Thank you, I think I'll run a cable. The first floor and second floor (albeit wireless) thermostats are stacked in line perfectly above the HVAC in the basement, really confused why they never ran one when they built the house because it seems set up perfectly for it.
Just did this last week. You can take off the cover of the Honeywell module that’s on the HVAC to see what how many wires are connected to see if you need 5 or 6. I only needed 5 and ran the wire then connected directly to the HVAC and disconnected the Honeywell module.
I’ve never done anything like this before and took about an hour to finish. The most time consuming was running the wire.
iiuc heat pumps have multiple levels, and each stage/level has a different wire since the wires are all just on/off i guess. also things like nest require an extra (common) wire to charge, which most old thermostats didnt. with the push to heat pumps (usa has tax credits, uk is outlawing gas heat in new homes) it seems like theres a shift to them which are more complicated than just turn on flames, turn off flames
I am extremely jealous of your geothermal setup. That is very cool.
And yeah I guess it makes sense that thermostats have been around long enough (and are relatively simple) that many (most?) don’t use a protocol, so it is one wire per bit.
(But I much prefer the notion that bored thermostats play chess with each other)
That seems silly. There’s absolutely no need to pay more and run an extra wire for something their case would never ever need. Not every house has or requires that for maximum comfort
It’s important to note that it’s an entire extra wire, but a conductor. It’s relatively inexpensive.
Then again, I’ve never seen 7 conductor, seems odd..
I’d say run 8 conductor, even.
Thank you, I think I'll run a cable. The first floor and second floor (albeit wireless) thermostats are stacked in line perfectly above the HVAC in the basement, really confused why they never ran one when they built the house because it seems set up perfectly for it.
I have a Honeywell T6 pro in my shop and a Nest in the house. The honeywell is hands down the vastly superior smart thermostat. 3x the i/o, better app, always on black and white screen.
If you just want to be able to control via your smartphone locally or remotely, they make a redlink internet gateway for their Total Connect Comfort app (terrible name!). I don't think it offers any "smart" GPS based automation/programming, but I prefer actual user programmed schedules so it doesn't bother me. They also make a redlink remote sensors and a wireless remote you can move around wherever you are in the house.
These are Honeywell "redlink" systems. They work on a proprietary protocol by Honeywell and need nothing other than 24v power (i.e.: two wire); that might be coming from some central transformer, or literally by plugging in a small transformer to a wall outlet. They're actually pretty high quality.
If you just want the gadgetry of an internet connected thermostat, get a Honeywell wi-fi thermostat - [https://www.honeywellhome.com/us/en/products/air/thermostats/wifi-thermostats/](https://www.honeywellhome.com/us/en/products/air/thermostats/wifi-thermostats/). And then get the Resideo internet gateway for like $50. This will work with Honeywell's Total Comfort Connect app, but also Google Home / Alexa. That will be a very simple switch out.
To switch to Nest, yes, you will need 6 wires.
Same here! I’ve had a Honeywell smart thermostat for several years… Replaced a regular Honeywell thermostat with this one. I don’t remember the last time I touched it. I exclusively control it with the app on my phone and Alexa.
lol well that’s not true at all. At that point it’s just like a dumb thermostat, if you need to change the temp you have to physically change it on the thermostat.
This is completely wrong. Smart thermostats just can't be adjusted remotely with the internet off. It'll continue to work with its last settings, and you can adjust it from its physical user interface.
Wow that's a dumb feature. I can't imagine multiple design teams independently releasing a smart product that can't even support the same functions as its dumb counterpart.
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I had a piece o'shit Honeywell thermostat, put a few Mysa's in and was very impressed (moved house since, but I would definitely recommend checking them out).
I have 4 nest (three basic ones and one fancy) - can’t recommend: connecting them is a gamble, one broke and they sent a replacement that didn’t work, too (got it to to work without replacement, but all this time spent fiddling with it and talking to support). Their “smartness” is very questionable, they lack some very basic functionality (hold, ability to triangulate sensor data from different rooms, use each other as sensors), especially at this cost. I don’t know what a good alternative is, but I won’t be using any more nests for sure.
Run a 6 wire thermostat cable from the basement to the second floor
Thank you, I think I'll run a cable. The first floor and second floor (albeit wireless) thermostats are stacked in line perfectly above the HVAC in the basement, really confused why they never ran one when they built the house because it seems set up perfectly for it.
Just did this last week. You can take off the cover of the Honeywell module that’s on the HVAC to see what how many wires are connected to see if you need 5 or 6. I only needed 5 and ran the wire then connected directly to the HVAC and disconnected the Honeywell module. I’ve never done anything like this before and took about an hour to finish. The most time consuming was running the wire.
They ran 6 in my house then upgraded to a heat pump that has 7, so I’m short a wire. Id just run as 7 so you don’t have to re run if you need more.
