2 wire Thermostat Question

[RichTJ99]

Hi,

 

So I am trying to figure out what would be the best way of automating my garage thermostat. I have a propane heater in the garage, it has a very old mercury switch style thermostat. Its not in a good place & there are times i know I will be working in the garage, that I would like to turn up the heat an hour before I get in so it would be warm.

 

Since its a two wire, I guess I have the option of using an Insteon switchlinc, then all I would need is some sort of way to have the ISY read the current temp. Weatherbug maybe?

 

So, do I spend $150 on the Insteon thermostat for a place that I rarely turn the heat on for (the garage is set for 43 degrees F) or do I use an existing on/off insteon switch + either weatherbug or some other temp taking item?

 

Any ideas would be great. I want it automated & if I ever sell the house, I could always put a thermostat in.

 

Thanks,

Rich

[Brian H]

Just a thought as it is not ideal.

 

I/OLinc's normally Open Relay Contacts. In parallel with the thermostat's two terminals.

Turn On the I/OLInc the heat turns On.

Though it will not sense the temperature and the heat will stay On until the I/OLInc is turned Off.

 

Or use it to connect a second thermostat set to a higher temperature when On.

No run away heat that way.

[Xathros]

RichTJ99-

 

How about a second dumb mechanical thermostat that you set to your desired working temp and locate it better than the existing one. Keep the original thermostat set low. Use an IOLinc to switch between the new and old. This gives you to preset setpoints that you can choose between with the ISY as needed.

 

-Xathros

 

EDIT: Hehe. Brian beat me to it!

[RichTJ99]

So how do I monitor the temps though? What is the benefit of an IO linc vs using a switchlinc (aside from probably not having a neutral wire as part of the two wire)?

 

Also, say I wanted to keep the temp at 42 normally, then increase the heat to 60, how would I do that in the IO linc example?

 

Can I even use an insteon thermostat with only two wires?

[Brian H]

Use the I/OLinc to switch in a second mechanical thermostat set to 60 degrees.

Off the original set to 42 degrees and On switches in the added one set to 60 degrees.

I believe the Insteon Thermostat may work with a two wire heat only control if you add a power supply to it or use the two wire heat only adapter Smarthome sells, for the Venstar Insteon enabled thermostats.

http://www.smarthome.com/30418/Venstar- ... Kit/p.aspx

[RichTJ99]

So I ended up putting in a cheapie 2 wire thermostat that I got from Home Depot. I do think I could see the benefit of being able to remotely turn it on.

 

I just cant help thinking it would be a waste of $150 for the insteon thermostat. I have power right below, so I could tap into it.

 

I hope the insteon thermostat gets better over time, or maybe I should go for a wifi thermostat?