How would I check? Hey Eric, And, it will do it reliably and at half the cost of some of the fancier thermostats on the market. Im not sure how to connect to the Nest Pros though. Thanks in advance! Provide the MAC ID located on the back of the faceplate to the agent. In July 2022, did China have more nuclear weapons than Domino's Pizza locations? Hard on compressor. If you only have heating or cooling, you will need to run a C-wire or consider something like the Venstar Add-a-Wire. I intend to power both Nests from this one transformer. Not worth the aggravation. Scheduling, overrides, and settings areright there on the smartphone app, which isnice looking and easyto figure out. Sometimes they are separate wires and require separate connections. The board manufacturer, ICM Controls, says the Ecobee is robbing a little bit of power and throwing the phase off that the board sees. I wish people would actually try using a device in all applications before making false assumptions based on the manufacturers specs. Another good choice: the Emerson Sensi. The c wire is an extra wire that can be used to provide a return path for continuous 24V power for any application. I notice that the wiring bundle on the thermostat to be replaced has a spare wire coiled around the bundle and is not connectedcould this be the c wire? What is a C Wire? And Why's it so Important for Your Smart Thermostat? No matter what you buy, you may experience sensor drift and or calibration issues. Whether you own multiple homes, a business, or some rental properties, the Sensi will empower you. Am I wasting money on this attempt to fix my C wire issue? The Emerson Sensi is our go-to smart thermostat recommendation for installations without a C-wire, shoppers on a budget, and anyone in need of a "simple" smart thermostat that still does virtually everything you might want it to. If not, it likely means the blue wire is not connected on the other end. Our situation calls for a non-smart, non-wifi thermostat to run our HVAC for one-year cycles of set-it-and-forget-it. At the furnace control board there is a C 24v terminal with nothing attached, but a white unattached wire there as well. This is a huge benefit because now you no longer have to go to the trouble of getting a C wire and making it goes past your furnace. First story of aliens pretending to be humans especially a "human" family (like Coneheads) that is trying to fit in, maybe for a long time? It has for years I have one. Is this unit compatible with a WINDOWS SMARTPHONE? As much as we wish a WiFi thermostat could run entirely on two AA batteries, the Sensi cannot. Replaced & same problem. Our request: Would you be so kind as to recommend a non-smart thermostat that fits this performance specification? Then the second took a while to get set up HVAC wiring from previous thermostat was not compatible with this device although the app said it would work fine! Review: Honeywell RTH6580WF WiFi 7-Day Programmable thermostat, Which smart thermostats are compatible with Alexa? Yeah, I noticed that, too. Some thermostats, such as the popular Nest thermostat, have tried to get around the no c wire problem by using a technique commonly referred to as power stealing. The Emerson Sensi Is Available For Purchase AtAmazon. CEO Update: Paving the road forward with AI and community at the center, Building a safer community: Announcing our new Code of Conduct, AI/ML Tool examples part 3 - Title-Drafting Assistant, We are graduating the updated button styling for vote arrows. SIDNEY, OHIO, September 6, 2022 - Emerson (NYSE: EMR) announced the launch of its new E360 Blog, a thought leadership platform that extends its previous Climate Conversations blog to include a broader range of industry topics, expanding its reach to refrigeration, air conditioning and other HVACR stakeholders.The platform is intended to support overcoming industry challenges such as . 2023 Smart Thermostat Guide, WiFi-enabled thermostat reviews and comparisons, on Emerson Sensi review: a great WiFi thermostat at an affordable price, Review: LUX Geo smart thermostat (GEO-WH-003 / GEO-BL-003), Review: Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd gen.) keeps pace with the competition, fitbit charge wireless activity & sleep band, Review: 2GIG CT100 Z-Wave Programmable Thermostat. (Ive edited the name and location out of these screenshots because this is one of my own, not manufacturers screenshots.). Inconsistent sometimes online sometimes offline. For the way we use a thermostat, the hardware mounted to the wall doesnt matter that much. For example, on a call for heat, Sensi will use a small A quick note this unit supports only US and Canadian time zones. Exclusively systems that only provide heat or cooling, heat pumps, or Apple Home kits will require a C wire. DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT IF YOU HAVE A HEAT ONLY, COOL ONLY OR HEAT PUMP WITHOUT A C WIRE! Add Protection . This feature would allow more user control for better comfort and would also prevent short cycling, which can quickly damage equipment. So you know, we have a small place in the desert Southwest (aka: Las Vegas) we retreat to in winterswere old, retired folks. The thermostat may have been great when most homes ran on 2.4 GHz channels. Typically, the wires that provide the power (often called the hot wires) are labeled Rc (cooling) and Rh (heating). Im replacing two old Honeywell mercury thermostats with Nest Pros. If you steal too much, you turn your equipment on when you dont want to. I have two questions: 1. Therefore, it is important that you make sure your HVAC system is compatible with Emerson's thermostat. 