The smart wall thermostat from Homematic IP tested

Automating your own four walls not only makes your everyday life easier, but also saves you money. In my first Homematic IP review, I tested a smart roller shutter control system. It allows you to open and close your blinds conveniently via your mobile and connects them to the rest of your home.

You can also programme the system so that the roller shutters open as soon as the sun shines outside - and save on heating costs at the same time. Now I'm going one step further, adding a smart wall thermostat to my Homematic IP universe to intelligently control my underfloor heating and testing the whole thing.

I'm going to test it out.

Thermostats

EUR78,95

EQ-3 Wall thermostat Brand switch

29

Thermostats

EUR78,95

EQ-3 Wall thermostat Brand switch

29

It could hardly be simpler: the installation

The scope of delivery is straightforward. In addition to the smart wall thermostat, there is only a quick guide and four screws in the box. As with every Homematic IP product, the prerequisite is that you have already installed the access point as the control centre. Nothing works without it. The access point is comparable to the bridge for Philips Hue. Or a router - because without it, you can't access the internet at home with your PC, laptop, etc. As the name suggests, the Homematic IP wall thermostat only works with wall thermostats and not with radiators, which you control directly on the heating system using the rotary knob.

Installation and pairing with the Homematic IP app is very simple:

1. Remove the fuse for the Storm and the fuse for the thermostat - in my case, these are two separate switches
2. Screw off the existing wall thermostat
3. Install the Homematic IP thermostat
4. Connect the three cables correctly
5. Switch the power and the heating control back on

Now the small Homematic IP logo on the wall thermostat should flash orange. This worked for me straight away.

Then open the Homematic IP app and familiarise yourself with the device. There's not much to learn, the process is simply called that. After a few seconds, the wall thermostat appears in the app and I have to enter the last four digits of the serial number. No sooner said than done, the thermostat is active. I still have to name it or add it to a room if I'm already using Homematic IP devices. I have installed the smart wall thermostat in the bathroom - where I have already installed the smart shutter control.

Wall thermostat and roller shutter in harmony

I start experimenting in the app. I find the heating or thermostat on the overview page as well as in the installed devices and in the "Heating profiles" and "Room climate configuration" submenus. In the heating profiles, I set which temperature should be maintained or reached on which day of the week and at what time. I have selected a base temperature of 21° Celsius for my test. During the week, I want Homematic IP to heat to 22.5 degrees Celsius from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. and to 22 degrees Celsius between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.. At the weekend, I would like to have 22° Celsius in the bathroom from 7 am to 11 pm. Clever: With the activated optimum start and stop, the wall thermostat learns when it needs to activate the heating in order to reach the correct temperature at the desired time.

To see what the Homematic IP universe has to offer, I create an automation. I add both the shutter control and the wall thermostat. I give the wall thermostat an upper limit of 24° Celsius. As soon as this is reached or exceeded, it should inform the roller shutter control, which then closes the roller shutter completely. A similar setting is possible for thermal protection in the "Shading configuration" submenu. However, this menu is only active if you also have a roller shutter control in your system. There you can set the temperature at which the roller shutters should close and the temperature below which they should open. This is not only smart, but also saves heating costs.

Conclusion: very clever, but also very expensive

The Homematic IP wall thermostat surprised and convinced me. I am surprised because the installation - compared to the big battle with the roller shutter control - is very simple and the thing does its job without any problems right from the start. I am convinced because the smart thermostat delivers what it promises: it not only regulates the temperature of the heating, but can also be controlled remotely via smartphone, you can connect it to other devices from the Homematic IP universe, set lower and upper temperature limits for frost and heat protection and also monitor the humidity.

Up to this point, the wall thermostat is a clear recommendation to buy. However, at a price of almost 90 francs, or 80 euros (as of 12 December 2019), it's a relatively deep dive into your wallet. The story can be put into perspective again when I compare the smart thermostat with the competition. The thermostat from Tado costs over 100 francs, or just under 100 euros, at the same time, but has a few more functions such as temperature recording, a list of cost savings, etc. If an automated home is important to you and the price plays a subordinate role, then I can recommend the Homematic IP wall thermostat.

Next, I'll be reviewing the Homematic IP weather station. If you don't want to miss the upcoming Homematic IP review and other smart home articles, follow me by clicking on the "Follow author" button on the author profile. <p