Buying a smart thermostat? Why you need a C-Wire and what to do if you don't have one
Buying a smart thermostat? If you're planning to install it yourself, it's important to know if your dwelling has a C-Wire. Every bit I learned during my Amazon Smart Thermostat review, if I didn't accept a C-Wire, I'd demand to buy a split up adapter to brand sure information technology would piece of work in my DIY smart home.
So what is a C-Wire, how can yous tell if you lot have ane, and what tin yous do if yous don't?
What is a thermostat C-Wire?
Disclaimer
Consult a licensed electrician for questions regarding your abode's circuitry, and be sure to refer to edifice codes before doing electrical piece of work, which vary by location.
A C-Wire is brusk for "common wire"; it's the wire that delivers continuous power from your HVAC system to your thermostat. Pretty much all the best smart thermostats or Wi-Fi-enabled thermostats require a C-Wire connectedness, since the C-Wire eliminates the need for separate batteries.
A modern smart thermostat's LED display and integrated smart dwelling features requires the device to be powered in some capacity at all times. Fifty-fifty when the thermostat isn't actively pushing your HVAC arrangement to warm or cool your home, it needs power to remain connected to your Wi-Fi, then it can respond to commands from other smart abode devices or smart assistants similar Alexa.
Some, like the Nest Learning Thermostat, are IFTTT (If This Then That)-compatible, pregnant preset environmental triggers or other smart home device deportment could automatically accommodate the thermostat's settings, too.
How to tell if your thermostat has a C-Wire
When I took a wiring 101 crash-course to acquire about neutral wiring for installing my Brilliant smart domicile controller, the C-Wire didn't come up up. That's considering C-Wires are specific to thermostats. Dissimilar the rest of the circuitry in your home, the power going to your thermostat is (in most cases) much lower voltage.
Depending on the complexity of your home's HVAC system, you'll see a final for a C-Wire (accordingly labeled 'C,' in almost cases) among an alphabet soup institute backside your thermostat's faceplate. To check if you accept a C-Wire, have your thermostat off your wall to uncover the wiring. You should encounter several wires connected to labeled terminals, and if you lot see a wire connected to C, you lot have a C-Wire. In most cases, the C-Wire will be blue, every bit it was in the case of my thermostat.
This is what my former Honeywell Home thermostat looked like before I installed the Amazon Smart Thermostat. The C terminal's label is concealed by the blue wire (which is my C-Wire,) but it's there.
It's too possible yous have a C-Wire, just it isn't hooked up to your electric current thermostat. Y'all might find an extra wire pushed back to your wall. Before you touch whatsoever wires, plough off power to your organization from your breaker box.
If yous still don't see a C-Wire at your thermostat, bank check out your HVAC's control board. There should be a C terminal among other corresponding terminals yous saw at your thermostat. If there's a wire attached to the C final, compare the colour of the wire to the ones attached to your electric current thermostat. It'due south possible one of the wires is in the incorrect spot.
If you lot don't see a C-Wire attached to your HVAC'due south control board, that means yous don't take a C-Wire. Does that mean y'all tin't install a smart thermostat?
What to do if you don't have a C-Wire for your smart thermostat
As I mentioned, in that location's such a thing every bit a C-Wire adapter. The Amazon Smart Thermostat even offers a package with the Honeywell Home C-Wire Power Adapter, which I chosen in to see whether information technology's a practical solution for those who need information technology to get their new $59 thermostat working. The Ecobee SmartThermostat also offers an "add a wire" kit.
An adapter kit is the best solution for calculation a C-Wire to your HVAC organization and thermostat. The adapter gets installed at your HVAC organization's control board. If y'all can follow a wiring chart and are patient enough to embrace the DIY essence of raising your home's IQ, it'southward non a difficult addition.
That said, if you lot accept whatever doubt about what you're doing, and don't want to risk dissentious what's likely an expensive HVAC system, call an electrician or HVAC professional. I've consulted one multiple times throughout these DIY smart home projects, like for the benefits of using smart switches over smart lights, for example. Merely considering you want to do it yourself, doesn't hateful yous need to figure it out by yourself — especially non at the risk of personal safety or equipment impairment.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/news/buying-a-smart-thermostat-why-you-need-a-c-wire-and-what-to-do-if-you-dont-have-one
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