topic Re: How Can I tell my Nest Power Connector is working? in Nest Thermostats

How Can I tell my Nest Power Connector is working?

BobW52 — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 22:59:42 GMT

Installed the Power Connector today with my Nest Learning Thermostat 3rd gen. How can I tell if the power connector is doing its job?

Re: How Can I tell my Nest Power Connector is working?

Jake — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 21:15:19 GMT

Hey BobW52,

I wanted to follow up with you, and see if I could be of some help. I found an article with more details on the Nest Power Connector. Please let me know if that helps answer your question, or if you are still in need of any help.

Best regards,

Jake

Re: How Can I tell my Nest Power Connector is working?

BobW52 — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 22:07:47 GMT

Jake, thanks for the quick response. The reason I and MANY others are asking this question via this forum is because Google doesn't provide any documentation online that answers this question. Do you have any contacts at Google or anyone on this forum that can point us to the answer? The directions that come with the Power Connector don't provide ANY information on how to confirm that it is providing power to the thermostat.

Re: How Can I tell my Nest Power Connector is working?

Jake — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 18:01:16 GMT

Hey BobW52,

You can confirm that the Nest Power Connector is properly installed by following these steps below.

For the Nest Thermostat E and the Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd gen), no wiring or power errors are shown on the device.
For the Nest Thermostat, go to Settings > Equipment > Power Connector to run a Power Test, then confirm the status is detected in Power Info.

Please let me know if that helps, or if you have any other questions from here.

Best regards,

Jake

Re: How Can I tell my Nest Power Connector is working?

BobW52 — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 22:27:50 GMT

I re-read the above and noticed that the "Power Connector" menu is noted ONLY for the Nest Thermostat, not for the E or Learning models. I don't get any wiring or power errors, but my battery dropped below minimum after installing the Power Connector. My understanding is that shouldn't happen if the Power Connector is supplying power. Do you agree?

Re: How Can I tell my Nest Power Connector is working?

Jake — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 17:26:44 GMT

Hey BobW52,

I wanted to check in and see if you are still in need of any help with your device. Please let me know, as I would be happy to assist, and answer any questions you may have.

Best regards,
Jake

Re: How Can I tell my Nest Power Connector is working?

BobW52 — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 19:17:23 GMT

Jake, thanks for checking in. Here's a recap of the past few days:

- Monitor battery level of my thermostat

- Reviewed/verified the wiring of the Power Connector.

- Took volt readings from a combination of terminal combinations. Sad part is I don't know what I should be seeing.

- Last night, my thermostat went off line for over 10 hours due to low battery voltage. When I got back from an early morning appointment, the battery charge had increased enough for it to go back online.

- I'm borrowing my neighbor's unused Nest 3rd gen thermostat as a control test to see if my battery voltage issues continue and to see if the battery level maintains a higher charge than 2.7 to 2.75. I would expect it to be at 2.8 or higher if it is receiving a steady charge from the Power Connector. (I'm expecting the 2.8+ reading based on what I the thermostat reports after being connected externally to a charger for an hour or two.)

So...no, my problem isn't solved. It appears there is no way to prove the power connector is providing a charge based on the info I've been provided by your or what I've found online. This is sad. I invested in the Nest system because of Tony Faddell's reputation (I worked for Apple at one point in my Silicon Valley career).

What kind of help can you provide and/or what direction can you point me towards?

Re: How Can I tell my Nest Power Connector is working?

Jeran — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 17:57:57 GMT

Hey there BobW52,

Just to be safe, I would recommend that you double-check your wiring via the settings to see if the Thermostat is detecting all of your wires properly. If everything checks out, then I would follow it up with a factory reset.

Let me know if that resolves the issue, we're always happy to help out!

Best regards,

Jeran

Re: How Can I tell my Nest Power Connector is working?

Jeran — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 19:02:43 GMT

Hey there BobW52,

Did you have any more questions or need any additional help?

Thank you,
Jeran

Re: How Can I tell my Nest Power Connector is working?

Jeran — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 21:09:54 GMT

Hey BobW52,

Did you have any more questions or need any additional help? If not, I'll go ahead and lock up this thread in 24 hours.

Just checking up,
Jeran