5 possible causes and potential solutions. The c-wire is often blue, but not always. The c wire is an extra wire that can be used to provide a return path for continuous 24V power for any application. Can I also say: 'ich tut mir leid' instead of 'es tut mir leid'? In that case, a 24V adapter would be the easiest fix (unless youre up for crawling under the house). "heat only" or "cool only" systems, Sensi requires a "C" wire to power The amperage require for a smart thermostat must be minimal. I originally wrote it the way it is now (because thats what makes sense logically) but then I talked to someone who seemed to know what they are talking about and he said I had it backwards. Have removed existing thermostat and also have exposed HVAV on water source heat pump. Required fields are marked *, TheSmartCaveis a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. sensi ST75 Touch Smart Thermostat Installation Guide in adding a C wire I did not see a suggestion to just add a 24v transformer. For example, if your set point is 72 F and your cycle rate is 2 F, the heat wont kick in until the temperature reaches 70 F. The Sensi doesnt allow you to choose a specific number of degrees for your cycle rate. I dont recommend it. My question is, there are 4 wires that are hooked up in the thermostat cable. After emailing tech support and not getting replies I called. Wont take it back, wants me to contact the manufacturer. (again, this is simplified so as to not get lost in irrelevant details and confuse the non-technical readers this was written for). I intend to purchase the Emerson Sensi to help manage peak demand using a veryspecific schedule and like that there are up to 10 daily schedules so I can coordinate it with a second AC unit thermostat. Learn More. The original wires are on RH and W. Cool. I found a c wire adapter online. In fact, if you didnt know any better, you might confuse the Sensi with a mere humble, unconnected, programmable thermostat. Not sure if I have enough cable to do that but wanted to check if that is a possibility. Returning mine to day for that reason. Not a panacea for all systems lacking a C-wire. You need the c wire to power the wifi thermostat. Each Emerson Sensi thermostat comes with a pair of regular AA batteries. That will not work. Emerson Sensi smart thermostat - Duke Energy Although we have 4 zones, the AC is only controlled from the thermostat that will be replaced with the ecobee4). Ive been using a Sensi two years now with a quite advanced geothermal system and I totally agree that it is excellent value for money and also that the use of C-wire makes it much more stable and less battery thirsty. There are a couple solutions available to add a c-wire if you dont already have one. Great product. combined heating and cooling systems, Sensi does not require a "C" The new way is better. Emerson Announces New HVACR Blog Platform to Address Industry's Top Nest would inadvertently trigger system on events by sending pulses meant to charge the battery. Hope this helps a few people understand what the C wire is about. Also, I agree the 20%/year figure in the ecobee article is no longer true. For proper functionality, Emerson Sensi Touch Smart Thermostats do require a C-wire. I want to run a C wire and bought a 24V adapter. I am a certified HVAC professional who searches the web for new developments in IoT items and your web site came up in a search result. It requires that you connect indirectly by going through the cloud-based Sensi server. One of the biggest complaints about the programmable thermostats of the recent past is how big of a pain it is to actually program them. Lets take a look at some of the features that Sensi uses to try to accomplish this. $ 99 00 Limit 5 per order $116.10 Save $17.10 ( 15 %) Pay $74.00 after $25 OFF your total qualifying purchase upon opening a new card. Emerson Sensi Review: Is This Thermostat The Sensible Smart Solution? A c-wire is the best option and makes sure that your smart thermostat will have power as long as your house does. Thanks, Rick. []. It locks the screen on the thermostat unit so that no changes can be made from there. Or maybe you have some rental properties whose temperature you want complete control of. With the right unit, you could save 20 percent or more on your utility bills. I have 2 wires a R and a W I hook them up and my new thermostat isnt working. We may not want to go back to our desert hideout for one or more years. Eric, thanks for the explanation. There is no HVAC control board but just two 24V transformers near the water pump and valves that open to allow the hot water to flow to the two zones. Keep in mind that your control board is probably a fairly expensive piece of equipment. I am of the belief that a smart thermostat is a great first smart device to buy and the Sensi is a great option to sort of ease you into the world of smart things. The furnance is mounted in a cabinter in the bathroom, the wiring side is not accessable due to a wall. We have two new furnaces with two central a/cs that two thermostats should manage well remotely. Lately, if temperature is set @77, it gets to 80+ before the AC comes on. I just need someone to confirm that. That is a simple 5 minute installation at the HVAC control board