Comparison Auraton 3003 vs Computherm Q3

The type of equipment for which the regulator is suitable.

Modern thermostats and automation systems can be used for:

- For different types of boilers — gas, electric, solid fuel.
- For heaters and underfloor heating - for both at the same time: the control features in both cases are very similar, which makes it easy to combine them in one device.
- For pumps — namely for circulation pumps of heating systems.
— For heat pumps. A heat pump provides heat transfer from the environment to the room, providing heating. (Air conditioners work on a similar principle, but their main task is cooling).
— For fancoils. A fancoil is a device that cools or heats air by passing it through a system of pipes with a coolant circulating through them. And for the necessary heating or cooling of the coolant, another component of the system is responsible - a chiller, usually installed outdoors. A feature of such climate systems is that most of them can be used not only for heating in the cold season but also for cooling in the hot season.
— For outdoor system. Regulators for various climatic equipment installed outdoors. These can be, for example, anti-...icing systems, devices for heating pipelines, chillers for chiller-fan coil systems, etc.

In many models, several options are combined at once; for example, most devices for electric boilers are quite compatible with gas boilers.

In any case, it is the first criterion that one should pay attention to when choosing.

Automatic temperature control hysteresis provided by the device.

Hysteresis can be described as the difference between the on and off temperatures of a system controlled by a thermostat. Usually, the permissible deviations of the actual temperature from the nominal one in one direction or another are half the hysteresis. So, at a set temperature of 22 °C and a hysteresis of 0.5 °C, the controller will turn on the heating as soon as the room temperature drops to 21.75 °C, and turn it off when it rises to 22.25 °C. Accordingly, the lower this indicator, the more carefully the temperature is maintained and the fewer fluctuations. On the other hand, small hysteresis values require accurate and expensive thermal sensors, increase fuel/energy consumption and wear of the entire system, and create an increased risk of false alarms (for example, from a cool draft on the thermal sensor). In addition, relatively small temperature fluctuations are practically imperceptible in terms of human comfort. Therefore, many modern thermostats have a hysteresis of 1 °C — this, usually, is quite enough for domestic use.

Also note that this parameter can be both fixed and adjustable. The first option is simpler and cheaper, and the second provides additional options for setting the thermostat to the specifics of the situation.

The presence of an air temperature sensor in the design or delivery set of the controller — such a sensor can be either built into the device or external.

Air temperature is one of the key parameters that determine the climate in the room and the comfort of staying in it. Accordingly, the air temperature sensor allows the regulator to evaluate the general conditions in the room and control the heating operation, taking into account how the microclimate corresponds to the desired one. However, note that such sensors are not always applicable. For example, in kitchens and bathrooms, they may not work correctly (when hot water, a gas stove or a water heater is turned on, etc.), so in such conditions it is better to use floor temperature sensors (see below).

The type of timer provided in the design of the thermostat. In this case, a timer means a scheduler that allows you to programme different operating modes for different periods (for example, lower the temperature at night and increase it by the time you get up). Such schedulers are divided into types depending on the time covered.

— Daily. The timer allowing to set the programme within 24 h; then the programme will be repeated every day. This variety is the simplest and, as a result, inexpensive. On the other hand, for most users, the daily routine on weekdays and weekends are noticeably different, and, most likely, the timer will have to be reprogrammed at least twice every week — before the weekend and at the end of the weekend.

— Weekly. A timer that allows you to set a work programme for certain days of the week. The simplest varieties of such schedulers work according to the “5 + 2” scheme: one programme is set for 5 working days, the other for 2 days off. However, there are more advanced options — up to the ability to programme each day of the week separately. Anyway, weekly timers are more convenient and require less reprogramming than daily timers but they are much more expensive.

The largest number of individual cycles that the thermostat timer can set in one day.

The cycle is the period during which the thermostat operates on one set of settings. For example, if there are 2 cycles, you can provide turning off the heating while you are at work and turn it on shortly before returning home. However, most thermostats provide a noticeably larger number of cycles — up to 24.

Note that in weekly timers (see "Timer type") this parameter may differ depending on the day of the week. For example, weekdays usually have more extensive settings than weekends.

The type of power source used in the thermostat.

— Mains. Powered by a conventional 230 V power grid. A device connected to such a power supply can operate without interruption for almost unlimited time, which is especially important for thermostats and automatic regulators — during working hours they must be constantly turned on, otherwise, the very meaning of such devices is lost. In addition, the mains connection is suitable for controllers of almost any power consumption. The only drawback of this option is the need to run the wire to the device, but this moment is hardly critical.

— Battery. Powered by its own battery or a disposable battery, in this case, both options are allowed. This type of power supply is found in wireless thermostats (see "Connection"); its main advantage is its complete independence from sockets, which greatly simplifies installation and makes the outdoor unit completely wireless. In some models, it can even be removed from the mount and carried with you. At the same time, the power consumption of thermostats is small, and a small battery may well last for a year or even more.