Thermostat Installation Guide
We suggest you find or research a professional when
ready to install a new
thermostat. If
you're unsure in any way, call your local technician. However,
if you feel you're capable
and ready to install your new programmable thermostat yourself, read all
instructions and the manual that comes with your thermostat completely and
carefully first before beginning with these basic instructions:
How to Install Your Thermostat
-
Disconnect all power that is hooked up to your
current thermostat make and model.
-
Take off the thermostat cover.
-
Find all of the wiring with your furnace.
Unless you're well-trained in home mechanics, you'll want to write down the wire
line terminal designations for later. You can match up the new labels with the
old ones.
-
Disconnect all of the furnace wiring.
-
Now you're ready to disassemble your old thermostat body, being careful not to lose or tangle any of the wiring
behind the wall.
-
Drill holes into the wall for
your new programmable thermostat.
-
Connect the wires through the spaces designed for
them on your new thermostat subbase, either purchased separately, or most likely
in the box with your new thermostat. (The subbase is simply
the back of the thermostat that mounts first.)
-
Screw in (or dry wall anchor) the subbase with the
wires already through.
-
This step is very important and key to your
safety! Connect the wires to their proper terminals, matching labels EXACTLY!
-
Finish by attaching the thermostat to the base.
If you'd like a quick, wire line terminal
reference, here is a compilation of common designations you will possibly run
into during installation, depending on which thermostat you have chosen for your
home:
| Letter |
Use |
Color (differs between manufacturers) |
| R |
heating power |
red |
| C |
common wire from secondary side of cooling
system transformer or heat only system transformer |
changes |
| Rh |
power for heating |
changes |
| Rc |
power for cooling |
changes |
| Y |
cooling; cooling and heating on a heat pump;
compressor relay |
yellow |
| W |
heat relay (W1, W2) |
white |
| G |
fan relay |
green |
| O |
cooling changeover |
orange |
| B |
heating changeover |
blue or orange |
| X |
common side of transformer, needed on some
electronic thermostats |
blue, brown, or black |
| E |
emergency heat relay on a heat pump |
blue, pink, gray, or tan |
| T |
outdoor anticipator reset |
tan or gray |
| W2 |
second stage of heat |
pink or other |
| Y2 |
second compressor stage |
blue or pink |
| L |
indicator lamp |
blue, brown, tan, or gray |
| X2 |
second stage of electric heat |
black |
| F |
for systems that control fan in a call for heat |
none |
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