Power connector in zoned condo

[Duano]

I live in a condo that has heat included. Each unit has a zone control valve with two wires connected to it (one black and one red).  Can I use a Power Connector for my Nest thermostat and, if so, how does it get wired ?

[Houptee]

What does the existing thermostat wires look like? Is the valve 24 volts? Any information on the thermostat or the valve?

To use the power adapter the valve controller has to be 24v ac and the transformer has to be in the unit so you can connect to the C common side of the transformer. 

[Duano]

Is there a way to send you photos? I have photos of the thermostat and transformer wiring. 

[Houptee]

You can attach them here along the top of the chat box click camera icon to insert photos.

[Duano]

 

 

[Houptee]

I see you connected the red (or is it orange?) to W on the Nest but at the transformer nothing is connected to W screw.

Do you know where that W wire goes? I do not see it in the thick painted cable by the transformer.

I see a thin brown cable in back but cannot see if that connects to anything, is that cable coming out of the wall by the Nest with the thicker cable?

[Duano]

For some reason the camera icon doesn’t always show up. I have a photo of it but can’t send it. The red wire to the W is in the thin brown wire and looks like it connects to the Y on the transformer along with the blue wire. I hope that helps. Wish I could send the picture. 

[Duano]

 okay the icon showed up finally. Here’s the photo. 

[Duano]

I’m assuming that the red wire in question is actually in the thin brown wire that’s in front by the transformer. The one in the back doesn’t connect to anything.

[Houptee · Accepted solution]

Did you take a pic of the old Tstat before you took the wires off?

Was that red wire hooked to the W on the old tstat?

If everything is matched up the way it was on the old Tstat the only thing I see you need to do is get a piece of wire add it to the wire nut and then put it into the C on the Nest because that white wire coming from the thicker cable in the wall is attached to C on the transformer so that is your C wire. So you will have 3 wires in the wire nut with one going to C on the Nest.

[Duano]

Thanks. Yes, I always take a photo when working with wiring. I did hook it up exactly like the old one. The Nest is working fine. It just goes through batteries quickly. 

[Houptee]

You can check the Power Status from the wires (not the battery)

Go to Settings, Equipment, Power Info

What are you showing for Vin  Lin  PS ?

Then try adding the C wires from the wire nut and do the test again.

The Vin should be 24V or greater,  and Lin 350 or more PS should be same as Lin with a - neg in front of it.

Once you get the voltage up on Vin and current up on Lin the battery will not run out it will be getting its power from the R and C wires.

[Markjosephp]

Hello there,

I wanted to ensure that everything was covered here.

Thanks for helping here, @Houptee.

@Duano, I'm checking in — how's it going? Still need our help? Please let us know so we can assist you right away.

Regards,

Mark

[Duano]

Thanks for checking. I added the wire that was suggested and, so far, all is working fine. 

[Markjosephp]

Hi there,

Sounds great! I appreciate the update, @Duano. I'm happy to hear that it has been working smoothly. So it appears that we can consider this one as finished, and I'll close this thread in 24 hours. Please give us a shout if you need more help — you know where to find us.

Thanks,

Mark