Meross MTS200 Smart Thermostat For Boiler Control
Away from all the promises that users can save money in the long run by using a smart thermostat, which for some people do turn out to be true, users can now save money instantly from buying a cheaper priced smart thermostat that works almost as well as the products offered from the much more popular brands. The Meross MTS200 Smart Thermostat for combi boiler control has certainly won a lot of people over with its huge array of Smart features, compatibility and low price. It’s quite popular with those who have older combi boilers combined with an analogue thermostat who don’t want the huge expense of having to replace the boiler with something that would be compatible with other options like Hive or Nest to have access to smart features.
First off, the Meross MTS200 doesn’t require a hub. It uses Wi-Fi @ 2.4GHz [no 5GHz]. The user can control the heating remotely from anywhere with zero subscription costs. Smartphone control is done via the App which performs well overall and works with Android and Apple iOS. Compatibility is extensive [some may disagree], working well with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, SmartThings and Google Assistant. Voice control of the heating via programs like Hey Google, Alexa and Siri are all supported. There’s also manual control from the thermostat itself, which is a glass touchscreen. The white LED display itself is very good. Well lit and changes from dim when not in use to brighter when touch activated.
Do note that the operating system versions it works with are Android 6.0 and newer, and Apple iOS 13 and newer. These versions are fairly old now, Android 6.0 [released in 2015] / Apple iOS 13 [released in 2019]. So the majority of people are more than likely using a newer version than this. The Meross MTS200 can also be controlled via different devices, such as a tablet, that have either an Apple or Android operating system above the versions mentioned above.
There’s lots of scheduling options, full 7 days if required, 6 temperature changes / on / off times per day [although some users say there’s only 2], open window awareness, dual internal / external sensors to monitor room temperatures more accurately, 3 adjustable modes – heating, cooling and economy and much more. This unit can also control underfloor water heating systems.
Drawbacks
This is not a battery powered thermostat, its hard wired. It needs to be wired to a power source, depending on your previous system [mains] [central heating / boiler] [live and neutral] com connection / NO 3 to work properly. A bridge may be required. There is no earth on this unit. Some people missed this information and feel they have been misled to believe that the device didn’t require a wired power source, such as the mains to work properly. And they thought it would be much easier to install.
Needless to say, some older systems with very old thermostats will require more know-how to get this unit working properly. Understandably, for some this device may be too confusing to wire properly. So, if in doubt, leave it to a professional tradesman to install.
Customer Issues / Review Feedback
While most of the reviews / feedback are positive for this thermostat, and it has predominantly received a rating of between 4 and 5 stars, like with mostly all electrical items, there are some unhappy customers.
Wall installation / mounting has been annoying for some users due to them needing to use a pattress / back box to conceal the back wiring board. The electric wiring board / circuitry protrudes quite far out the back, so unless the user already has a back box deep enough [approximately 30mm +] or a hole in the wall / plaster [or doesn’t mind making one], most buyers will need to purchase an additional back box to conceal the back of the thermostat and make it fit nicely on the wall.
A small number of users report difference in temperature, higher and or lower than what was set. Even after calibration. Some report setup / manual / how to instructions are somewhat lacking. There were some teething issues with Mesh Wi-Fi routers which have now been addressed. There are some users having problems with the App. Particularly with programming the heating to behave as intended. Also Pairing the App to the WIFI has been problematic for some buyers.
Comparing The MTS200 To Others
No smart thermostat is perfect, and this one certainly isn’t. Even the top brands like Hive, Tado, Ecobee and Nest have similar product issues from buyers. Just read through the reviews for confirmation of this. But overall the Meross MTS200 is a good smart heating control for the price. It offers a considerable range of smart features and, if it works without fault, pretty much performs just as well as the similar models from the bigger, much more well known brands like Hive, Nest and Honeywell. However, If you’re looking for a really good alternative to the MTS200. One excellent, but largely overlooked smart thermostat to take a look at, is the Salus IT500.
How Smart Are You
As with all electronics considered “smart”, do be aware of the privacy issues and concerns regarding smart devices being used in the home. They are all tracking, collecting data and identifying the user and their behaviour in some way. None of them, regardless of the brand you buy or smart device type you are using in your residence are excluded from this.