[Update – 12th February 2024] I initially wrote this evaluation again in December 2023 and criticised this TRV as a result of mess that was the Tapo and Kasa interoperability.
I expressed annoyance that the Kasa good hub had the identical {hardware} because the Tapo good hub, however you couldn’t add the KE100 to the Tapo hub, but if you wish to use the KE100 with sensors, you’d should pair up Tapo sensors with the Kasa hub.
Since then, TP-Hyperlink has mounted this downside. Within the Tapo app, when you choose add system, now you can toggle to Kasa and add the KE100 to the Tapo hub.
Moreover, Tapo has up to date the Tapo H100 Hub to assist Matter, whereas Tapo had beforehand urged the Tapo H100M was a unique piece of {hardware}.
This, due to this fact, modifications my total choice of the KE100 considerably. I believed it was an excellent good TRV within the first place as a result of low value it was accessible for, however now it really works with Tapo correctly and has Matter assist, it is perhaps among the finest choices in the marketplace should you don’t want the boiler management options that manufacturers like Tado and Genius Hub present.
I’ve all the time been a fan of TP-Hyperlink for each their networking {hardware} and the good house units.
Indubitably, the TP-Hyperlink Tapo and Kasa good plugs are my favorite good plug socks I’ve used. I’m within the means of reviewing the brand new Tapo P110M matter-enabled plug, and I believe this or the beforehand none-matter P110 are one of the best good plugs in the marketplace as they’re extraordinarily reasonably priced and have power monitoring, which is a good way to watch what electronics use essentially the most electrical energy.
I’m additionally an enormous fan of good thermostatic radiator valves. I do business from home and stay in an previous, inefficient house, so controlling the heating on a room-by-room foundation can save tons of per 12 months in heating prices.
Subsequently, I used to be fairly excited once I noticed that TP-Hyperlink Kasa had launched their very own KE100 Good Radiator Thermostat.
For the January replace, the value of the valve by itself is £35 on Amazon UK, with the bottom value being £27 again in November. You’ll be able to then get the Tapo H100 good hub for simply £15.
Alternatively, the TP-Hyperlink retailer has the Kasa KE100 KIT for £45.
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Specification / Options
Exact Temperature Management – Get the suitable temperature everytime you need it.
Schedule & Timer – Make certain it’s as scorching as you want with presets and schedules that fit your life.
Voice Management – Arms-free management that syncs with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri ShortCuts.
Frost Safety – Hold your pipes unfrozen and your own home protected.
Extremely-Lengthy Standby – Works with lot hub, promising longer battery life (over one 12 months).
As much as 32 Radiators – Every hub can join and handle as much as 32 radiators.
Versatile Compatibility – Matches on most radiator valve physique thread (M30x1.5) and the six adapters(RA, RAV, RAVL, CAL, M28 and GIA) included enable extra compatibility.
Hub Included – Merely exchange your previous radiator valve with Kasa and get began instantly.
TP-Hyperlink Kasa and Tapo was a multitude of a sensible house ecosystem
TP-Hyperlink began off with Kasa and later launched Tapo. It appeared like an odd factor to do at first, however the concept was that Kasa could be the premium vary and Tapo the reasonably priced vary, which is one thing I used to be OK with, and it appeared to make sense.
Over time, the variations between the 2 manufacturers blurred, and it turned more and more irritating that there have been two separate apps for units that do the identical factor all from the identical major model.
Again in March 2022, I used to be advised:
TP-Hyperlink is engaged on an integration between Kasa and Tapo into one app to verify there’s continued performance for each merchandise units collectively as Kasa goes finish of life.
That was speculated to occur in Q3 2022, however they lastly rolled out the mixing in November 2023.
TP-Hyperlink appears to have modified its thoughts about Kasa because it has continued to launch units underneath this model, together with this KE100 good TRV.
No downside. The 2 ecosystems work collectively now. However it isn’t fairly so simple as that.
After I initially reviewed this in December 2023, the Tapo app didn’t but assist the administration of the KE100 / KE100 Equipment, and there have been additional integration issues.
This has now modified, and the KE100 is supported inside Kasa and Tapo and can be utilized with the Tapo good hub.
The Kasa/Tapo scenario remains to be a little bit of a complicated mess however it’s considerably higher than it was.
Similar hub {hardware}, no cross-compatibility
Initially, I impulsively purchased the KE100 with no hub with out studying the outline that claims it requires a hub. I attempted to put in it, considering I may combine it with the Tapo H100 hub, however this didn’t work in any respect as a result of above lack of assist.
This has now modified, and the KE100 will be paired with both the Tapo or Kasa hub.
Tapo T110 sensors required for open window detection
Below the FAQs for the KE100 KIT, TP-Hyperlink states that the KE100 helps open window detection, however to try this, you want the Tapo T110 contact sensor.
The Kasa app means that you can add Tapo sensors to the hub, nevertheless it works with sensors you might have paired in Tapo with the Tapo H100 Hub. You’d should reset the sensor and pair it with the Kasa hub.
With the January replace, the KE100 will be paired with both hub and any sensors you will have will must be on the identical hub for them to combine correctly.
