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Thermostat for shop

Stbrecken
Community Member

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

15 REPLIES 15

Houptee
Silver Product Expert
Silver Product Expert

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?


Houptee -- NJ Master HVAC Licensed Contractor

Gas hanging shop heater w 2 wire simple thermostat.

Houptee
Silver Product Expert
Silver Product Expert

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.


Houptee -- NJ Master HVAC Licensed Contractor

Stbrecken
Community Member

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
Silver Product Expert
Silver Product Expert

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.


Houptee -- NJ Master HVAC Licensed Contractor

Stbrecken
Community Member

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
Silver Product Expert
Silver Product Expert

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.


Houptee -- NJ Master HVAC Licensed Contractor

Stbrecken
Community Member
  • 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
Silver Product Expert
Silver Product Expert

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.


Houptee -- NJ Master HVAC Licensed Contractor

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

Houptee
Silver Product Expert
Silver Product Expert

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


Houptee -- NJ Master HVAC Licensed Contractor

Stbrecken
Community Member

Thank you for all the info.

EdwardT
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hi folks,

@Houptee, thanks for the help!

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

Thanks,

Edward

Stbrecken
Community Member

Thanks. I’ve got what I need

EdwardT
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

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