Janky Automatic Radiator Controller -- Help Making Less Janky - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: rothn
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 11, 2024, 02:09:17 am
content: I built an automatic controller for my radiator recently (link:https://nicholasroth.net/2024/02/10/a-homemade-radiator-controller/) and I'd really like it to be less janky than it is. Primarily to make this more reliable, but I'd also like to be able to sell these (cheaply) to anyone who wants one. I'd like for it to be more mechanically stable (currently it looks like it's walking itself off the valve handle) and work with different sizes of radiator valve. I'd also like the software to be able to work for the less technically inclined (perhaps I need a digital temperature display and buttons?). Anyway, please let me know your thoughts.Video of operation:https://nicholasroth.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/final_demo.webm

author: jwet
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2024, 03:54:48 am
content: Plywood = JankyI would try 3d printing the parts. I would imagine the parts could see some heat so PLA is probably not best. ABS and other materials can take heat ok. Consider using wire as part of the assembly- its very cheap and 5 mm or so steel wire can be very solid and cheap.Your electronics are pretty optimized, The Wemos D1 are $1, shop a bit for a power driver maybe. Shouldn't be more than a dollar either. Boards are cheap. Displays get costly, consider just a pot that has a hotter/colder kind of setting like a hotel heating/cooling system. Build a phone app- collaborate with someone who does this if you don't, You should do it, I've done a few of these little things over the years and they never made me rich in themselves but taught me a lot, got me thinking like an entrepreneur and paid long term dividends in my career, many millions- go for it.I lived in an old building as a student that was either freezing or boiling and would have loved this! Good luck.

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2024, 07:17:42 pm
content: Making it work with a variety of radiators and control valve knobs in a variety of installations is probably the trickiest part of this. Since the motor mount only really needs to resist the torque in reaction to turning the handle, something like a rod or bar that attaches to the radiator (even with zip ties or velcro wraps) would be a simple and flexible way to handle different radiators and valve setups. The valve handles are trickier, especially if you need to make this work with round knob-style handles. It might simplify things to remove the handle from the valve and connect the motor to the valve shaft, but that connection would likely need to be a metal part to handle the same torque in a smaller size. Possibly an off-the-shelf shaft coupler would work?Finding a nice project box that the motor and electronics can all fit into would go a long way here.

author: pcprogrammer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2024, 08:15:51 pm
content: Have you ever heard ofthesethings?Electric actuators for radiator valves. They can replace the normal thermostatic radiator valves and are relatively easy to control. Are used as part of domotica and are standard. Definitely not flaky or janky like your home brew solution.