actually, one 'Room', or none). In the tado universe, 'Rooms' are zones. This tells us that the system has independent control over the zone.

    Now for the confession: 😥 I have spent a l o n g t i m e sitting, phone in hand, watching a zone valve opening and closing whilst also watching the wavy lines on the associated (wired) thermostat. Yes, I know, with what little time I have left - I am 85 - there are probably a million things that I might be more profitably spending my remaining time with. However, my curiosity has been rewarded. Some of the time, when one or two wavy lines are showing, the zone is closed. Think about it.

    This confirms the possibility, at least, that an idea that I have thought about for a while, is in use; that the heat (hot water) could be delivered in packages of time. So, one wavy line could equate to (say) one-third of the time, two wavy lines, two-thirds of the time and three wavy lines, thr . . . you get the idea.

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Answer ✓
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  • Glynno
    Glynno ✭
    Answer ✓
    Simples I think. Modulate means switch on and off at regular intervals. So the boiler is either on or off for any given. So Tado takes the reported outside temperature for your area from www and the room thermostat reported temperature inside. This could be room stat or TRV. It then makes a decision whether you need a lot of heat or no heat. If you need a lot of heat as in a cold startup it will be giving 3 bars and fully on, a small amount of heat needed will give 1 bar and will be off more than on, to no heat will be no bars and boiler off. This is calculated secretly in the software.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Answer ✓
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