In our house the thermostat is located in the worst place possible and so it can be very difficult to control the temperature of the whole house properly. Rather than move the location of the thermostat is there any thermostat out there that has a remote temperature sensor so it can base whether or not the AC/heat needs to come on based on that vs the wall unit? I would prefer wireless if possible because running wires is a pain and I would like the ability to move it around.

Anyone use something like this? How did you like it?

6/26/2014 7:26:43 PM

This thread is relevant to my interests

6/26/2014 8:49:59 PM

Arduino. Make your own.

6/26/2014 9:29:55 PM

Google.

http://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-C7189U1005-Indoor-Temperature-Thermostats/dp/B003UJYZDG

6/26/2014 9:31:57 PM

^ was hoping from some first hand experience and not blind amazon reviews. I think I might get the Honeywell system with the remote though, looks pretty cool

On that note, these systems say they need a professional to install them. I don't know jack about HVACs or electrical systems but I am pretty handy and can install lights and other things like that. Has anyone installed a thermostat that it said for a professional to install but had little experience? I would rather do it myself but not if I screw it up and end up not taking advantage of all the features.

6/26/2014 10:06:43 PM

If you don't know jack about HVAC or electrical systems and it actually says you need a professional, then you're gonna need someone that has a clue. Afaik the basic consumer level Honeywell thermostats don't say you need a professional. They specifically come with easy instructions and little labels for each wire, so, again, if it says you actually need a pro you more than likely do.

For example, my Honeywell YTH8320ZW1007 is a higher-end residential thermostat, and it says in multiple places that a professional needs to install it. I've read that some consumers were turned away by Honeywell support when trying to get help installing it themselves. I've got a little bit of electrical experience, and, although it took some hair pulling and gnashing of teeth, I got mine working myself.

[Edited on June 27, 2014 at 12:24 AM. Reason : example]

6/27/2014 12:20:11 AM

That makes sense, my usual train of thought is nahhh I can do it, how hard can it be? And then I end up uttering many curse words and throwing things

6/27/2014 8:02:11 AM

Well I ended up buying this system and will attempt the installation myself, I might regret this but it really doesn't seem that hard. I am also getting the remote deal (second link) that can act as a wireless temp sensor for whatever room I want.

http://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-YTH6320R1001-Wireless-Thermostat-Programmable/dp/B001O4F8Y4/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1404073728&sr=8-6&keywords=honeywell+redlink

http://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-REM5000R1001-Portable-Comfort-Control/dp/B004MH0S40/ref=pd_bxgy_hi_img_y

6/29/2014 5:57:41 PM

My biggest issue was that I was replacing the original mercury thermostat. Since the old thermostat wasn't powered there was no hot wire, so I had to wire that into the furnace. Luckily the house was already wired with 5-wire, else I would have had to run a whole new thermostat wire.

6/30/2014 3:16:59 PM

I would have to run a new wire with a different system but since this one is wireless I just have to connect the main module to the furnace so any new wires won't have to go through any walls or anything. The main module will just sit in the closet with the furnace.

6/30/2014 3:31:38 PM

We have that exact thermostat for our downstairs and really like it. I had it installed about 3 years ago maybe? I considered both that or Nest at the time and actually chose this over Nest because the programability is plenty good and I liked the fact that the thermostat itself is wireless. I thought about getting the remote but we didn't.

I might replace our upstairs one at some point and also pick up the remote for it (since the upstairs is more closed off with bedrooms). But downstairs the remote wasn't really needed. It's easy enough to move the thermostat if we really need to (which I rarely do). Our original thermostat was located in a terrible spot and we had no other spot to really move it to in our open layout. So, I had the controller installed in a coat-closet (it was nearly directly over the AHU in the crawl space so very little new control wiring was required) and now this thermostat sits out of the way on a shelf. Really handy and worth the $.


[Edited on June 30, 2014 at 5:58 PM. Reason : ]

6/30/2014 5:55:55 PM

Got the system in today and in less than 30 minutes had it up and running. Super easy install.

7/1/2014 7:42:42 PM

glad to hear it. Ours has been trouble-free for 3 years. I think we changed the batteries around 18 months? It gives you a warning.

7/2/2014 10:13:37 AM