Unpacking the purpose of the Wiser Hub 2nd Gen and how it transforms your smart heating into a full smart home system.

So, you just got a new Wiser smart heating kit. You’re excited to get it all set up, but as you unpack the box, you find something a bit puzzling: an extra hub. You’ve already got the hub that connects to your boiler, so what is this second one for? If you’re scratching your head about the Wiser Hub 2nd Gen, you’re definitely not alone. It’s a common point of confusion, but the answer is actually pretty simple and opens up a lot of cool possibilities for your home.

Let’s clear it up. The hub that wires into your boiler is specifically a Heat HubR. Its one job is to talk to your boiler and control your heating and hot water based on signals from your smart radiator valves and thermostats. But the Wiser system is designed to do more than just heating. That’s where the other hub comes in.

Understanding the Wiser Hub 2nd Gen

Think of the standard Wiser Hub 2nd Gen as the central brain for a broader smart home system. While the Heat HubR handles the heating, this second hub acts as the main gateway for all other Wiser smart devices. It connects to your Wi-Fi and creates a dedicated network (using Zigbee, a common smart home protocol) for these devices to communicate reliably without interfering with your Wi-Fi.

So, if you got one as a freebie or in a bigger bundle, the seller essentially gave you an expansion pack for your smart home before you even knew you needed it. Its purpose is to take you from a smart heating setup to a fully-fledged smart home ecosystem.

What Can You Connect to the Wiser Hub?

This is where it gets interesting. The hub isn’t for controlling your boiler; it’s for adding a whole range of other smart devices to your setup. It bridges the gap between your phone and these gadgets, allowing you to control them all from the same Wiser Home app.

Here’s a quick rundown of the kinds of devices you can add:

• Wiser Smart Plugs: This is the most common use. You can plug any standard appliance—a lamp, a fan, a coffee maker—into a Wiser Smart Plug and control it remotely. You can set schedules, turn things on and off from your phone, and even link them to your heating schedule. You can check them out on the official Wiser site.
• Wiser Electrical Heat Switch: If you have electric radiators, towel rails, or infrared heaters, this switch allows you to integrate them into your Wiser system for total home heating control.
• Wiser Underfloor Heating Controller: For homes with hydronic underfloor heating, this controller connects it to the hub, letting you manage it right alongside your radiators.
• Wiser Room Thermostats & Radiator Thermostats: While your Heat HubR also connects to these, the main Hub can also manage them, especially in larger homes or more complex setups.

Essentially, that extra hub is the key to unlocking the full potential of the Drayton Wiser ecosystem.

Do You Actually Need a Wiser Hub 2nd Gen?

So, the big question: do you need it? The answer depends entirely on your goals.

• If you only want smart heating: No. If your only plan is to use Wiser’s smart radiator valves and a room thermostat to control your boiler, the Heat HubR that came with your kit is all you need. The second hub can stay in the box.
• If you want to build a smart home: Yes, absolutely. If the idea of controlling your lights, appliances, and other electronics from the same app as your heating appeals to you, then the Wiser Hub 2nd Gen is your starting point. It’s the foundation for adding more devices later on.

It’s less of a replacement and more of an upgrade. It doesn’t control the boiler, but it controls nearly everything else. For many people, starting with heating and then realizing they can easily add smart plugs is a natural next step. If you have the hub already, you’re one step ahead of the game.

So, don’t look at it as a spare part. Look at it as a free ticket to a smarter, more connected home.