Review: the Salus iT600 smart thermostat

01Salus iT600 thermostat conclusion of this review

The smart Salus iT600 system offers many possibilities and can be put together modularly. This makes it impossible to simply put a price tag on it. Anyone who wants to automate the heating in the entire home and installs up to six radiator knobs and the necessary door and window sensors will, however, quickly pay more than 1.000 euros (excl. installation costs). No subscription costs are charged, though, and moreover you are not tied to a single energy supplier, while you can still enjoy a good payback period.

02Full review of the Salus iT600

One of the big advantages of the Salus iT600 system is its scalability. Whether it is a home with two zones or an extensive complex with a hundred zones makes no difference. The multi-zone control allows users to set the heating characteristics completely to their liking, and the system can even control district heating, underfloor heating, radiators and infrared panels. It is not for nothing that this far-reaching flexibility makes the Salus iT600 very popular with installers.

On the other hand, putting together the smart package quickly becomes more complex than what you may be used to. For example, you not only need a smart thermostat and a gateway to handle the communication, but on top of that there are also the smart radiator knob (max. 6 per thermostat), the smart plugs for switching infrared panels among other things, the window and door sensors, the central heating boiler receiver, the terminal strips, the thermal actuators and so on. So a lot is possible, but this perhaps makes the Salus iT600 more complex than the ready-made solutions that other manufacturers offer.

The various usage situations go very far here. Besides controlling radiators and heating elements, the same system can, for example, also be used to control lighting installations. A plus point, moreover, is that the system also works well with mobile 3G internet, for example via a mobile router. This means you can also use this smart thermostat in a holiday home without a fixed internet connection. You then turn the temperature up a degree before you arrive there.

The modules are fairly nicely constructed, at least in our opinion. In any case, you can easily integrate them into your home. You can, for example, neatly put the thermostat on a shelf or attach it to the wall. As is often the case, a white design has been chosen that looks good mainly in a modern home. It is not the first manufacturer to forget that smart heating systems are also an asset in other interior styles.

Quick installation and user-friendly app

Despite the many modules and choices, installation of the Salus iT600 goes fairly smoothly. It all starts with the installation and configuration of the gateway, which first has to be connected with the cable and can later be connected to the wireless network. The gateway can then be moved, so that you can, for example, also put it on the bookshelf. After connecting the gateway, you install the Salus Smart Home app, which is available for both Android and iOS, and then you can soon start expanding.

This Salus Smart Home app has all the functions you may expect from a modern smart thermostat and is designed to be quite user-friendly. For example, you can see at a glance which devices and smart plugs you have connected and you can program all kinds of schedules. You then arrange the calendar completely to your liking and you raise or lower the temperature all from the app. We consider an important minus point to be the design of the app, which does look somewhat cheap. Moreover, in practice you have to click too often and they could have simplified this somewhat. In that respect they can still learn something from other app designers.

Price of the Salus iT600

Another important plus point of the Salus iT600 is the price tag. An advantage here is that the system is modular and that you therefore only need to buy what you need. Still, in practice the price tag quickly adds up. For example, for the universal gateway Salus Smart Home UGE600 (+/- €233), 5 window/door sensors (each +/- €46), the smart thermostat (+/- €100) and 6 wireless thermostatic knobs (each +/- €77) you will soon pay more than 1.000 euros, and that is quite an investment.

Of course you can then control the temperature in a very targeted way and you get some extra living comfort on top. A plus point is also that the app is free. Some companies charge 3 to 4 euros per month, which is still 36 to 48 euros per year. In the long term the Salus iT600 can therefore be cheaper. Moreover, the saving options meet expectations and a considerable energy saving is possible, but that saving of course depends on the exact settings and the heating behaviour that was used previously. In any case, the required energy is always supplied and you can be sure that the boiler burns more evenly.

The higher price tag is moreover offset by Salus's many extra possibilities. Think, for example, of a smart switch that turns on the (smart) lighting when the garage door is opened. As far as heating is concerned, the water leak sensors, among others, are interesting. When a heating system leaks, a text message or app alert can be sent, but even a pump or siren can be switched on this way.

Customer service and support

Finally, we are also positive about the customer service provided by Salus. For example, it is possible to have the various systems paired in advance so that installation goes more smoothly afterwards. Extensive information brochures can also be found on their website, as can instruction videos. Finally, it is always possible to contact the support team so that a suitable solution can be provided.

03Installing the gateway

First of all, install the gateway. To do this, remove the back cover and connect the gateway to the router via the ethernet cable. Also connect the gateway to the socket. Once the LED light turns blue, the gateway is ready for the configuration process. Now you need to activate the gateway via the app. The app shows a step-by-step plan that you need to follow. After installing the gateway, your gateway will also work without an ethernet cable and you can place it elsewhere in the house.

04Installing the smart thermostat and linking it to the gateway

Now it is time to link your smart thermostat. Attach the back of the smart thermostat to the wall, after which you insert the batteries and follow the start-up sequence. Follow the instructions in the manual and pair the smart thermostat with the gateway. This installation process is somewhat cumbersome, so follow the instructions carefully. You then also have to add the thermostat in the app. Here you can give the thermostat a name. The most practical thing is to name the thermostat after the room in which you have placed it.

05Adding and linking extra modules

After linking the smart thermostat, you now also need to link the other modules. A lot depends here on which modules you use, because they may be, for example, smart sockets for the infrared panels or smart radiator valves. In general, though, they can quickly be linked to the gateway by clicking on the antenna symbol and letting the connection be made. After linking with the gateway, you can link the smart radiator knob to the thermostat. Each thermostat can control a maximum of six radiator knobs. You can also link, for example, smart door and window detectors to the thermostat in this way.

06Programming the smart heating as desired

Once all modules have been installed, it is time to set the heating programme as desired. A desired temperature can be specified per smart thermostat, but it is also possible to have each of them follow a specific schedule. You set all of this from the app. For example, you can set one programme during the week and another programme at the weekend, or you can even run a different heating programme every day. Do not forget to also set rules in case an open window or door is detected.

07How do you install the Salus iT600?

Setting up your own Salus iT600 system is customised work and depends heavily on which modules you do or do not use. This is inherent to modular systems and makes it somewhat more complex than the ready-made thermostat systems that are also available. Still, you actually make it as complex as you want it to be yourself; if necessary you can have the modules paired in advance, or you can simply call on an installer. If you would rather get started yourself, the basic step-by-step plan below will probably be a good help.

08Frequently asked questions about the Salus iT600

The modular system of course offers many possibilities, but on the other hand it also raises a number of questions. Answering them all is an impossible task, but we are happy to explain a number of frequently asked questions for you.

This system fits all underfloor heating and radiator systems and can be put together as desired. For underfloor heating systems, besides the smart thermostat and the gateway, you also need controllers, room thermostats and cabling. For radiator control you need extra radiator knobs. If you buy a starter pack, you make it easier for yourself and immediately have all the modules and supplies.