What are the color codes for thermostat wiring?
This is the most typical thermostat wiring style, and it applies to systems that regulate both heat and air conditioning. The wires are typically arranged as follows: red for 24-volt hot, white for heat, yellow for cooling, green for the fan, and blue for common (although the common wire may be a different color).
What AWG is thermostat wire?
18 gauge
The most common thermostat cabling is 18/5 (18 gauge, 5 conductor), because 5 conductors typically offer enough functions for a modern thermostat/low voltage device.
How do you identify thermostat wires?
Look for connectors that have labels that are the same as your thermostat. For instance, you might find labels like R, W, G, Y, C or O/B. You should find wires attached to these connectors that are the same color as the wires that connect to your thermostat.
What is plenum rated thermostat wire?
Plenum-rated thermostat wire is electrical cable that has been rated to run through the air-circulation spaces in buildings, usually located between the structural and suspended ceiling or under a raised floor. It is used to connect thermostat controls to a main power circuit via the ceiling or floor.
What happens if you wire a thermostat wrong?
Potential consequences of improper installation could include: Electric shock. Blowing a circuit breaker. Damaging the thermostat unit, the electrical system or even the AC/furnace unit itself.
What do the letters on thermostat wires mean?
W, W1, W2: Just like the Y wire, the W wire(s) control the heating aspect of your system. O, B, O/B: These wires are responsible for switching the changeover valve in a heat pump system. The O wire reverses the valve from heating to cooling, and the B wire switches the valve from cooling to heating.
How far can you run 18 gauge thermostat wire?
18 Guage Wiring for Thermostat
For lengths up to 250 feet, The use of 18 gauge thermostat wire is recommended.
Is Brown thermostat wire plenum rated?
Q:Is this wire plenum rated? A: No. The above advice is based upon the current edition of the National Electric Code (NEC). Free access to the latest version of the NEC is available online at www.nfpa.org/freeaccess.
What gauge is thermostat wire LG?
Thermostat Wire: 2 Conductors, 18 AWG Wire Size, White, 500 ft Lg, Plenum.
What is W1 and W2 on thermostat?
W/W1 and W2. In a conventional system, W/W1 controls your heating system and, where applicable, W2 controls your heating system’s second stage, which helps warm the home faster.
What are some of the common mistakes when installing a thermostat?
4 Mistakes You May Be Making With Your Thermostat
- Not Using a Programmable Thermostat.
- Not Programming the Thermostat Properly.
- Bumping the Temperature Up/Down to Quickly Heat/Cool Home.
- Not Maintaining the Thermostat.
Is the RC wire the same as C?
The C and Rc wires are not the same. To install this thermostat you should follow the exact same wiring of the previous thermostat.
Can I use Ethernet cable for thermostat?
Ethernet cable should work fine since thermostats use low voltage and low current. For simplicity, it’s probably easier to use each pair as if it were a single wire.
What voltage is thermostat wire rated for?
Applications. A Class 2 power-limited cable for use in thermostat controls applications, bell and alarm systems, not to exceed 150 volts when installed as specified by the National Electrical Code® (NEC) and other applicable standards. Thermostat wire is sunlight resistant.
Does thermostat wire need to be solid?
Thermostat wires are solid copper wires and they are also well-insulated. All thermostat cables are covered with tough plastic sheathing as insulation.
Does 18 5 have the C wire?
Thermostat wire is just a big spool of bundled, color-coded wires. The “18” refers to the gauge and the “5” refers to how many individual wires are inside the cable. Thermostat wire comes in various weights. If you have heat and AC, you’ll need 18/5.
Can I use stranded wire for thermostat?
Nest thermostats don’t support stranded wires, they require solid-core copper wires.
Does my heat pump use an O or B wire?
On many other thermostats, the O wire is typically connected to a terminal marked W on one side and O or O/B on the other side; the W is for use with a conventional system (furnace) while O/B is for use with a heat pump.
Does white wire go to W1 or W2?
Thermostat White Wire (“W1” or “W2” Wire)
W wires go directly to the source of heating; that may be a furnace (gas, electric, oil, you name it) or heat pumps (mini-split heat pumps included). W2 is designated for two-stage heating. Most heat pumps include second-stage heating and require the white W2 wire.
Does W go to W1 or W2?
In a conventional system, W/W1 controls your heating system and, where applicable, W2 controls your heating system’s second stage, which helps warm the home faster.
Will a thermostat work if wired wrong?
Problem # 5: Incorrect Wiring of the Thermostat
It only takes one wire that is incorrectly installed to not allow the system to work properly. This could cause high electricity costs, an uncomfortable temperature in the building, or the system to not work at all.
What happens if you wire a thermostat incorrectly?
Can R wire be used as C wire?
If the black wire on the R terminal goes to the thermostat and only the thermostat, you can safely move it over to the C terminal. The AC and humidistat being hooked up to C is correct. R and C together carry the 24v power that a smart thermostat (and some programmable models) use for power.
Does the red wire go to RC or RH?
There is no standard for the colour of the RH wire, but most units use a red one. The RC wire, on the other hand, refers to “red cooling”. It’s the same with the RH wire in that it powers the thermostat. For the RC, it powers the cooling system.