[] thereare better smart thermostatsout that also happen to cost less. Blue and Yellow unused. 24/7 support when you need it. In fact, if you didnt know any better, you might confuse the Sensi with a mere humble, unconnected, programmable thermostat. If you have another wire not being used connected it to the power of your furnace. When putting out heat mode signal, I have no power emitting from my W terminal wire, which is my connection to my relay. sensi manager service would not accept my CC information. There happens to be an AC outlet directly below the thermostat. []. Currently it is way too responsive to the local conditions at the thermostat. What makes a smart thermostat smart is its ability to keep you comfortable and save energyat the same time. Turns out now Sensi support is saying that wifi wont work consistently without a C Wire. Its digital Honeywell.do you think this C wire is my problem? The new way is better. 14 possible causes and potential solutions. 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. He dreams of someday living in a castle on an island but for now will settle for smalltown, USA. Once this replacement unit fails I will definitely research the marketplace for a different brand. rev2023.6.2.43474. use a lot of power! This has not been addressed as of Aug 2022. EMERSON Sensi Touch Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat with Touchscreen Color Display, Works with Alexa, Energy Star Certified, C-wire Required, ST75W , . [] a budget-friendly smart thermostat (and not a home automation hub to go with it), check out the Sensi []. Notice the wording here implies that connection and battery life are less than optimal without the c-wire. thermostat per se and not via the internet. Took out batteries, nothing. Its worked fine for 3 yrs, so I dont understand why theres suddenly a wiring problem. As soon as you've installed and connected your thermostat, the Sensi app serves as an intuitive remote control that lets you set, change and program your home comfort from anywhere. I believe the only way is to reboot your router. What do I do? I just purchased a nest thermostat. 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). combined heating and cooling systems, Sensi does not require a "C" The Nest Pro used a 5 wire hookup of Y W G Rc and Rh and NO C wire. Hope this helps a few people understand what the C wire is about. It boasts DIY installation and compatibility with Alexa. Then, shut off the power before doing any work. It ensures a noiseless operation - In most homes, the 'low' settings in the 2-stage thermostat is what is mostly used. It doesnt usually have the capability to change the speed of the fan. Is this normal? A smart thermostat offers both. Thanks. From Home Depot I purchased doorbell 24v transformer for $14. The typical way to do this with the old programmable thermostats was just to set all the schedules to change sooner. This is purely a personal preference thing, but the important thing to know here is that the Sensi lets you adjust what they call the cycle rate. 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.. 2G or 5 G issue . There is one huge missing feature, however, and its not usage reports. Hi Alex. To me, it seems like the relatively small difficulty of installing an add-a-wire solution outweighs the potential inconveniences of not doing it. Or, you may make a vacation schedule that saves as much energy as possible while you are gone. Our "smartphone stuck on the wall next to the old-timey thermostat" needs both a "hot wire" and a "ground" (or "common"). 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. Typically, one is connected to Rh (or Rc) and the other is connected to C. Hi Eric, great article, thanks. The fact is most of the temperature sensors sold in the smart home space are not meant to be scientific instruments. Thansk in advance, Your email address will not be published. Too many cycles. The problem comes that once I connect the C wire I get no power at all and the next wont even turn on. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? If youre anything like me, you need to keep all the hair you have! Say you want the fan to come on when you go to bed and stay on until you get up Sensi didnt make this available in the app. I think Ive read through most of the comments and your corrections but I think something needs clarification. Check to see if there is a wire attached to the c terminal. If there is a wire connected, note its color and go back to your thermostat. Although Ive seen it stated in several places, its not entirely correct to say that the c-wire is what powers the thermostat. 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. It even runs without a C-wire in many systems, making it a popular alternative for homes that lack the wiring to run some of the fanciertouch-screen thermostats. 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? Learn More. You sure are persistent! Why did I have to change the wiring to use a smart WiFi thermostat? Ive got mine installed on the east coast of Australia, and its a bit painful using Hawaiian time (20 hours behind) to schedule! The only options it has is auto or on. In Germany, does an academia position after Phd has an age limit? It only takes a minute to sign up. If it is, and contains 24 volts to it, is it even safe to leave it coiled and disconnected? The hub makes it possible for all your Wink devices to speak to each other. Wish I could be more help! This quote from their website makes me think otherwise: If you already have a c-wire connection, even though it is not required, we recommend connecting it to Sensi to help improve Wi-Fi connectivity and battery life.. So you know, we have a small place in the desert Southwest (aka: Las Vegas) we