Can anyone help me choose a digital thermostat please?

[ManBearPig]

I'm looking for a digital thermostat to replace our complete shit analog one (I shouldve done this for my parents ages ago, I know), but I've got no idea which to get. I wanna spend up to $70 or so. I have amazon prime so it would be nice to get it from there, but I don't mind getting one at Lowes or something.

Is it pretty easy to install (any advice or anything beforehand would be great)?

Thanks!

Edit: I think our thermostat only has 2 wires, not 4 wires like the newer houses...anyone know if I can still use a digital one? A quick Google search shows yes, and to put them in the "R" and "W" slots.

 

[olds]

Only $11

 

[ManBearPig]

Only $11

Heh, not the kind I meant!

 

[Jeff7]

I've got a Ritetemp 8035. It seems to do a fine job, and allows up to 4 setpoints per day. (Before waking up, after leaving for work, before getting home, and before sleeping.) It allows for setting all individual days; some I've seen lump the weekend as one setting, and may even do the same for all weekdays.
Overriding it for a certain temperature is also easy to do.
And it's got a touchscreen interface.

Note that I've only used this with a dedicated furnace; the air system here lacks any cooling capabilities. Installation wasn't terribly difficult either, at least there was nothing that I remember anymore. The installation manual is there at the link above if you want to see it.

 

[BoomerD]

I'm looking for a digital thermostat to replace our complete shit analog one (I shouldve done this for my parents ages ago, I know), but I've got no idea which to get. I wanna spend up to $70 or so. I have amazon prime so it would be nice to get it from there, but I don't mind getting one at Lowes or something.

Is it pretty easy to install (any advice or anything beforehand would be great)?

Thanks!

Edit: I think our thermostat only has 2 wires, not 4 wires like the newer houses...anyone know if I can still use a digital one? A quick Google search shows yes, and to put them in the "R" and "W" slots.

Why should YOU have done this for your parents? Are they not capable or competent enough to do it for themselves?

 

[Rubycon]

What's wrong with analog? It's an on off switch as long as you don't need setback an aneroid controller is perfectly fine! T87F forever! As long as people change them out that means more mercury bulbs to play with. Although the larger mercury switches out of boiler controls are much better for geek projects.

 

[Jeff7]

What's wrong with analog? It's an on off switch as long as you don't need setback an aneroid controller is perfectly fine! T87F forever! As long as people change them out that means more mercury bulbs to play with. Although the larger mercury switches out of boiler controls are much better for geek projects.

I guess you'd need a good analog one. And the analog one lacks programmability.
My analog one had a hysteresis range of somewhere around ±5°F or more. It was frigid by the time it turned on, and it didn't quit until it was damned hot in here. The digital one is ±1°F.

 

[0roo0roo]

even the 25-30 dollar ones work just fine.
as for why not analog..program is always good, esp if your family has a predictable schedule, you can set it to always go back to a set temp so you can't forget and leave it on too high or low or whatever too long and waste energy. and of course at night you can set it to low energy as well...analog is just a waste of effort. you can always over ride it as necessary.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

I just installed one of these today:
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...atalogId=10053
Less than $25 at my local HD and despite the product description is 7-day programmable. Temp swing is adjustable and has an override hold. I looked in the install guide and it should work with a two-wire hookup.

 

[Sea Moose]

Erm, what kind of system is it for? Why not get right factory controller to suit the system. You can have problems when mixing thermostats with pcbs as somtimes different temp sensors can have different resistance for temperatures.

<-- Hvac mechanic

 

[NascarFool]

Erm, what kind of system is it for? Why not get right factory controller to suit the system. You can have problems when mixing thermostats with pcbs as somtimes different temp sensors can have different resistance for temperatures.

<-- Hvac mechanic

Say what ? ? In the US, most of the equipment is run by 24v. Thermostat brand makes no difference other than some are junk. Hunter, Magic Stat, Rite Temp . . . . . junk. My choice is a Honeywell Vision Pro 8000. White Rogers is also good. The Honeywell is a little higher priced than most stats but well worth it.

<----- NATE Certified HVAC Tech

 

[Rubycon]

Say what ? ? In the US, most of the equipment is run by 24v. Thermostat brand makes no difference other than some are junk. Hunter, Magic Stat, Rite Temp . . . . . junk. My choice is a Honeywell Vision Pro 8000. White Rogers is also good. The Honeywell is a little higher priced than most stats but well worth it.

<----- NATE Certified HVAC Tech

Perhaps he is talking about the anticipator. Which btw is why Jeff7's 'stat was off. IIRC the cooling anticipator is a fixed carbon resistor whereas the heating anticipator is adjustable. (wirewound rheostat)

 

[Sea Moose]

Things must be done different here in the land of AUs. The brand i install is digital and is only compaditble with its own brand of controllers.They do amazing things tho, you can get pressure readings and superheats through the controllers as well as compressor run times and stuff. Sure commercial controllers are interchangable but the rule of thiumb with domestic is keep it simple.

I dont give a fuck if your a NAte certifited hvac tech, cause thats obviously some american thing. (in the politest manner possible)

A fucking hvac tech is a hvac tech.


wANKER

 

[Rubycon]

The OP is talking about a residential thermostat and you're discussing commercial controls.

Question is can a Robinaire vacuum pump enlarge a moose penis like a human's?

Things must be done different here in the land of AUs. The brand i install is digital and is only compaditble with its own brand of controllers.They do amazing things tho, you can get pressure readings and superheats through the controllers as well as compressor run times and stuff. Sure commercial controllers are interchangable but the rule of thiumb with domestic is keep it simple.

I dont give a fuck if your a NAte certifited hvac tech, cause thats obviously some american thing. (in the politest manner possible)

A fucking hvac tech is a hvac tech.


wANKER

 

[Sea Moose]

The OP is talking about a residential thermostat and you're discussing commercial controls.

Question is can a Robinaire vacuum pump enlarge a moose penis like a human's?

go fuck yourself

I used to have a lot of respect for you rubycon.

 

[Rubycon]

Well talking to others like that is certainly NOT the way to earn any respect here. As a matter of fact it's a good way to get banned. Some never learn. :whiste:

go fuck yourself

I used to have a lot of respect for you rubycon.

 

[Jeff7]

Yeah, well, this thread had way too much moose penis in it already anyway.

 

[Rubycon]

I believe the correct term is pizzle. :biggrin:

 

[parsley007]

I just bought http://www.amazon.com/Lux-Products-T.../dp/B000I7MANA and installed it on Friday. It works pretty well, I like it.

 

[mfenn]

go fuck yourself

I used to have a lot of respect for you rubycon.

Just because you feel like an idiot for misreading the OP doesn't mean that you have to take it out on everybody else.

EDIT: Either that or you're just completely wasted.

 

[drquest]

I bought one of these: http://www.hunterair.com/product/0-49694-42996-4.html

Relatively cheap and the big bonus is it has a remote control! Beats getting up in the middle of the night and going downstairs to change the temp!