Netatmo NTH01-AMZ Smart Thermostat
The Netatmo NTH01-AMZ [NTH01-EN-EC] is one of the few worthy contenders to the top smart thermostats from Honeywell, Google Nest, tado°, Drayton and Hive that dominate the marketplace. However, the Netatmo does have some uniqueness when compared to the others. Netatmo, it seems, is one of the only companies that avoids trying to charge users a monthly membership fee for “additional” capabilities. Purchase the kit, install it, and you’re done.
The system offers that much needed combination of simplicity and the capacity to build intricate combinations when necessary. The accuracy of this thermostat is basically second to none. It is really simple to use and set up. It is possible to set up several heating schedules, with distinct temperatures for each room within a band and various temperate bands for distinct time periods. if it’s truly your desire. If not, simply follow the integrated instructions to set everything up, and you’re done.
Mobile App
The thermostat’s mobile app is what really sets it apart. It’s simply a regular smart thermostat without it. You may specify the periods when you are at home and away using the app and a fairly basic setup program, and the heating will be adjusted in accordance with that schedule. After a few weeks of usage, it picks up on how long it takes for the house to warm up and makes the necessary adjustments to ensure that you always get home at a comfortable temperature. To save money, you may set your heating to come on automatically when you return home after being gone for a few days.
Automation
It works with Alexa [Amazon Echo], Apple Homekit, Alexa Google Assistant, IFTTT [Netatmo can have geolocation compatibility with IFTTT] and Google Home.
Smart and Interesting
Like other programmable and smart thermostats, the Netatmo aims to “learn” the features of the building and its heating system. This allows it to turn on the heating before the predetermined time, giving it time to warm up, and to turn off before the temperature reaches the preset point, preventing overshooting. This ensures steady and pleasant heating without significant temperature swings.
It is highly programmable for sophisticated users and provides monthly data on your heating savings through the Netatmo website. Additionally, it compares your program to others in your city or province so you have benchmarks to compare against. A Netatmo weather station module can be connected which detects weather changes and detects a drop in temperature before the house becomes excessively cold. There’s also a rain gauge module.
Netatmo NTH01-AMZ records all of your previous temperature data, turns off the boiler as needed, and displays your consumption statistics in a graph that you can see and download whenever you’d like. Users love the graphs. It can be very interesting to see how your residence consumes heat and how well it stores it; this will give you an excellent idea of how well your insulation is working.
Using a computer, tablet, smartphone app, or the thermostat itself, you can easily adjust the temperature on demand. The software itself is quite self-explanatory, and it can be connected to iOS HomeKit so that you can add automations and other features. The application will inquire about your schedule, including when you get up, go for work, return home, and go to bed.
Next, it will create a schedule. Additional schedules, such as those for holidays or days off, can be included. The thermostat picks up on environmental cues over time, such as how long it takes to heat up in relation to the outside temperature. It’s all very clever.
Setup
The wiring should be easy and straight forward for most systems: just connect the blue and brown wires to the boiler’s live and neutral supplies (remember to turn off the boiler’s electricity). This may be found in the fused spur, if you have one, or in the boiler itself. The two that are left, the black and gray ones, link to the terminals on your thermostat.
You should have a little piece of wire connecting these terminals if you don’t already have one. If you’re unsure, look for terms like “Link Wire” or “Thermostat Connection” on Google search together with your boiler make / model. After locating them, install the gray and black wires and unplug the link or thermostat wires. Since these wires are not polarity dependent, you cannot connect them incorrectly.
Versus the rest
So, why are some people choosing Netatmo over tado, hive and nest? For most it appears to be a combination of the cheaper price, great App, ease of use and mostly hassle free installation. Customer service / support is said to be somewhat lacking, but this appears to have improved a little over the last year.