topic Wifi Thermostat requiring C wire in Nest Thermostats

Wifi Thermostat requiring C wire

mks07866 — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 03:15:01 GMT

Most of the thermostats available in the market require a "C" wire. When I called a pro, he was not sure how to add a "C" wire.

Has anyone added a "C" wire to the existing setup? Running wires in a multi-floor house with six different heating zones is not an easy task. Does this mean, I cannot use wi-fi thermostats?

One of my friends has a battery-operated old nest device that runs heat only with 2-wire setups (red and white). I believe that's a first-generation thermostat and I don't seem to find one without "C" wire support.

Any practical suggestions?

Nest Thermostat suddenly stopped charging

mks07866 — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 02:50:18 GMT

My Nest Learning thermostat suddenly stopped charging after one and a half years. if I take out the device charge it and put it back it will work for a few hours but then it will lose the charge and get dead again. When I charge and use it for a few hours, it works as expected and controls the temperature.

Does anyone know why the unit could stop charging suddenly?

Re: Wifi Thermostat requiring C wire

Markjosephp — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 22:13:54 GMT

Hi mks07866,

Thanks for reaching out. I'd be happy to shed some light on the situation here!

Adding a C wire to your existing setup for the Nest Thermostat can be a bit challenging, especially in a multi-floor house with multiple heating zones. It's not uncommon for older systems to lack a C wire, and professionals might not always be familiar with the process. If running new wires is a difficult task, you can explore a few alternatives:

Use the online thermostat compatibility checker tool. This can help you determine if your current wiring is compatible.
If the first professional was unsure, consider seeking opinions from other HVAC professionals. Some may have experience with your specific setup and can provide guidance on the best course of action.

I did find a helpful article about the Nest Power Connector as an alternative to the C wire. You can review its installation process and how it works, then let us know if you have more questions.

Best,
Mark