Thermostat for shop

[Stbrecken]

I want to put a WiFi thermostat in a shop building and want to turn the heat on and off as well as set the temperature. Is the nest capable of this.
thank you

[Houptee]

What kind of heating system do you have in the shop? Is it a forced air gas furnace like in a house? Or is it one of those gas shop heaters hanging from the ceiling?

Is there a wall thermostat in the shop now?

[Stbrecken]

Gas hanging shop heater w 2 wire simple thermostat.

[Houptee]

Do you know if it has a 24 volt transformer in the heater? Does it have a wiring diagram? Some of those are millivolt systems. If it's millivolt you will need a wall transformer for 24 volts AC. Let me know and I can tell you how to wire a transformer if you are going to need one.

[Stbrecken]

I can figure out the power. I need to find a WiFi thermostat that will shut off/on the heater as well as change the temperature remotely.
thanks

Shawn

[Houptee]

Yes but if the heater does not provide 24 volts to the existing thermostat then the Nest will not work it needs power on the R and a C common wire to keep it charged up. Some of those shop heaters the power to the thermostat is only very low millivolts not 24 volts. So determine using a mutimeter set to AC volts and test the 2 wires at the existing thermostat see if you get approx 24 volts AC not DC. If no, then set meter to millivots and test again.

[Stbrecken]

Running power will be no problem. I need to make sure the thermostat will do what I need it to do.
thank you

Shawn

[Houptee]

What brand and model heater is it? Can you post a pic of it with and show where the existing thermostat wires connect. The only way to know if it will be a standard installation like a house furnace is to see pics of where the thermostat wires connect to the heater to see if there is a terminal for a C common wire to connect.

[Stbrecken]

• My first and only concern is can the nest or any other WiFi thermostat turn the heater on and off remotely? If not, wiring is mute.

[Houptee]

Yes it can but only if the heater has an internal 24 v transformer that provides 24 Volts otherwise you need to add a separate transformer plugged into a wall outlet to provide constant 24 volts to the Nest R and C terminals, the heater will connect to R and W.

[Stbrecken]

Thank you for the answer. I get the constant 24 volts needed. Thanks for the connection info also.

Thank you

Shawn

[Houptee]

If heater has a way to connect 3 wires R W and C to the heater then you wont need a separate transformer but if it only has the terminals for the 2 existing wires then watch this video. You can buy those transformers on Amazon if you need one for under 20 bucks.

https://youtu.be/yi5kfn3bmEk

Here is a transformer if you need one

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TWDT4J2

[Stbrecken]

Thank you for all the info.

[EdwardT]

Hi folks,

@Houptee, thanks for the help!

@Stbrecken, how's it going with your Nest Thermostat? Still need our help?

Thanks,

Edward

[Stbrecken]

Thanks. I’ve got what I need

[EdwardT]

Hi Stbrecken,

Thanks for the update. I will be locking this thread in 24 hours. Please feel free to create a new thread should you have some more questions or concerns in the near future and we'll be more than glad to help.

Thanks,

Edward