IVT, Bosch heat pump easy integration, Home Assistant

In search of the optimal solution on how to interface our IVT Heat pump, first try here, I stumbled over a nice integration for Home Assistant(HA). A first quick setup is shown at the right.

The first obstacle was that it was HA which I knew about but never used.  So it was "back too school" and doing a blog post about a HA Core install.

IVT, Bosch heat pump easy integration, NodeRed

If you are running the IVT Anywhere or the Bosch Easy remote app you probably also can retrieve its data with for example NodeRed. 

With the nice application Bosch XMPP you can set up an integration with the cloud service supplied by your vendor.

Receive temperature, 433 MHz sensors, with RTL-SDR

In my underfloor heating project, using Node-RED, I have to have one sensing thermometer per room/zone, seems to be 8 in total, so therefore it would be nice with a wireless battery sourced device with good resolution and frequent updates.

During the test phase I used a Z-way device but the resolution was pretty bad. Another device mentioned is the Ruuvi tag but since it's a bluetooth device the transmitting range could be better.

After some googling I went for 433 MHz devices.

CTC heatpump MODBUS interface

The installation of a CTC heat pump(HP), EcoAir 600, and the indoor module, Eco Zenith i360, was not optimal from the beginning, so to monitor it closely I checked how to retrieve data. 

The newer CTC HP:s are always shipped with a MODBUS TCP interface, without any additional hardware, which solved the issue.

MODBUS was new to me but after some reading and checking I found that there is a NodeRed node which solves the interface dialog.

LK System, Floor heating

Updated 2022-06-20 !

Do You use a floor heating system from LK Systems ?

We had a problem that in some rooms, despite that the thermostat worked, the temperature was too high.

To check if it was the valve, or something else, I just took away the actuator and forced the valve to be closed. Cable ties did the work.

The valve was OK so what was the problem ?

Building your own PID controller ? 

NMEA 2000 temperature sensor, wet exhaust

In former posts I used the temperatur sensor DS18B20, in several applications, but now it was time for the boats exhaust temperature and checking out YDTC-13 from Yacht Devices(YDTC). (But please note that the YDTC can be used in any temperature application.)

When you are boating, using the engine, it's very important that the cooling water always is present otherwise major damages can follow. In "wet exhaust" systems it's easy to get the temperature which I posted here.

Kamado gasket glue

The gasket on our Kamado Joe was falling off after a very hot pizza cooking project. After some Googling, search link here, I found several post where people, to my surprise, used 3M™ Super 77™ Multipurpose Spray Adhesive.

I'm surprised due to it's just specified to handle up to 65 °C, 150 °Fahrenheit. 

It was also not available in the nearest shops so searching a bit further I found ...

Underfloor heating hack

I have tried to find some basics how a standard underfloor control system is regulating the heating, but haven't, so started with checking up our own temperature control system from LK(TCS).

I used Node-Red, with Raspberry Pi(RPi), sensing when the TCS applied voltage to the actuator. Since the actuator is running on 24 VAC and the input on a GPIO PIN is maximum 3,3 VDC I used a optocoupler to level shift. Schematics below

Please find another post here where I realized, using Shelly 1 and NodeRed, the regulating of the underfloor !!

Volvo Penta D4/D6 water pump leak

The sea water pump, labeled 3589907 and replaced by 21380890, was leaking a little so a change of seal was necessary. Numbers below refers to the explode view.

• Detach the generator belt from the pump pulley and the 2 hoses from the pump.
• Unscrew the water pump, 4 scews, from the engine block.
• Remove the cover, 7, from the pump.
• Pull out the impeller, 6.
• Remove the cam, 4, by unscrewing screw 18.
• Remove the washer, 22.
• Remove the lock ring 14 and washer 21.
• With a pliers remove the seal 8.

Empty the water system

Empty the fresh water system with compressed air !!

One of the things, when You head back to land with the boat, is to empty the fresh water system. I have got several instructions/tips over the years but the best advise I got is to empty the pipework with compressed air.

Some time ago I bought a handy Stanly compressor from Jula. Just below 10 Kg in weight including a 6 liter tank. Nice for smaller works

Dishwasher servicecode 60

The PCB is mounted just below the buttons

Our Husqvarna dishwasher QB 6221 stoped working and displayed the servicecode 60. The washer stops dishing and the pump empties the washer.

After some Googling I found some Guys who have had the same problem and it indicates overheating. It also seems that many modells from both Husqvarna and Electrolux shares the same control electronics.

Hinge Jabsco toilet

Replacing hinge for Jabsco toilet, 37045-1092, lid

Sometimes it's easy maintenance, but the hardest thing is to find the right parts. After some Googling I found the part at Hjertmans with the Jabsco sparepart number 29098-2000

Soap dispenser

Swap from toothbrush holder to soap dispenser

We really missed soap dispensers, in both toilets, when we bought the boat and thought that a tooth brush holder, mounted at delivery, isn't mandatory.

So after some investigation we found the Smedbo HK370 which solved the problem and also cover the old holes for the tooth brush holder.