topic Re: nest thermostat 2nd Gen uk using nest stand wifi in Nest Thermostats

nest thermostat 2nd Gen uk using nest stand wifi

bixieupnorth — Wed, 07 May 2025 13:46:33 GMT

my main question about this infernal decision remains unanswered.

my set up, from 2014, has the heat link in a cupboard in the hall beside the boiler. I'm based in the UK.

in the living room my nest thermostat sits in a powered cradle, (the nest stand i think it's called?) and everything connects via wifi.

my question is, is there a straight swap for the 3rd or 4th generation? can i get a similar set up on either of the newer ones and replace? or will the heat link need to be rewired to facilitate?

i can't find any information about this, except about wall mounted thermostats.

we don't particularly want this option, as we've found the wifi cradle to be perfect for our needs

i hope someone can answer this, or point me somewhere that can help?

thanks in advance

Re: nest thermostat 2nd Gen uk using nest stand wifi

bixieupnorth — Fri, 09 May 2025 09:56:21 GMT

why no replies? they're really not interested in supporting us early uk adopters at all. BOOOOOGGLE

Re: nest thermostat 2nd Gen uk using nest stand wifi

humbertogarcia — Sat, 10 May 2025 17:58:05 GMT

Hi folks,

Thank you for posting in the community and for the research you've done.

Regarding upgrading your Nest Learning Thermostat (2nd Gen) in the UK to a 3rd or 4th generation model, please consider the following:

A direct swap is unlikely. This is because the Heat Link system, used for boiler control, is generation-specific. As outlined in the help article How to tell which Nest thermostat you have, the 2nd gen, 3rd gen, and Nest Thermostat E all use Heat Links, but these units are not interchangeable due to differing wiring. Rewiring the Heat Link will almost certainly be required for the upgrade.

Given the complexities of UK wiring, professional installation by a Nest Pro or a qualified technician is strongly recommended to ensure safe and correct installation and prevent potential damage.

This information should help with your decision. Let me know if you have further questions.

@Frustratedddd Thank you for your participation and for sharing your expertise, please consider that your information is useful regarding a migration to a Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Gen) migration, however given the physical differences of the thermostats' bases, professional advice before purchase and the professional installation is a must to consider.

Regards,

Humberto

Re: nest thermostat 2nd Gen uk using nest stand wifi

Frustratedddd — Sat, 10 May 2025 16:29:04 GMT

You have answered your own question, NO they are not interested in supporting us here in the UK. However, I can help you!

First of all with a little searching on this forum you will find the 4th generation thermostat is NOT available in the UK. This has been talked about many many times.

Regarding a 3rd gen themostat fitting onto a 2nd gen base plate, well that does not fit. Again this question has been talked about many times on the forum. This means if you update to a 3rd gen thermostat, you will have to purchase a new stand, base plate and display. One thing very few experts know, and that is your old Heat Link will work with a 3rd generation display. Having said that, it will only work with the heating, as your 2nd gen Heat Link does not have water connections.

Which means, if you buy a 3rd gen stand, 3rd gen display, 3rd gen base plate - they will work with your old 2nd gen Heat Link as it does at present.

Make sense now?

Re: nest thermostat 2nd Gen uk using nest stand wifi

bixieupnorth — Sun, 11 May 2025 10:20:39 GMT

thanks to both of you for your replies. however they seem to contradict each other regarding the heat link compliance.

plus again google have given no thought to the outlay of several hundred £(per UK based early adopter) to replace a unit which works pretty well even after 11 years.

has anyone there thought of the environmental factors, or is it just purely the cost to google? i find it really annoying that they have forced me to spend a great amount of money when something works perfectly well.

Re: nest thermostat 2nd Gen uk using nest stand wifi

bixieupnorth — Sun, 11 May 2025 12:28:12 GMT

yes i think so, you're saying that i could buy a 3rd gen unit, stand and baseplate and it'll work straight away with my existing heat link over the wifi as currently? i wouldn't need to get anyone in to rewire the heat link?

i only want it for the central heating so the water doesn't worry me. can you confirm this for me ASAP please, as you seem to know more than the experts!

Re: nest thermostat 2nd Gen uk using nest stand wifi

bixieupnorth — Sun, 11 May 2025 10:44:01 GMT

my system, was fitted by npower in 2014. so the stand has all the baseplate wiring, the thermostat just clips into the front of it. then it connects to the heat link via wifi.

being a novice i always assumed it would be a simple replace of the whole thing and the wifi would pick up the new system.

every search i've ever done just leads to rewiring of the heat link. whereas my system isn't wired, it never was. it was installed as wifi.

so i hope frusttrraated is correct with his take on it, as a second hand unit, baseplate and stand would be doable on my budget

thanks

Re: nest thermostat 2nd Gen uk using nest stand wifi

Frustratedddd — Sun, 11 May 2025 11:37:37 GMT

That is correct!

Where are you located, as I have many spares you could try if anywhere near me.

You will have to pair the 3rd gen display to the old 2nd Gen Heat Link.

The 2nd gen signal is exactly the same as the 3rd gen.

Pairing can sometimes be tricky, but with a temprary connection that can be achieved if needed. Search my posts and replys, I have covered this many times.