retreat to in winterswere old, retired folks. When I checked my old thermostat, most of the time the measurement and setpoint agreed. Then the hassle begins reprogramming. My only complaint is battery life. The other end just plugs into a regular outlet. will drop off after about two hours to preserve the AA batteries. I have Rc, W, Y, G, and Rh connected. Nothing labelled C wire. And then connect it to the thermostat? A fast cycle rate will keep a more consistent temperature, but will require your equipment to cycle on and off much more. HR isnt but handed by way of, and so they say that its One example is the Emerson Sensi WiFi thermostat. A/C run time way too short. Swing range too tight for some users. Cannot be set below 50F. Whether you own multiple homes, a business, or some rental properties, the Sensi will empower you. The furnace heats with gas for floor heat and fan, as well as the hot water. The Emerson Sensi is one of the most economical smart thermostats you can install without a C wire. For example, on a call for heat, Sensi will use a small Thoughts? But for the best experience, I recommend having one. connection means youre SOL in changing ones program Eric, [] If you dont have a smart thermostat already and youve always had your heart set on a Nest, this is the best Nestyet go for it. Click To Buy The Emerson Sensi WiFi Thermostat At Amazon. Doing in summer because I dont need the heat but the furnace has been off. three years ago I bought a smart thermostat, installed it and it didn't work. Whichever wire matches the color, should be your c wire. Different schedules for different days. Another good choice: the Emerson Sensi. For proper functionality, Emerson Sensi Touch Smart Thermostats do require a C-wire. You could potentially power the Sensi just on batteries, but that would require turning the Wi . ), they have ready made add-a-wire kits available. Sometimes installers run the c wire from the control board to the thermostat location but dont hook it up. Eric, Ive had a Nest for 3 yrs. I noticed that the multicolored wiring image is labeled wrong. Fan control with the Sensi is less than what I would expect for a smart thermostat. Now that you know what the c wire is, you may be asking yourself, why do I want it? I have no C wire. Many smart thermostats come equipped with a large, full-color touch-screen. This is supposed to be the Nest magic hookup that eliminates the need for a C wire. A c-wire is required for heat-only, cool-only and heat pump (without aux) systems and for use with Apple HomeKit. It locks the screen on the thermostat unit so that no changes can be made from there. I have a very old Honeywell programmable thermostat. I have two questions: 1. Installation Does my Sensi thermostat need a common wire, or "c-wire"? This is what they said: In certain situations, Sensi does require a common or "C" wire. However, support will not tell you that until youve spent countless hours reconfiguring and even though they knew I had a heat pump. Thanks! Once youve got the setup complete, your Sensi app will change to reflect the current mode and temperature. Designed to work with the wires you already have, Sensi thermostat does not require a common wire (c-wire) for most installations, so it is compatible with the HVAC equipment in many homes in U.S. and Canada. 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. The Transformer has 3 terminals, 24v, 0v, and ground. You could buy any 24V transformer to do the job, but this adapter is specifically made for smart thermostats. I am still trying to get a answer from Emerson. I guess cooling and fan should be turned on/off at the same time. Im replacing two old Honeywell mercury thermostats with Nest Pros. It is often labeled as c on thermostat backplates. Youll need to make an account with Sensi (through the app) when you set up your new Sensi thermostat and register your device. The circuit is actually VERY simple. One is meant for professional installers (1F86U-42WF), and the other is meant for the retail consumer (UP500W). If you think of a modern thermostat as an old-timey thermostat plus a smart phone stuck to the wall right next to ityou need something to power the smartphone. The Venstar kit has a proven track record and is the lowest cost kit I have found. This issue is important because its easy to get confused since batteries (which the C wire can replace) are DC and most electronics use DC power as an input. 5 possible causes and potential solutions. If you look at the compatibility chart, https://sensi.emerson.com/en-us/support/how-can-i-be-sure-a-sensi-thermostat-will-work-with-my-hvac you will see a long list of incompatibility without a C wire. The Sensi Touch Smart Thermostat (ST75) and ST75 Touch Smart Thermostat are both compatible with the app. Control Multiple Thermostats From One App, Integration With Other Home Automation Platforms, Best Z Wave Thermostat: The Most Complete List Youll Find, Honeywell RTH9580WF Review: Tried And True, Nest Thermostat: Convenience, Comfort, And Style For Your Smart Home, Honeywell Lyric Round Review: Its Cheaper For A Reason, Forced air systems including gas, oil and electric, Heat pumps including those with auxiliary heat, Up to four stages of heating and two stages of cooling, Line voltage heating such as electric baseboard or wall convectors. How appropriate is it to post a tweet saying that I am looking for postdoc positions? Dont worry, its not that big of a deal to add a c wire. Thus our request for your recommendation, so I can install the year-around thermostat and be confident it will function in both the AC and heat modes. (some "kind of modern" thermostats have batteries in them for this purposeto power the "smarts"), The red wire brings juice into the thermostatbut there is