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Taking Control - A guide to buying or upgrading central heating controls(view report contents)

Programmers compared

Digital Programmers

Danfoss Randall SET 3E
Honeywell ST799

Honeywell ST6400
Horstmann Channelplus H37XL
Drayton Lifestyle LP722
Drayton Tempus 7
Myson MEP 2c
Main features
Hot water control
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
Heating zones
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
Max no of on off periods in 24 hours
2
2
3
3
2
3
3
No of days a week which can be programmed separately
1
7
7
7
7
7
7
Advance
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
Boost (no of hours)
1
no
1, 2 or 3
1 or 2
no
1 or 2
1, 2 or 3
Holiday
no
no
no
yes
yes
yes
no
Programmes
Automatic
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
All day
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
On constantly
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
Off
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
Other features
Temperature override
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LCD display
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
Indicator to show heating is on
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
Ratings for
Dexterity impaired
four flames
three flames
four flames
three flames
three flames
three flames
three flames
Visually impaired
four flames
three flames
three flames
two flames
three flames
three flames
two flames
Tactile feedback
no
no
no
no
no
no
no
Audible feedback
no
no
no
no
no
no
no

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Mechanical Programmers
Danfoss Randall 103
Danfoss Randall 4033
Horstmann 425 Diadem
Drayton Switchmaster SM805

Drayton
SM2
Siemens RWB2E
Main features
Hot water control
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
Heating zones
1
1
1
1
1
1
Max no of on off periods in 24 hours
2
2
2
2
2
2
No of days a week which can be programmed separately
1
1
1
1
1
1
Advance
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
Boost (no of hours)
no
no
no
no
no
1
Holiday
no
no
no
no
no
no
Programmes
Automatic
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
All day
no
no
yes
yes
yes
yes
On constantly
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
Off
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
Other features
Temperature override
 
 
 
 
 
 
LCD display
no
no
no
no
no
no
Indicator to show heating is on
no
no
yes
no
yes
yes
Ratings for
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dexterity impaired
 two flames
one flame
three flames
 three flames
three flames
three flames
Visually impaired
three flames
three flames
three flames
three flames
three flames
three flames
Tactile feedback
on request [1]

on request [1]
no
no
no
 
Audible feedback
no
no
no
no
no
no

[1]if you ask your installer, you can get a version in braille or with tactile markers

Key:

Ratings: five flames The more flames the better

Hot water control
You need a programmer which controls hot water if you have a hot water tank. Combi (combination) boilers heat water when a hot tap is turned on. There is no storage tank and you don’t need a programmer with hot water controls.

Heating zones
If you live in a large house and want the heating to work differently in different areas, you will need a programmer with zone controls. Usually people have separate zones for living and sleeping areas.

Advance or Override
This button functions simply to switch the heating on if it is off, or switch it off if it is on. Useful for temporary changes - if you decide to go out, or if the temperature drops and you want the heating to come on at once, say.

Boost
Pressing this button keeps the heating on for a period. The tables tell you for how long.

Holiday
Allows you to set the heating at a lower temperature while you are on holiday. It will return to your normal setting on the day you come home.

Programmes
Depending on the model, once you have set the timings, you can switch the programmer to Automatic (the heating will go on and off at the times you have set), All day (the heating will come on at the beginning of the first time set, and stay on until the end of the last time set for that day), On constantly and Off.

 

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