Obviously you will ONLY get the same functions as you get now, NO HOT WATER just heat control, as the 2nd gen does not have the H/W ralays.

Re: nest thermostat 2nd Gen uk using nest stand wifi

Frustratedddd — Sun, 11 May 2025 11:22:58 GMT

You need to look into what connects to what, then advise users how they can get a work around.

Re: nest thermostat 2nd Gen uk using nest stand wifi

Frustratedddd — Sun, 11 May 2025 11:27:25 GMT

Now if you read some of my early post, you will see I am NOT a Google fan. However after 11 years of usage you would expect a company to move on. For example, you would not expect Ford to keep selling Ford Escort wings after 10 years. For a thermostat to last for 11 years is pretty good, so an upgrade could be a better option as technology moves on faster than cars for example.

Re: nest thermostat 2nd Gen uk using nest stand wifi

Frustratedddd — Sun, 11 May 2025 11:35:30 GMT

Sadly the 2nd and 3rd gen display are different design, the base plate and stand also changed. The 2nd gen stand can fit, but it's a bodge.

The pictures show the change in design of the base plate,

Re: nest thermostat 2nd Gen uk using nest stand wifi

bixieupnorth — Sun, 11 May 2025 11:59:28 GMT

that's great thanks! i missed this reply so ignore my one a few minutes ago.

i live in sheffield. i'm watching a complete 3rd gen on ebay at the minute, ends this afternoon.

i have only ever used mine for the central heating, to be honest i didn't know it could do the hot water too!

thanks for your help

Re: nest thermostat 2nd Gen uk using nest stand wifi

bixieupnorth — Sun, 11 May 2025 12:15:26 GMT

yes i get that, but their decision is very costly to all of us. i could maintain my ford escort myself, but google are in effect disabling it's engine permanently.

i'll never buy anything direct from them again. well i guess i didn't anyway, as it was nest when i got mine!

Re: nest thermostat 2nd Gen uk using nest stand wifi

bixieupnorth — Sun, 11 May 2025 14:05:20 GMT

didn't win it, **bleep**!

Re: nest thermostat 2nd Gen uk using nest stand wifi

Frustratedddd — Sun, 11 May 2025 14:50:27 GMT

I have replied to the bottom of the thread to save the confusion, you message starts now below.

that's great thanks! i missed this reply so ignore my one a few minutes ago.

i live in sheffield. i'm watching a complete 3rd gen on ebay at the minute, ends this afternoon.

i have only ever used mine for the central heating, to be honest i didn't know it could do the hot water too!

thanks for your help

Sadly to far away, as I'm on the East Coast!

Yes your 2nd Gen will ONLY work for heating, the water function only started on the 3rd gen thermostat.

You will see on the 2nd Gen Heat Link terminals marked up as 1 -2 - 3, these are you Heating connections, and I am guesing you will have cables in 2 & 3?

The newer 3rd Gen has terminals 1 -2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6

1 -2 - 3 as yours exactly the same for Heating

4 - 5 - 6 These are for the Hot Water connections.

This means IF you purchased a 3rd Gen thermostat complete, you would use EXACTLY the same connections as your one is connected now.

You could add Hot Water, BUT you would then need a pair of cables connected to the boiler from the Heat Link.

Like I said at the very start, IF you could find a 3rd Gen display this would work with your 2nd Gen Heat Link, BUT it will need pairing. Pretty simple, and search on here and I have talked about it many times.

I hope all this make sense??

The set you bid on, what was the final selling price?

Re: nest thermostat 2nd Gen uk using nest stand wifi

bixieupnorth — Sun, 11 May 2025 16:28:16 GMT

£84 i think?

ideally i don't want to be messing about with wiring. electrical stuff scares me and i don't want to shell out extra for a spark to come in.

i'm aiming to buy the full 3rd gen kit (thermostat, cradle with backplate), then, as you said, just swap it over and hope it pairs with the heat link.

then sell the old one for whatever i can get for it.

cheers again

Re: nest thermostat 2nd Gen uk using nest stand wifi

Frustratedddd — Sun, 11 May 2025 18:11:03 GMT

£84 is very cheap for a good used 3rd gen. My average price for a very good one use to be around £140

One VERY important thing if buying a used 3rd gen thermostat set complete, it MUST be a matched pair. ALWAYS ask the seller to confirm it’s a matched pair, if they don’t know walk away. A sealed boxed 3rd gen will be a matched pair, so no worries there.

Re: nest thermostat 2nd Gen uk using nest stand wifi

bixieupnorth — Sun, 11 May 2025 18:31:34 GMT

you mean that the therm and the backplate must be matched? i'm not sure what you mean by a pair?

Re: nest thermostat 2nd Gen uk using nest stand wifi

Frustratedddd — Sun, 11 May 2025 19:47:16 GMT

No, the display and the Heat Link MUST be from the original set, NOT from a mixed set.

For example if someone had a faulty Heat Link and changed it for another one, the display and Heat Link are now NOT a matched pair.

Re: nest thermostat 2nd Gen uk using nest stand wifi

bixieupnorth — Sun, 11 May 2025 20:27:40 GMT

i'm even more confused now? you told me that my existing heat link would work if i bought a3rd gen therm, cradle and backplate? are you now saying that this isn't the case?