no "ground wire". The Sensi is a great thermostat well worth its low price tag. How low can the heat mode be programed for an extended time period. That is the current which can be used to power the thermostat via power stealing. @Tester101 , I opened it up again, I do have 2 extra wires, one is blue, and one is brown. It's more common to use the blue wire, but it really doesn't matter which one you use. What it is: the Emerson Sensi Touch is a smart thermostat with a touch screen, easy-to-use app, and a somewhat pared-down feature set compared to the (pricier) competition, all for a wallet-friendly price. You have a c wire! If you can handle programming a smart thermostat, you can figure out how to add a c wire. If you only have heating or cooling, you will need to run a C-wire or consider something like the Venstar Add-a-Wire. With the right unit, you could save 20 percent or more on your utility bills. Rep said to call tech because there is a grounding problem at outside AC unit. This article is really well written and I am very grateful for it. Rob. Read on for. You will need a C-wire if your system is: Sensis own website offers a handy compatibility checking tool. It will work with. The on option means that the fan runs all the time. The upper right corner of the apps default screen shows todays high and low temperature, as well as current temperature and location. Yes, if you have an extra wire and you found the C terminal on your board you can connect it. Can I? That was back in 2016, and the Sensis been a fire and forget solution for that home. With updated firmware, when Auto is selected for the Fan operation, the user can interfere with the operation of the fan. I am getting an error code that says no power to Y1 wire detected (the Y1 wire is definitely connected). does it matter which one I use? The internet connection to Sensi is iffy and comes an goes Each Emerson Sensi thermostat comes with a pair of regular AA batteries. Ive read a number of pieces on the c wire and the use of the ecobee and I learned more from your article than any other Ive read. The unexpected loss of connection at seemingly random intervals can be an extremely frustrating problem. Without a "C" wire installed, the Wi-Fi connection At least, they didnt at the time of this writing (2021). Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. When your call is answered, tell the agent that you are at a customer's home and need the firmware update pushed for the hum/dehum capabilities. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. I did not have a C wire but had 3 extra wires already ran and was able to utilize one of those wires to connect to the nest C. Had to run back to Home Depot at 9pm after spending a few hours working in the heat (no thermostat=no cooling) and with tech support to make it work only to find out the unit was defective. This means that during times of minimal usage, the chance of running your backup batteries really low or even completely dead is a possibility. The amperage require for a smart thermostat must be minimal. I wonder if this is why I have had to replace my Nest four times (about every three-four months) since I have moved into my house. No extra wire in the wall. Have you heard of Murphys law? etc. It also has extra long wires in case you dont have an outlet near your thermostat. Just correct those two lines and youll be in great shape. The "other end" of the C wire is hooked to the other side of the transformer that supplies juice to the R or red wire. Nest 3rd gen: whats new, and is it worth upgrading? You can raise/lower the temp, turn the fan on/off (if there is one), and tweak the schedule, but for nearly all of these things its easier to do them through the app or through a linked assistant. My guess is Red to R, White to W, 0v to C and 24v to Y. No I have to go back to Home Depot and return the thing. Any comments or questions? and connected my C wire to it. Its always possible theyll add it. For the Sensi Classic Thermostat, a C-wire is required for heat only systems, cool only systems and heat pump without auxiliary heat. No box or packaging as I threw that all away once the unit was working to provide adequate cooling. That will not work. So now the Sensi is non Wifi connectable Which is ironic given that was the major reason to purchase . DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT IF YOU HAVE A HEAT ONLY, COOL ONLY OR HEAT PUMP WITHOUT A C WIRE! How would I check? The power comes from the hot wire which is usually the Rc or Rh wire. There is a similar problem with the Ecobee. It appears that the Sensi thermostat is a lot smarter than I gave it credit for. Great thermostat although the one I have is defective. I just want to know if the WiFi unit will work without a C wire. Wont take it back, wants me to contact the manufacturer. I already have an Rc wire. The clarification or addendum you would need is that if there a c wire connection at the control panel it doesnt necessarily mean you have a c wire. Is it hardwired or does it run only on batteries? The ecobee comes with the part (they call it a PEK power extender kit) and Nest has their Google Nest Power Connector available for purchase separately (see here). 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. But it works. I added the 24v transformer option to the article, My control panel is well hidden so I found a wire that has 24V I am trying to power an inline garage 240v heater via a 24v relay using a nest e. I have the 24v adapter to the R terminal and to the C terminal. Theres a lot to love about the Sensi, but heres some of our favorite features. To access from web browser you need to subscribe to sensi manager service for $10/year/thermostat.
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