which allows you to connect basically any smart thermostat as if you have a c-wire. Any thoughts? And then connect it to the thermostat? No extra wire in the wall. I have an old Honeywell Chronotherm WII and runs on three AA batteries. On one of my units, with a new control board and a C wire the unit will not allow the heat to run, kills the flame after a second or two. An add-a-wire kit allows your thermostat to use your existing wires and still get constant power without using power stealing. Looking to upgrade my thermostat to wofo need a C wire, there is a blue wire in the wall to use, I just cant get to the furnace end to see if there is a C terminal or if it is hooked up. After that I can access the app with any browser based device and erase the app on the borrowed smartphone. The worst complaint about the app seems to be the occasionalinability to connect. But still have a question. Theres a few different manufacturers that make the add-a-wire kits. Where is my HVACs control board? Also, the Honeywell units permit 0.5 degree Celsius control, the Emerson only 1 degree. Once youve got the setup complete, your Sensi app will change to reflect the current mode and temperature. Apparently it checks this. This is what they said: In certain situations, Sensi does require a common or "C" wire. Note to readers:Some links on SmartThermostatGuide.com are affiliate links. Sounds fine to just hook up one to new thermostat but where do I hook other end at HVAC? The manufacturer claims this thermostat can be installed without a c-wire. Theres a lot wrong here. I would just keep it off until you can get a tech there to fix the ground. All your Sensi thermostats can be controlled from the convenience of a single app on your mobile phone. Would it be possible to build a powerless holographic projector? While the TV is unplugged, press and hold the power button for 30 seconds. Can trace 2 existing unconnected wires between them. It might still be there. Why are radicals so intolerant of slight deviations in doctrine? Many people without a c-wire have ended up experiencing connectivity problems. A tray pops out to show schedule options, settings, account info, access to help, and more. If you have problems, then worry about getting a c-wire. I replaced my router and cell and got support to remove them from registration and since then ZERO connectivity. Connected the other end to In fact, if you didn't know any better, you might confuse the Sensi with a mere humble, unconnected, programmable thermostat. For that reason, we liked saving $100 (or more) versus buying a pricier smart thermostat. Air conditioner compressor won't run. Swing range preferences vary by user some people want the house held at 72 degrees no matter what, even if it means the heating comes on/off more frequently. The unexpected loss of connection at seemingly random intervals can be an extremely frustrating problem. My only complaint is battery life. Turn the boost off, and the Sensi will revert to using the most efficient means to maintain the temperature. Can we hook this unattached wire to the C terminal at the control board and use it for a new smart thermostat? Is Spider-Man the only Marvel character that has been represented as multiple non-human characters? amount of power from the cooling system to power the Wi-Fi radio. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. (I have the AC unit in the attic and the heating units in the basement. Its normally used to provide a return path to power the thermostat. My plan is to pull new 18/5 wire through the walls. He enjoys technology, sports, outdoors, and dabbles in the dark realm of politics. If there is a terminal labeled c and its empty, you probably dont have a c wire. Nest Thermostat E unboxing and early look. Also, I think it always worked with Wink home automation or it too was added. Thermostat is above the furnace, and furnace is under the house. Typically the controller is part of the furnace. The new generation of the device also kept the geofencing feature, which allows detecting when a user leaves home and comes back to switch between energy saving and comfort modes. Nothing labelled C wire. Why is Bb8 better than Bc7 in this position? I installed a wyze new smart thermometer. Without a "C" wire installed, the Wi-Fi connection will drop off after about two hours to preserve the AA batteries. The old thermostat does not have anything but R and Rd, assuming the R is the same as Th because the h is for heat, and i dont have A.C., just heat. Click To Buy The Emerson Sensi WiFi Thermostat At Amazon. He dreams of someday living in a castle on an island but for now will settle for smalltown, USA. Thoughts? Its normally used to provide power for the thermostat., But then only a few lines below you wrote: Although Ive seen it stated in several places, its not correct to say that the c-wire is what powers the thermostat.. I did not have a c wire, but they too send a magnetic wiring Puck to hook up on the main unit to go from 5 to 4. There are 2-4 extra wires in the thermostat cable. The box says it does not require a C wire on most systems. More power can be stolen when the HVAC system is on than when it is off. looking to use this for my heat pump / forced air propane dual fuel system. I will be buying something else, this thermostat is far too limited to be of any value. Do you really want to risk that happening? Sometimes wires can work their way loose or corrode causing a poor a