Sync the switch status with heat / off thermostat status

[cdecanini]

Hello. New to this integration. I would like to know the configuration to turn the heat on / off on the thermostat when the switch controlling the heater is switched on / off manually. Or is it not supported and require setting up an external automation for each thermostat / switch combo ?

[jmcollin78]

Hello, @cdecanini,

You have to be more precise. What kind of VTherm do you have ? Is it a over switch ?
If yes, this feature doesn't exists. On the contrary the switch is controlled by VTherm. But Vtherm is not controlled by the switch, else we can run into a loop (VTherm -> Switch -> Vtherm -> Switch ...).

So you have to create an automation if it is what you want to achieve.

In over climate there is a feature named 'follow underlying' which does what you want.

[jmcollin78]

ok but this is not possible for a switch. By definition, VTherm switch on / off the switch permanently. What could be the behavior of the Vtherm is that case ?

[cdecanini]

It could do the equivalent of power off / heat on buttons on the VTherm. This allow to activate / deactivate the thermostat from the switch as we can turn on / off the switch from the thermostat.
I understand there is an exception when the measured temperature > set temperature which may (correct me if I am wrong) in turn switch off the switch that was just turned on but would work for the case where measured temperature < set temperature and would also allow to manually turn off heating on before reaching set temperature.
On my heating dashboard if I want to know the real status I have to add the switches in addition to the vTerms. The switches reflect their state when someone manually activate them. The vTherm are still shown switched off while heating is on. Is this lasting forever or will vTherm periodically check the switch status and turn it off to reflect its own state ?

[jmcollin78]

it is not possible. Vtherm permanently switch the switch on and off at each cycle. How to detect than the switch is on by VTherm itself of by a user ?

[cdecanini]

Now I understand thanks ! You have no idea if the switch is for example turned off by vTherm or by a manual press. If you would synch the switch status to the vTherm power status it would turn itself off and not be able to cycle again as it dies not turn itself up.
So basically in order to achieve what I described here I would need to add a button device in addition to the one on the switch controlling the heat device. This way I can synch the power status of the VTherm with this (extra) button.

[jmcollin78]

Exactly !. You need to add a specific physical button which can controls the VTherm. This could be a Climate button or a simple multi-purpose button.

[jmcollin78]

I pin this discussion because it can be useful for others.

[cdecanini]

So could we expect a feature in a future release allowing to add / select such a button controlling the off / heat vThem buttons as part of the vTherm configuration in order to avoid creating automation per vTherm ?

[jmcollin78]

I think not. It is already possible via changing the hvac_mode. Any climate card does this and this one also: https://github.com/jmcollin78/versatile-thermostat-ui-card