Taking Control - A guide
to buying or upgrading central heating controls(view
report contents)
Programmable thermostats - summaries
Key to ratings The
more flames the better
Prices
Prices include VAT and have been rounded up to the nearest £. Use
them as a guide only. Prices vary from supplier to supplier and you may
have to shop around to get nearer the price we give. Professional fitters
should get a trade discount.
Danfoss Randall TP5E£66
Note: now replaced by the TP5000
Impaired dexterity
A high proportion of testers had no problems using this programmer.
Impaired vision
Instructions on unit too small for a few.
Danfoss Randall TP75 £84
Note: now replaced by the TP7000
Impaired dexterity
Some found it confusing to set.
Impaired vision
Information was too small for all functions but time.
Honeywell CM31/37 £45
Impaired dexterity
Some people could not use it. Some buttons were particularly difficult.
They were too small, close together, stiff and were an awkward shape.
The small teeth around the dial were very small and too difficult
to select and move.
Impaired vision
Letters were too small.
Honeywell CM31/37 £45
Impaired dexterity
Some people could not use it. Some buttons were particularly difficult.
They were too small, close together, stiff and were an awkward shape.
The small teeth around the dial were very small and too difficult
to select and move.
Impaired vision
Letters were too small.
Honeywell CM67 £49
Impaired dexterity
Although some thought buttons were too small and close together.
Impaired vision
Letters were too small on screen and unit.
Horstmann Centaurstat 7 £57
The manufacturer tells us that there will be changes to this product
in the near future.
Impaired dexterity
Push buttons were too small. The flap was fiddly to open.
Impaired vision A high proportion of people could not use this control
because they could not see the LCD screen. Others complained about
the small letters with poor contrast.
Myson MPRT £50
The manufacturer tells us that there will be changes to this product
in the near future.
Impaired dexterity The nine buttons beneath the flap were too close together
and were small.
Impaired vision Half of mthe testers could not read the settings. Symbols
on the LCD screen were too small.
Siemens REV200 £120
Impaired dexterity
Some users could not complete tasks. It could be hard to tie up
displays on the screen with the buttons, flashing symbols were hard
to see, the overall layout was confusing and the symbols were hard
to understand. When information was not entered quickly enough,
the display switched off. The unit could be removed from the wall
when settings were being altered.
Impaired vision Half of the users could not read the settings. The LCD
screen had poor colour contrast and glare could make the screen
difficult to see.
Siemens REV23RF £95
Impaired dexterity
Some users could not complete tasks. Some buttons were particularly
difficult. Pressing the roller (see picture) for some settings caused
problems because its action was indefinite. Buttons were too close
together, small and an awkward shape. It could be hard to tie up
displays on the screen with the buttons and the symbols were hard
to understand. The unit could be removed from the wall when settings
were being altered.
Impaired vision The LCD screen had poor contrast and some of the information
on the screen and unit were too small.
Siemens RAV12 £100
Impaired dexterity
The sliders were stiff, too small and too close together. The night
temperature dial was too difficult to grip and turn – it was
designed to be used with a coin
Impaired vision
Information around the dials and on the screen were too small.
The
more flames the better
