Evohome problems on Danfoss RAS-C2 valves

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New radiators, new problems

We have a Honeywell Evohome system, which is excellent for controlling the temperature in a house, especially when you want to save energy and avoid heating rooms until they are needed.

Our current house was just converted from LPG to a heat pump, and this required several new radiators.  I'd specifically asked for Evohome compatible valves, and the installer brought some decent quality  Danfoss RAS-C2 valves.

I'm told Danfoss valves are one of the most common in the industry, and Evohome controllers come with a specific adaptor for them.

Danfoss style valves
Danfoss style valves

Valve stroke issues - HR91

The problem was that the radiators never turn on, they are stone cold, despite the valve motor turning.

With a bit of investigation I found that the HR91 controllers I was using never open fully to the end stop.  They always stop well before it.  This is apparently a deliberate choice to save battery by winding the motor for a shorter time.

The trouble is that the control point of the Danfoss valves are different from our old ones.  By default the valves are 'open' and hot water can flow.  By pushing the valve pin down, the flow is restricted.  Each type of valve has a slightly different range to push over and the point on the valve's movement where the flow begins to be restricted will differ as well.  Evohome controllers attempt to 'calibrate' on the valve when they are first connected by winding it in and out fully.

On the Danfoss valves, the 'useful control range', ie: the distance over which the flow rate changes significantly begins VERY close to the fully out position.  The flow is also restricted quickly as the pin is pushed in just a short distance.  Because the HR-91 controllers never open the valve at all.

With the new radiators installed, every single one failed to work with the exception of a towel rail radiator in the bathroom with had a different style of valve.

HR80 not much better

I had a couple of the old HR80 evohome controllers as well and tried these.  They were 'better', working on some of the radiators, but not all of them, and not consistently.  I would guess that they open a bit further by default than the HR91, but still not all the way

Fixing HR91

Having spoken with Evohome support, I realised there was nothing they could do, unless they release new firmware for my HR91 units.  The next best option was to try and modify what I had, to make it work.

I didn't want to damage the radiator valves, so I started with the HR91 adaptor.  This has a removable section which screws onto the radiator.  Unclipping and removing it from the HR91 is simple.

HR91 adaptor unit, removed from its controller

The white side screws to the radiator, while the black wheel is rotated by the HR91 motor, causing a threaded rod to push out and press down on the radiator valve.

As my radiators were always closed, I decided to reduce the length of the rod and so change the point that the controller would push the radiator valve to the 'closed' position.

To do this:
  • Rotate the black wheel fully anti-clockwise
  • You will see where a the black and white plastic impact, preventing it from turning further


  • Carefully twist the black section, pulling it away, so it clears the white peg and turns further.
  • You can now fully unscrew the black wheel and remove it
  • Use a metal file to reduce the length of the pin, about 0.5mm at a time or less


  • Refit and test the controller again before you remove too much metal!
In my case I had to file the metal rod until it was about 0.5mm from the plastic screw section BUT your valves might need less, so take it carefully: refit the controller, calibrate and test regularly.

If you do damage it or go to far, you can pick up new adaptors for about £10 online, so its not a disaster!

Having modified all my adaptors, I now have full control over the radiators again.  I did damage one, by trying a Dremel to cut the metal rod.  This heated the plastic, melting it and I ended up cutting too deep.  The file method was slower but better.

How about HR92?

The most expensive evohome controller (and I assume the most common one), the HR92 did manage to control my Danfoss valves but NOT in its default mode.  When first fitted, they did exactly the same as the HR91.

To make them work, you have to enter the device settings, find the 'Stroke' setting and change it from '0' to '1'. This will make the controller open the valve fully to the end-stop and so allow it to work.



Location: Scotland, UK

Comments

  1. Anonymous27 August 2022 at 11:19

    I read somewhere that the HR80's (and likely the HR92's as well) have a "full range" mode, which can be enabled by some button combination. Not sure if all firmware versions support this.

    ReplyDelete

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