Answer
This article refers to Hive Receivers, which are part of the Hive Heating controls. The Hive Receiver is the component that is wired to your boiler and will look similar to the below image.
TIP: The left image is our single channel receiver, which only controls heating and is installed on combi boilers. The right image is our dual channel receiver, which controls heating and hot water and is installed on conventional boilers.
NOTE: OpenTherm is only compatible with combi boilers; therefore, will only work with a single channel receiver.
What is OpenTherm?
OpenTherm is a digital communication protocol that allows your boiler and Hive thermostat to communicate more effectively. This enhanced communication can improve the efficiency of your central heating system by up to 15%.
- Compatibility
- Our new single-channel (combi boiler) receiver can be installed in either 'Standard (Relay) Mode' or 'OpenTherm Mode'. If you're getting a new boiler installed, your engineer will decide which mode is best for you. Many modern condensing combi boilers support the OpenTherm protocol. If you're unsure, check the manufacturer's instructions. If the boiler supports OpenTherm, this will be outlined in the external controls or wiring guides section.
- Can I install Hive OpenTherm on a multizone system?
- Currently, we only support single zones with OpenTherm. If you're installing Hive Heating on an OpenTherm-compliant multi-zone system, your engineer will need to configure all OTR1 receivers to Standard (Relay) Mode.
How does OpenTherm increase efficiency?
OpenTherm is a communication protocol used by modern condensing boilers and OpenTherm-enabled controls. It allows boilers and controls to share more information via load compensation (or modulation), which helps improve efficiency.
Modulation through OpenTherm allows the boiler to reduce power when only a little heat is needed. This ensures the Hive thermostat heats the radiators to the desired temperature and then lowers the boiler's power output. This prevents the temperature from going too high and keeps the heat balanced in the home.
This intelligent power switching based on the home's heat demand allows you to set and forget the system, eliminating the need to manually adjust the boiler's flow temperature for different seasons. As the boiler adjusts its power output to match demand, you'll use less energy and save more.
Will my radiators be cooler when using OpenTherm?
It depends on how much heat the home requires. When you set a target temperature on your Hive thermostat, our controls will assess the gap between the actual room temperature and the target temperature.
When there's a large gap between the target and actual room temperatures, the Hive thermostat can request a high-water temperature, making the radiators warmer. As the room temperature nears the target, the requested water temperature decreases. During this time, radiators may feel cooler, but the room temperature will be approaching the target, which is what matters.
It's also important to note that the boiler will run for longer periods, but it will produce water at lower temperatures, resulting in less energy being used and maximising the time spent in the higher efficiency condensing mode.
One of the main benefits of OpenTherm modulation is more stable and accurate control of the room temperature.