VR33 not working on a a Vaillant Ecotec Plus 83w

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  • kasharif
    Automated Home Lurker
    • Jan 2020
    • 6

    VR33 not working on a a Vaillant Ecotec Plus 83w

    Hi all

    Hoping to get some help as I can't seem to get the VR33 module working or even powering on. I've had 2 engineers out now and so the cost is starting to add up.

    Previously had a vaillant controller (VRC470f) with my boiler. I have now upgraded to a Drayton Wiser but I'm struggling to get the VR33 working so I can't use OpenTherm at the moment.

    The VRV470f and it's radio receiver that fits into the front of the boiler were removed. Engineer wired a wallplate for me as I didn't have one before and the Drayton is connected to that which works fine as a smart thermostat.

    The VR33 is installed as per the instructions but there is no green LED on it and the boiler doesn't recognise any ebus controller (as well as the Drayton wiser doesn't recognise any opentherm connector.)

    I have attached pictures below, the engineer also tried removing 230V RT and leaving it empty but that didn't work and the VR33 still has no power.

    Thanks
    Attached Files
    Last edited by kasharif; 14 January 2020, 04:50 PM.
  • bruce_miranda
    Automated Home Legend
    • Jul 2014
    • 2307

    #2
    I being thick or blind or both. Where in those photos is the VR33 connected to the boiler PCB?

    Comment

    • kasharif
      Automated Home Lurker
      • Jan 2020
      • 6

      #3
      Couldn't add more than 5 photos. Mine came with an RJ (ethernet like ) adaptor that plugs into the VR33 and then the 4 pin plugs into the X31. I assumed my VR33 was newer as it looked different to the ones I've seen on the NL websites...

      IMG_20200113_165219.jpg

      Here it is from eBay.

      Screenshot_20200114-202928.jpg
      Last edited by kasharif; 14 January 2020, 09:30 PM.

      Comment

      • bruce_miranda
        Automated Home Legend
        • Jul 2014
        • 2307

        #4
        That isn't a VR33 module at all. That's a VR32/3 which is an eBUS Coupler. You need part number 0020017895 which is a VR33

        Comment

        • kasharif
          Automated Home Lurker
          • Jan 2020
          • 6

          #5
          D'oh!

          Thanks a lot, spent hours reading every post on VR33 and pulling my hair out. Ordered one from NL and will update to confirm when it arrives.

          Comment

          • bruce_miranda
            Automated Home Legend
            • Jul 2014
            • 2307

            #6
            And you say you had two engineers in!

            Comment

            • kasharif
              Automated Home Lurker
              • Jan 2020
              • 6

              #7
              Ha! Most of them don't seem to know much about smart thermostats....let alone OpenTherm. They just read the manual, said they did the job and asked to be paid. I actually had to show them threads on here for how to check if the eBus controller is recognised etc!!
              As well as the module technically invalidating warranty, that basically scared away any "gas engineer".

              Comment

              • kasharif
                Automated Home Lurker
                • Jan 2020
                • 6

                #8
                Thanks to @bruce.

                VR33 ordered from NL, arrived and fitted today. Recognised and working! Woo!

                Comment

                • mcalm
                  Automated Home Lurker
                  • May 2022
                  • 5

                  #9
                  Originally posted by kasharif View Post
                  Thanks to @bruce.

                  Congratulations!

                  VR33 ordered from NL, arrived and fitted today. Recognised and working! Woo!
                  I used to be a heating engineer but retired from the trade. I have been thinking of fitting the VR33 opentherm module in my Ecofit Pure 415 and would like to get your thoughts besides plugging the connector etc to the main control board. What other steps did you have to take in order to get your Drayton thermostat to communicate and and am i right in thinking you were able to use Load compensation to modulate the heat output of the boiler and reduce it from recyling. Does it also support Weather Comp? I think it can only do one. What is model of Drayton thermostat you are using.

                  Searched for suppliers in NL for VR33 but no one seems to ship to the UK. Could you please share where you purchased it from.
                  Last edited by mcalm; 14 December 2022, 12:27 PM.

                  Comment

                  • kasharif
                    Automated Home Lurker
                    • Jan 2020
                    • 6

                    #10
                    Hi

                    It was literally plug and play. Insert vr33 into boiler, two wires to the Drayton thermostat. I have a Drayton wiser heat, so I just opened the app and went to settings and turned on opentherm.
                    Yes it is weather comp, uses internet to detect weather rather than a directly fed sensor.

                    I ordered it before Brexit so things were easier.

                    Try this site:

                    Comment

                    • mcalm
                      Automated Home Lurker
                      • May 2022
                      • 5

                      #11
                      Thank you for your speedy reply.

                      Yes, I found the same NL supplier when I did a quick search and I noticed they mentioned on their website they supply worldwide but it looks like they have no stock. Due to the shortages caused by dare I say the lockdowns etc I will keep searching.

                      You mentioned all it needed was to connect two wires from the Drayton thermostat. Do you mean the hub? https://wiser.draytoncontrols.co.uk/product-selector/47

                      And as for using Weather comp with the VR33. Is that the only option available or you can choose between load compensation or WC?

                      Comment

                      • bruce_miranda
                        Automated Home Legend
                        • Jul 2014
                        • 2307

                        #12
                        The VR33 is simply an eBUS to OT interface. Any load or weather compensation is a feature of the controller rather than the VR33 itself.
                        Recently the Nest 3 has also been tested using OT via the VR33 in a Vaillant boiler.

                        Comment

                        • mcalm
                          Automated Home Lurker
                          • May 2022
                          • 5

                          #13
                          Bruce, thank you for clarifying on how the VR33 module communicates with the proprietory Vaillant firmware to expose the OT API. Good to know also that the functionality of OT is managed on the controller end. It clears a lot of things.

                          The other thing I would like to find out is whether the Vaillant firmware version on the main pcb of the boiler needs to match with what is on the VR33 module? I doubt it because it would not have worked for those who are using it, but was curious to find out.

                          Comment

                          • bruce_miranda
                            Automated Home Legend
                            • Jul 2014
                            • 2307

                            #14
                            The VR33 is simply passing values between an OT device and the eBus boiler. As part of the OT protocol, the OT controller will work out what the boiler is capable of as part of the initial handshake. The VR33 is just acting as a translation service so any command that doesn't have an OT or eBUS direct match is handled appropriately as per the protocols. The firmware on the boiler shouldn't make a massive difference.
                            But as this is not a recommended solution, it's mostly the case of "suck it and see". So far I have yet to hear of a single Vaillant boiler that doesn't work with the VR33.

                            Comment

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