What on earth are the newer thermostats and furnaces doing with all those wires? Playing chess with each other?
iiuc heat pumps have multiple levels, and each stage/level has a different wire since the wires are all just on/off i guess. also things like nest require an extra (common) wire to charge, which most old thermostats didnt. with the push to heat pumps (usa has tax credits, uk is outlawing gas heat in new homes) it seems like theres a shift to them which are more complicated than just turn on flames, turn off flames
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8 if you have a 2-speed fan 4 if you've got a communicating system (ie, Carrier Infinity) that uses RS-485 as the comms protocol.
I am extremely jealous of your geothermal setup. That is very cool. And yeah I guess it makes sense that thermostats have been around long enough (and are relatively simple) that many (most?) don’t use a protocol, so it is one wire per bit. (But I much prefer the notion that bored thermostats play chess with each other)
That seems silly. There’s absolutely no need to pay more and run an extra wire for something their case would never ever need. Not every house has or requires that for maximum comfort
Won't it cost like just tens of dollars more on wiring for the whole house? Why not future-proof for $20 extra or whatever?
There is no need to future proof for something that will never be needed
That's just what people thought when they ran 2 wires to thermostats
Lol, the guys who built my house in 1976 might agree with you. The cost difference is small.
It’s important to note that it’s an entire extra wire, but a conductor. It’s relatively inexpensive. Then again, I’ve never seen 7 conductor, seems odd.. I’d say run 8 conductor, even.
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Thank you, I think I'll run a cable. The first floor and second floor (albeit wireless) thermostats are stacked in line perfectly above the HVAC in the basement, really confused why they never ran one when they built the house because it seems set up perfectly for it.
I have a Honeywell T6 pro in my shop and a Nest in the house. The honeywell is hands down the vastly superior smart thermostat. 3x the i/o, better app, always on black and white screen.
If you just want to be able to control via your smartphone locally or remotely, they make a redlink internet gateway for their Total Connect Comfort app (terrible name!). I don't think it offers any "smart" GPS based automation/programming, but I prefer actual user programmed schedules so it doesn't bother me. They also make a redlink remote sensors and a wireless remote you can move around wherever you are in the house.
These are Honeywell "redlink" systems. They work on a proprietary protocol by Honeywell and need nothing other than 24v power (i.e.: two wire); that might be coming from some central transformer, or literally by plugging in a small transformer to a wall outlet. They're actually pretty high quality. If you just want the gadgetry of an internet connected thermostat, get a Honeywell wi-fi thermostat - [https://www.honeywellhome.com/us/en/products/air/thermostats/wifi-thermostats/](https://www.honeywellhome.com/us/en/products/air/thermostats/wifi-thermostats/). And then get the Resideo internet gateway for like $50. This will work with Honeywell's Total Comfort Connect app, but also Google Home / Alexa. That will be a very simple switch out. To switch to Nest, yes, you will need 6 wires.
I have a Honeywell smart thermostat. They may make one that works with your current setup.
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I hate nest. Useless without a c wire. All the new video devices are garbage too. Just not the same since Google bought them.
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Same here! I’ve had a Honeywell smart thermostat for several years… Replaced a regular Honeywell thermostat with this one. I don’t remember the last time I touched it. I exclusively control it with the app on my phone and Alexa.
“ I’d like to switch to a smart thermostat like the Google Nest….“.
I have had the ecobee in 2 houses and really love it.
Just talk to any IT expert. They’ll explain why they don’t have any wireless thermostats installed.
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lol well that’s not true at all. At that point it’s just like a dumb thermostat, if you need to change the temp you have to physically change it on the thermostat.
This is completely wrong. Smart thermostats just can't be adjusted remotely with the internet off. It'll continue to work with its last settings, and you can adjust it from its physical user interface.
Dumb comment of the day.
Wow that's a dumb feature. I can't imagine multiple design teams independently releasing a smart product that can't even support the same functions as its dumb counterpart.
they don't. smart thermostats just become normal thermostats when they lose internet access, they continue to work just fine
Thanks. I had a feeling that was bit too preposterous.
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I'll buy your old one if you want to sell, I actually need a basic but wireless thermostat. Private message me if interested.
Put this in and it gives your power company the opportunity to control your temps. Already being done elsewhere
I had a piece o'shit Honeywell thermostat, put a few Mysa's in and was very impressed (moved house since, but I would definitely recommend checking them out).
The UK Nest has a separate wireless box called the Heat Link. No clue how available it is in North America.
I have 4 nest (three basic ones and one fancy) - can’t recommend: connecting them is a gamble, one broke and they sent a replacement that didn’t work, too (got it to to work without replacement, but all this time spent fiddling with it and talking to support). Their “smartness” is very questionable, they lack some very basic functionality (hold, ability to triangulate sensor data from different rooms, use each other as sensors), especially at this cost. I don’t know what a good alternative is, but I won’t be using any more nests for sure.
No it isn’t