connection. Readers like you help support MUO. Any comments or questions? And, if youre still concerned about cycling the compressor too frequently, you can increase the compressor lockout time. Normally, switching the thermostat from summer to winter settings would be routinewed be there for the winter. You may want to take off the thermostat backplate and pull out the wires to see if the extra wire is there. Thansk in advance, Your email address will not be published. Depending on how far from the control board and how finished your walls are, this can range in difficulty from easy to hard. Grant, Review: Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi Thermostat (1F86U-42WF), smartthermostatguide.com, May 14, []. The kits are installed at the HVAC control board. If you schedule your heat to turn up from a 65 F overnight set point to 70 F at 7 am, Early Start will turn on your heat before 7am so that by the time 7am is here, the temperature is already 70 F. Then, you can safely get out of bed without the fear of the chilly night air. If we can get a C-wire run, what brand/model of smart thermostat would you recommend? It appears that the Sensi thermostat is a lot smarter than I gave it credit for. Air Conditioner Repair Help Videos. Related Posts. They provide a source of 24V power coming from the HVAC control board. Id like to know how a Nest can figure out how much current to draw without turning on, how it goes from 24VAC RMS to ~3.8V with low enough losses to steal enough power, how the solid-state R-to-function switching works (and steals power in the process), stuff like that. Be sure to write down the access code found on the back of your Sensi before you mount it to the wall, because youll need it during setup (if you forget, though, no big deal its also included on a sheet of paper in the box). The C wire is not necessary for the majority of the applications. However, Im not familiar with the specifics of multi-zone systems. Need help with wiring to convert a Trane Weathertron - JustAnswer But, it allows you to maintain complete control of the thermostat via the mobile app. The Sensi has enough smart features to give you the control you want, but it wont leave you dumbfounded trying to figure out why your heater or AC is going crazy. The "C Wire" (often blue) is this additional "ground wire" needed in order to complete a circuit for the electronics (which old-timey thermostats didn't have). You can also make and save multiple schedules. Cannot be set below 50F. There should be two wires on your 24V transformer. You could buy any 24V transformer to do the job, but this adapter is specifically made for smart thermostats. Overall, we found the app straightforward to navigate and use. Wish I could be more help! You can try connecting the blue wire as the common. Itll work just fine, but youll have an unsightly wire running from the thermostat to the outlet. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. Using a c wire is the best way to provide the constant power that is required. In order to have a circuit that power can flow through, wires need to connect back to the HVAC control board to complete the loop. What Is A 2-Stage Thermostat (With 12 Best Picks) Looking at switching to the EcoBee! Auto means that the fan only comes on when the heat or AC comes on. The thermostat can charge its backup battery when the equipment is running but tends to slowly discharge when the equipment is not running. Did your HVAC provider mention anything about the wire-saver option? I have a boiler, heat only system with 2 wires (red & white) and no C-wire or C terminal at the control block. It ensures a noiseless operation - In most homes, the 'low' settings in the 2-stage thermostat is what is mostly used. Here is an explanation why. My husband died and learning to do things on my own. I dont know about you, but those are two things that I very much prefer to have at their optimal levels. I should have known that . Any ideas what the funk is going on here !?! Required fields are marked *, TheSmartCaveis a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Hang on, though! I want to install a smart wifi controlled thermostat. Emerson Sensi Touch - Thermostat User Guides - poweredbyefi.org It will work with. Like most (if not all) smart thermostats, the Sensi is not compatible with line voltage and proprietary systems, gravity furnaces, in-floor, or millivolt wall systems. That is the current which can be used to power the thermostat via power stealing. Although the 24V power doesnt pose much of a safety risk to you, shutting off the power reduces the risk of damaging the board. No wifi connection. If there is no wire, you dont have a c wire and will probably want to get one. You get more power when the equipment is on at least, thats what makes sense. On Thats what the other wires do. Im glad you found some of the content here useful! In most systems, the Sensi doesn't need a C-wire at all. If you still arent sure if you have a c wire, go to your HVAC control board. Great article, Eric. Thats fine with us, but dont buy this for your spouse who asked for a Nest for Christmas. PDF PRO Installation - Emerson What do I do? The Nest dies and the WiFi (w5) issue continues to occur. I believe my only solution is to run a separate transformer to power the Ecobee, as you outline here. The Emerson Sensi WiFi thermostat is a sensible option that has a lot going for it. This is the best solution in my opinion.