Review: Tado wireless temperature sensor for extra flexibility

Tado wireless temperature sensor

• What: Wireless Temperature Sensor
• Measurement: temperature and humidity
• Communication: Frequency: 868 MHz (6LoWPAN)
• Interface: LED matrix with 10 x 19 LEDs (32 x 20 mm). Buttons: 2x capacitive touch, 1x mechanical.
• Power supply: 4.5 VDC (3 AAA batteries, 1,200 mAh).
• Dimensions: 104 x 104 x 18mm
• Weight: 137g
• Recommended retail price: 79.99 euros

In the packaging and assembly

In addition to the temperature sensor, the box also contains the necessary mounting material: two screws, or for those who prefer not to make holes, two adhesive strips. The sensor also contains three AAA batteries. So you can get started right away. In addition to the temperature sensor, we also had the optional foot (24.99 euros) delivered.

It is mounted in a jiffy. Just remove the back of the sensor, attach screws to the foot, screw everything together, and the back (now with foot) can be clicked back onto the sensor. Tado provided beautiful, flat-finished female screws so that the screw head is on the inside and the outside looks perfectly finished.

Installation

The tado wireless temperature sensor is intended as an accessory for the smart radiator controls. So you normally already have that at home, and you are already familiar with the use of the tado app. Installation of the sensor is via the tado app, and could hardly be easier.

Open the app, go to the settings and click on rooms and devices. Select add device, choose ‘wireless temperature sensor’ and from there the app will take you by the hand to install everything.

You scan the QR code that sticks to the temperature sensor, then ‘pair’ the sensor with your tado installation and you’re done. All you have to do is assign him to a room. That room already exists in the app, because your smart radiator knob is installed there.

Once that job is done, Tado will give you some tips about where you can and cannot install the sensor. Not close to the radiator, of course, and preferably one and a half meters above the ground.

We have no idea how long the batteries will last, if tado still provides us with that information, we will complete the review.

Use

The smart radiator controls also contain a temperature sensor, but it makes sense that the temperature is warmer near the radiator. In a large room where you have several radiators, or where the radiator is relatively far from the main seats, it may happen that you experience the room as colder than the radiator knob (and app) indicate. A similar problem can arise if the radiator (and the radiator knob) are installed rather enclosed, for example in a niche, or right next to a cupboard.

The wireless sensor is the solution for this. In essence, the wireless temperature sensor is no more than an extension of your smart radiator valve. You place the temperature sensor where you want to effectively keep the temperature at a certain level. The sensor communicates wirelessly with the radiator knob(s), and that does the rest. The temperature sensors on your radiator knobs will be disabled.

Experience

Like the installation, the wireless temperature sensor turned out to be very easy to use. The mechanical button makes the LED screen active, with the two arrow buttons you set the temperature. A final press of the mechanical button confirms the setting (or just wait a few seconds for the display to go out, which also confirms the setting).

Good to know: you can still adjust the temperature in the app, or via a radiator knob! So plenty of options.

Because you can effortlessly adjust the configuration of your home via the app, you can also temporarily measure the temperature in another room with the temperature sensor. Suppose: the temperature sensor is in the living room and controls two smart radiator controls there. In the app you move the sensor to a ‘test’ room. The smart radiator controls in the living room now resume their normal operation. You can now place the sensor in any other room from which you want a temperature and/or humidity measurement. If there are no smart radiator controls there, you can of course not control the heating. But the temperature and humidity information alone can also be very helpful. When you have finished measuring, move the sensor in the app back to the living room and put the sensor back in its normal place.

Tado wireless temperature sensor Conclusion

Do you have a room that uses tado’s smart radiator controls, but the radiators are quite far from where you actually want to manage temperature? Or is your radiator enclosed somewhere so that the temperature is always quite high locally, but the room is often too cool? Then this wireless temperature sensor is the solution. But that’s the only thing this sensor offers. For that you have to get an extra device, again on batteries, and with a somewhat hefty price.

This wireless temperature sensor may target a very specific problem, but it solves it excellently. Installation couldn’t be easier and it integrates perfectly into the tado app. This handy app also makes it possible to temporarily place the sensor in another room without too much effort, although that is of course only an option if you do not attach it permanently to a wall.