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      03-18-2020, 09:00 AM   #1
bimmer456
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Thermostat recommendations?

So this thermostat has been giving me some issues since I don't have a c wire. Thought I'd upgrade a couple years ago but knew there might be some caveats vs just sticking with a dumb thermostat. About to switch back but won't be going back to the old mercury thermostat something a little newer maybe but not necessarily with any smart features or WiFi. Any recommendations?
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      03-18-2020, 09:04 AM   #2
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I used some of these tutorials and found them helpful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...ature=emb_logo
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      03-18-2020, 10:21 AM   #3
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I am looking for a dumb thermostat too because i think having google spying in your house is insane. Looking for one with a nice big screen but they all seem to be smart ones which is annoying.
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      03-18-2020, 10:47 AM   #4
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I think it will be pretty easy to install a basic thermostat just label the wires and attach to the same terminals in the dumb thermostat no need to pay a technician $200 bucks when I can do it myself in two minutes.
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      03-18-2020, 11:01 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bimmer456 View Post
I think it will be pretty easy to install a basic thermostat just label the wires and attach to the same terminals in the dumb thermostat no need to pay a technician $200 bucks when I can do it myself in two minutes.
I haven't looked in ages....but you can google the color coding for them as most HVAC controls are standard.

I changed mine awhile back.
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      03-18-2020, 12:28 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bimmer456 View Post
So this thermostat has been giving me some issues since I don't have a c wire. Thought I'd upgrade a couple years ago but knew there might be some caveats vs just sticking with a dumb thermostat. About to switch back but won't be going back to the old mercury thermostat something a little newer maybe but not necessarily with any smart features or WiFi. Any recommendations?
They make C wire adapters that allow you to bridge a ground connection. (this gets installed in your AC fan coil in the closet). You then connect the wires differently in back of the thermostat itself.

Or you can simply replace the Nest. They have super super slick software, but as an actual thermostat they don't regulate temperature as good as a honeywell (or even carrier). Unless you are married to the nest ecosystem there are better thermostats (ecobee comes to mind).

Seth

Last edited by sethwas; 03-18-2020 at 03:40 PM..
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      03-20-2020, 02:17 AM   #7
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Return it and buy an ecobee, it takes power from the furnace so no battery to worry about
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      03-20-2020, 07:48 AM   #8
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I bought a Nest t-stat & it was DOA. Got a replacement & same thing. Got an Ecobee & 100% trouble free so far!
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      03-20-2020, 08:15 AM   #9
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I can attest, the Ecobee is pretty awesome.
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      03-20-2020, 08:35 AM   #10
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I was told if you don't have a c wire the eco bee won't work though there is an ac adapter for it to plug into a wall outlet. The nest gets around this by attempting to get power from one of the other wires. I was able to charge up my nest using a cell phone charger as it has a USB port in the back. If they had a way to route the cable to plug it into an AC outlet while montes to the wall that would work too. Maybe the dial could be narrower to allow a space to run the USB cable. After charging it it's made it through the night so the micro charge it gets from the rh wire should sustain it for a few months hopefully before needing another charge.
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      03-21-2020, 07:00 AM   #11
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We have Honeywell thermostats but they are both smart. I like being able to control them from the couch or out of town (if I ever go out of town again). What I learned putting them in two houses over time is that the type of system you have might not be compatible with all t-stats. A geothermal heat pump has fewer t-stat options than a regular gas furnace, for example. So be sure to either get a truly universal t-stat (esp if you’re likely to replace the equipment soon), or one that you’re sure works with your equipment.
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      03-21-2020, 10:04 AM   #12
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I have a "sorta smart" thermostat. It's programmable but not connected to teh interwebz. Does everything I need done and nothing that I don't.
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      03-21-2020, 10:22 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NoGuru View Post
I can attest, the Ecobee is pretty awesome.

for 24v thermostat I've tested few.

My 3 first pick

1- Venstar T8000 series
2- Ecobee 3
3- Nest last gen


I really like venstar because of the 'unlimited', option. For more advanced user.

Ecobee is a great balance.

Nest just dont et enough setting for my taste, its a dummy user thermostat. It was perfect for my gran ma tho.
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      03-21-2020, 10:34 AM   #14
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Another Honeywell user/owner here. So far it does everything I need and has worked reliably. I have it in my vacation home and use it to pre-condition the house before I get there. It also saved my bacon a couple of times when the furnace malfunctioned during a winter where we were having long record cold temps. I got alerts that the interior temp was way below the set temp on the thermostat.

It also helped me get some money back from my ISP as I had records that there were extended outages that were on their end because I was getting email notifications the cloud server was not getting any communications from the thermostat.
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      03-23-2020, 11:16 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bimmer456 View Post
I was told if you don't have a c wire the eco bee won't work though there is an ac adapter for it to plug into a wall outlet. The nest gets around this by attempting to get power from one of the other wires. I was able to charge up my nest using a cell phone charger as it has a USB port in the back. If they had a way to route the cable to plug it into an AC outlet while montes to the wall that would work too. Maybe the dial could be narrower to allow a space to run the USB cable. After charging it it's made it through the night so the micro charge it gets from the rh wire should sustain it for a few months hopefully before needing another charge.
... do you only have 2 wires for your thermostat? That's the only configuration that an AC plug would even be an option. If you have at least 4 wires, the ecobee comes with a power extended kit that you wire up to your furnace if you don't have a c wire. That will send power down your existing wires to the ecobee.
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      03-29-2020, 05:08 PM   #16
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Nest has been Ok, had to pay extra for remote temp sensors. I'd try Ecobee (comes with free remote sensors) but it's not 100% compatible with my system.

I really like when I walk close to thermostat it automatically displays current temp and gives hourly changes, very useful. Dont know if Ecobee does that
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      03-29-2020, 06:15 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kolyan2k View Post
Nest has been Ok, had to pay extra for remote temp sensors. I'd try Ecobee (comes with free remote sensors) but it's not 100% compatible with my system.

I really like when I walk close to thermostat it automatically displays current temp and gives hourly changes, very useful. Dont know if Ecobee does that
Seems like the nest is working now. Maybe they updated the software. I like the ability to use the app to adjust temperature.
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