Electric heat (do I need to turn my electricity off??? to install). Current thermostats are VERY old (probably 30 years). Its electric radiant heat in the ceiling. I want to put new ones in to be more efficient... but I also don't want to screw stuff up and have no heat in MARCH...
2007-02-27 05:06:34 · 8 answers · asked by Mark R 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Changing out stats is pretty simple. Your stat wiring is all low voltage (24 volts) so there isn't much chance of a shock. But you might want to trip the btreaker or pull the fuse just to be on the safe side. Just remove the old stat and note which terminal each of the wires goes to. Reinstall the wires one-by-one onto the corresponding terminals on the new stat. The number of wires depends on whether you have heat only or heat-cool stats, and whether you have fan controls. Good luck.
2007-02-27 05:09:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
I would advise turning the power off. With electric heaters, sometimes the thermostats can be of the "line voltage" type, meaning that the control circuit is powered by the same power source that powers the entire unit. If it is a line voltage thermostat, there is a potential shock hazard to you.
If it is a "low voltage" thermostat, it is still advised that you turn the power off, just to make sure that you don't short anything out to ground, by accident. I always turn the power off when I replace thermostats just in case.
Make sure you know what type of thermostat you are dealing with. The front cover should have a data sticker telling you what voltage it uses. 24 volts = low voltage, 120 or 208/230 or 240 volts = line voltage.
These units typically have 2 wires going to the thermostat, as the thermostat is nothing but a contact that opens and closes according to the temperature setting and the temperature of the conditioned space. For low voltage control circuits, there is a red wire (hot-24volts) and white (heat). For line voltage thermostats, the wires are usually of the rigid type. You should have a mulitmeter handy so you can check what voltage you are working with. This will eliminate the guessing if there is no data plate or sticker available at your thermostat.
2007-02-27 14:41:26 · answer #2 · answered by Joey 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You don't have to turn the electric off. It's a simple 2 wire installation for heat only. If there was air condioning it would be a little more difficult, 3 more wires. You should be able to hook it up with no trouble. The 2 wire connections are clearly marked on the new thermostat so you will know where to connect your wires
2007-02-27 13:12:30 · answer #3 · answered by dononvan_666 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
First please do not listen to any of these people that heat is 220 volts and is very dangerous first turn off power to heat and then pull out therm. from wall dont unwire yet look at therm and see if the power feed is marked on unit it will be L1 and L2 or may say power mark those two wires that is your feed if not marked you will need a voltage tester to find out which one is the feed with testers turn circuit back on and check the wires, they will be coming from the same cable when you find the feed wire the new therm. hot to line side and the ohter 2 wires to the load side or may be marked T side. Get a 220 volt therm. from home store Honeywells work well
2007-02-27 18:40:33 · answer #4 · answered by brndnh721 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This can be very simple if you have a camera take a picture of the back where the wires hook to the old one to reference back to if needed. But yes turn the power off to the furnace itself and remove the old stat(be sure to label the wire first). Most of the time there are letters of some kinda that each wire gos to on the stat and the new one will come with label for you to put on the wires before you remove them from the old same. then its as easy as matching the letters to the new stat and hanging it back on the wall. turn your power back on and you are as good as new.
2007-02-27 13:23:11 · answer #5 · answered by troy 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It isn't too hard. YES you absolutely need to make sure the electricity is off before touching ANY wiring. But if you've never done anything like it before, you really ought to have someone help you who knows a little about it.
2007-02-27 13:09:57 · answer #6 · answered by MOM KNOWS EVERYTHING 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Its wrong to assume the stat wiring is 24 volts only..Electric baseboard heat is almost always on line- volt stats. Heater is 220V. with one phase breaking thru the stat.
Turn off power before doing anything!!! Look at your wiring on the old stat. Match it back up on the new one. you should have no problems...BUT...turn off the power first!!!
2007-02-27 13:23:54 · answer #7 · answered by backyard_tire_biter 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Don't do it!!! If you do it wrong it will cost you big bucks to get your circuit board replaced in your furnace. Spend less - hire someone to do it.
2007-02-27 13:10:31 · answer #8 · answered by Spud55 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