Questions about Danfoss Ally

I use it with ZHA (home assistant), so it does not only work with the Danfoss Hub. I can't say whether it also works with the gateways mentioned.

I would also be interested to know if that is possible.

The controller of the Danfoss Ally thermostat does not work in binary mode, but recognises intermediate stages. Here are some important details: - The thermostat uses PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) control, which allows for precise temperature control. - The actuator of the thermostat is electromechanical and moves the spindle linearly, up to 4.5 mm, with a maximum movement of 2 mm on the valve (1 mm/s). - This allows fine adjustment of the valve opening to achieve the desired room temperature, rather than just switching between fully open or closed.

As is so often the case - it depends. I have installed 6 of the thermostats, which have different replacement intervals depending on how often they have to regulate. Just under 1 year should be a good average. You get a battery low warning on the app. But beware, the time until the thermostat switches to the safety position (open to prevent frost damage) is extremely short. I have also come home to find one room completely overheated. Therefore, check the battery status before a longer absence; there is also a local display on the thermostat.

Without a hub, you can only set the thermostat manually to a target room temperature. Not really the point.

No. You put a ring on the existing valve, which is then fixed with a bolt with the hexagon socket provided. Then the thermostat is placed on the ring. This can be turned as required, but is not easy to remove. However, this is all done quite easily and quickly, and unlike other solutions, this thermostat is really firmly attached.