Matter Now Works
Within the preliminary evaluation, neither the Kasa nor Tapo hub labored with Matter. TP-Hyperlink had additionally indicated that the Tapo H100M hub could be totally different {hardware} to the Tapo H100. Nevertheless, they’ve rolled up an replace to allow Matter on the present hubs.
I’ve struggled to get the hub to work correctly with Residence Assistant however I’ve built-in it effective with SmartThings and Google Residence with the Google Nest WiFi Professional.
Set Up & Set up
As soon as I lastly had the proper hub, establishing the system was easy. You need to undergo the standard steps so as to add the hub to your Kasa app. For me, this included connecting to the open SSID on the hub.
You then want to put in the TRV earlier than including it to Kasa. This has a barely totally different design to a few of the TRVs I’ve used. The highest of the TRV has a grove that means that you can twist the cap off, this then exposes the battery compartment and the small gap for reset.
The KE100 comes with varied adaptors for various radiators, however I used to be in a position to mount it instantly.
With it mounted, I had to make use of the included plastic pin to carry down the reset button and start the pairing course of.
As soon as paired, the valve was calibrated, and every little thing labored. I didn’t have any calibration points like I did with the Aqara TRV.
App & Settings
The settings throughout the Kasa app are fairly fundamental, nevertheless it has the primary performance you want.
Going into the primary web page for the KE100, the inexperienced energy button allows/disables the TRV. With it disabled, it’s going to enter frost safety mode and cease any schedules you might have.
The good management part is the place you arrange your schedules. It’s basically the identical as Tado and Genius Hub. You’ll be able to have one schedule for the total week, or a piece week and separate Saturday and Sunday schedules or particular person schedules for every day.
You’ll be able to then add as many time blocks as you need.
When you press the cog icon, you may allow early begin, which tells the TRV to pre-heat the room to the goal temperature in your schedule. Alternatively, it solely prompts in the beginning of the schedule.
Third-Occasion Integration
With the current replace, third-party integration has been considerably improved. You continue to can’t add it to the Kasa integration on Homey, however due to Matter, you must be capable to use it with the Homey Professional or some other Matter-enabled good hub/ecosystem.
Just lately, some intelligent folks had been in a position to get the Kasa KH100 hub and KE100 to indicate up within the Tapo Residence Assistant HACS. Paradoxically, the official TP-Hyperlink Kasa integration can’t see the hub or TRV.
Efficiency
Resulting from all the restrictions, there’s not a lot to jot down about the way it has labored since I put in it. It really works as marketed; it comes on primarily based on my schedule, and I haven’t seen it being excessively noisy like some valves.
Throughout the app, there’s a good report web page, which exhibits a graph of the temperature of the room for every day. The graph exhibits some small orange traces which signifies the schedule and goal temperature, which I believe is kind of helpful.
When you simply need fundamental good management over your radiator, then this can be a completely good choice.
Worth and Various Choices
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The Tapo retailer has the KE100 KIT listed at an RRP of £80, with the person valves being £60.
That makes the Kasa TRV across the similar value as valves from Hive, Tado (the fundamental valve), and Honeywell. The Aqara Good Radiator Thermostat E1 has an RRP £50, cheaper at £55.
On the RRP, I’d strongly advise towards investing within the TP-Hyperlink Kasa KE100 TRVs. The one promoting level is that the KE100 KIT is cheaper than the Tado Good Radiator Thermostat – Starter Equipment V3+, which has an RRP of £130. Tado could also be dearer upfront, however it’s a vastly superior system, and you may improve to full good house heating management with their Wi-fi Good Thermostat Starter Equipment with Scorching Water Management.
I desire the KE100 to my Aqara Good Radiator Thermostat E1 valves. The scheduling and app are higher, however Aqara has a lot better third-party assist, together with Residence Assistant.
Nevertheless, the Tapo KE100 / KE100 KIT are hardly ever at full value. On the time of the unique evaluation, the KE100 KIT, was £30.95 from the seventeenth to the twenty eighth of November, and the KE100 by itself was £27. That might make the Tapo KE100 / KE100 KIT the most cost effective good radiator valve in the marketplace by a substantial margin, which makes up for all its shortcomings.
On the time of writing, the SONOFF Zigbee Thermostatic Radiator is the one different reasonably priced good TRV (from a good model) priced at £35.
Total
I purchased the Tapo KE100, considering it might be a fast evaluation, and I’d find yourself strongly recommending it as a result of extremely enticing pricing. I used to be mistaken.
I had vital points with the Tapo KE100 as a result of lack of Kasa/Tapo compatibility, however this has now modified, and also you additionally get Matter assist.
A dumb thermostatic radiator valve will sometimes value between £10 and £20, so it appears nicely value it to spend a bit additional on the Tapo KE100, you’d probably recoup the associated fee in lowered heating payments inside a number of months.
In conclusion, I initially thought the Tapo KE100 was an excellent choice for anybody desirous to improve from conventional TRVs to good TRVs. It was a flawed product however nice worth for cash.
With the current updates, that is now considerably higher and doubtless one of the best reasonably priced choice in the marketplace.
