diff --git a/hardware/duino/97-duino.js b/hardware/duino/97-duino.js
index 7a47580d..1302b336 100644
--- a/hardware/duino/97-duino.js
+++ b/hardware/duino/97-duino.js
@@ -23,8 +23,12 @@ function DuinoNode(n) {
 	RED.nodes.createNode(this,n);
 	this.pin = n.pin || "10";
 	node = this;
-	this.board = new duino.Board();
-
+    try {
+	    this.board = new duino.Board();
+    }
+    catch {
+        util.log("[duino] - Error establishing board connection!");
+    }
 	
 	this.on("input", function(message) {
 		if (typeof(message.payload) == "string") {
diff --git a/hardware/heatmiser/100-heatmiser.html b/hardware/heatmiser/100-heatmiser.html
index 8ce54a5d..c1ee3c8d 100644
--- a/hardware/heatmiser/100-heatmiser.html
+++ b/hardware/heatmiser/100-heatmiser.html
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@
         <label for="node-input-name"><i class="icon-tag"></i> PIN</label>
         <input type="text" id="node-input-pin" placeholder="1234">
     </div>
+    <div class="form-row">
+        <label for="node-input-name"><i class="icon-tag"></i> Poll time (in minutes)</label>
+        <input type="text" id="node-input-pollTime" placeholder="30">
+    </div>
     <div class="form-tips">Expects a msg.payload with a JSON object that contains settings for the Heatmiser thermostat</div>
 </script>
 
diff --git a/hardware/heatmiser/100-heatmiser.js b/hardware/heatmiser/100-heatmiser.js
index 432d5e65..7e817d9e 100644
--- a/hardware/heatmiser/100-heatmiser.js
+++ b/hardware/heatmiser/100-heatmiser.js
@@ -21,10 +21,11 @@ var util =  require('util');
 
 function HeatmiserNode(n) {
 	// TODO - holiday and hot water cases when confirmed working
-	var DEBUG = true;
+	var DEBUG = false;
     RED.nodes.createNode(this,n);
     this.ip = n.ip || "192.168.0.1";
     this.pin = n.pin || "1234";
+    this.pollTime = n.pollTime*60*1000 || 30*60*1000
     this.multiWriteFunc = undefined;
     node = this;
 
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ function HeatmiserNode(n) {
 			node.multiWriteFunc = undefined;
 			return;
 		}
-		node.send(data.dcb);
+		node.send({topic: "", payload:JSON.stringify(data.dcb)});
 	});
 	this.hm.on('error', function(data) {
 		if (DEBUG) {
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ function HeatmiserNode(n) {
 
 	if (!this.currentStatus) {
 		this.read();
-		setInterval(this.read, 30000);
+		setInterval(this.read, this.pollTime);
 	}
 
 	this.write = function(dcb) {