Looking to replace our Nest temp controller

[Okla]

I couldn't really find a forum board that fit exactly, so I thought that the "Central Heating" theme seem pretty close...

As mentioned in the thread's title, we wish to replace the 2nd Generation Nest "Learning Thermoststat" that came with the place and, quite frankly, is driving us a bit nuts. It started acting up by going blank, so I did the obligatory web searches and found out that it didn't have a dedicated power supply wired to it, so I purchased an external transformer and wired the appropriate AC voltage to it. Well, that worked very well -- for a while. At present, it displays a blinking red indicator, above the adjustment ring, and occasionally displays a "The thermostat is restarting. Back in a bit" message.

UPDATE: So I just ended a fairly lengthy call with a tech at Google Nest -- who, judging by the sounds of the birdies chirping, was working from home -- and, in the end, he was only able to tell me that the thermostat is out of warranty.

My main concern is with getting a thermostat that reads and displays temperature and turns the boiler off and on in accordance with our desired temperature settings: and not so much with finding a microprocessor controlled "smart" thermostat that one can access via a network.

So, if anyone reading this has experienced issues with their Google Nest thermostat, especially if it required a replacement, I'd really appreciate recommendations for a good [reliable] replacement.

Thank you kindly for your attention ~ Okla

 

[Bad LP]

Honeywell Redlink.
Done.
I can’t believe anybody really needs more control than that. I’d love to hear a reason for such stupid complicated controls.

 

[E Yoder]

I use lots of Honeywell T1 pro thermostats. Simple basic digital thermostat. It works.
Focuspro 5000 is another good one.

 

[brenndatomu]

I've used the focuspro 5000 and 6000 with no issues

 

[peakbagger]

Honeywell still sells good thermostats. I paid the $20 extra to get their predictive control that turns the heat on whenever needed to hit setpoint at certain time as its easier to program. Of course with variable supply water temperature from my wood boiler storage its gets confused so a regular thermostat would work fine. The second I see phone aps and wireless I have no interest.

 

[Okla]

Judging by the posts given, thus far, it would seem that Honeywell still manufactures good equipment controls. Okay, so Honeywell (HW) it will be, but it gets a bit more confusing once you start looking for models under the brand name. Based on my quick research, the "RedLINK" moniker seems to be associated with HW FocusPro systems.

If anyone would care to write a few words about what RedLINK actually means, I'd be much obliged. I don't get a lot of time for web research, which is why I created the thread here on the HC forum. Anyway, whenever I see a work like "link" used in marketing, I automatically think of wireless, which, quite honestly, is what the NEST thermostat designs seems to be all about.

The most complicated design we could possibly put to good use is a digital thermostat that can be programmed for different time periods, but, other than that, we (the Mrs and I) really see the NEST network type design as being far too complicated and, quite frankly, a complex microprocessor-based WiFi type device seems like a real negative from a durability standpoint...

...and, of course, if I'm misunderstanding anything, please clue me in. Any thoughts on any of this nonsense?

 

[semipro]

I bought a Nest and returned it.
I installed an Ecobee and have been very happy with it. I like that the display is clean and easy to use and that it integrates well with our Smart Home app (Google Home).

https://www.lowes.com/pd/ecobee-Black-Smart-Thermostat-Wi-Fi-Compatible/1000203621

 

[Bad LP]

Judging by the posts given, thus far, it would seem that Honeywell still manufactures good equipment controls. Okay, so Honeywell (HW) it will be, but it gets a bit more confusing once you start looking for models under the brand name. Based on my quick research, the "RedLINK" moniker seems to be associated with HW FocusPro systems.

If anyone would care to write a few words about what RedLINK actually means, I'd be much obliged. I don't get a lot of time for web research, which is why I created the thread here on the HC forum. Anyway, whenever I see a work like "link" used in marketing, I automatically think of wireless, which, quite honestly, is what the NEST thermostat designs seems to be all about.

The most complicated design we could possibly put to good use is a digital thermostat that can be programmed for different time periods, but, other than that, we (the Mrs and I) really see the NEST network type design as being far too complicated and, quite frankly, a complex microprocessor-based WiFi type device seems like a real negative from a durability standpoint...

...and, of course, if I'm misunderstanding anything, please clue me in. Any thoughts on any of this nonsense?

Red Link is the gateway to run the house remote. It integrates very easy with several of the HW thermostats.
I did not hear good things about their WiFi stat. Something about it being a data hog but that was a few years back so do more research on it.
I'm using a Vision Pro 8000 and I can't say enough good things about it. Very easy and intuitive to run. Simple to program if that's your bag. Can cycle for air exchanges and humidifiers. Has been rock solid perfect for at least 10 years or whenever internet was available at our house in Maine. Prior to that I was making changes over the telco line. My house needs 24 hours to come up from 55 to 70 in the winter for weekends.
I've spec'd the same controls for two short term rental summer rentals. When the owner drives past the houses on a hot summer day down on Cape Cod and see's windows open she looks at the t stats on her phone. If the AC is on she shuts it off. LOL.

As for the rest of their equipment it easily integrates with air filters and humidification but after being burned on their TruSteam humidifiers I'm a bit gun shy. I really need to look at the ultrasonic stuff so that everything is run thru one "brain" and adjusts itself to the outdoor air sensor. I know for a fact AprilAir will do the job but then I'm into another seperate system and I'd like to avoid that merry go round. The house is complicated enough already without making it worse.

I built a spec house and put in the same equipment. The buyer paid to have have it changed to NEST and they weren't that happy so HW was re-installed. I have no idea what they are doing now but the NEST was raising hell with the air handlers.

 

[Okla]

Red Link is the gateway to run the house remote. It integrates very easy with several of the HW thermostats.
I did not hear good things about their WiFi stat. Something about it being a data hog but that was a few years back so do more research on it.
I'm using a Vision Pro 8000 and I can't say enough good things about it. Very easy and intuitive to run. Simple to program if that's your bag. Can cycle for air exchanges and humidifiers. Has been rock solid perfect for at least 10 years or whenever internet was available at our house in Maine. Prior to that I was making changes over the telco line. My house needs 24 hours to come up from 55 to 70 in the winter for weekends.
I've spec'd the same controls for two short term rental summer rentals. When the owner drives past the houses on a hot summer day down on Cape Cod and see's windows open she looks at the t stats on her phone. If the AC is on she shuts it off. LOL.

As for the rest of their equipment it easily integrates with air filters and humidification but after being burned on their TruSteam humidifiers I'm a bit gun shy. I really need to look at the ultrasonic stuff so that everything is run thru one "brain" and adjusts itself to the outdoor air sensor. I know for a fact AprilAir will do the job but then I'm into another seperate system and I'd like to avoid that merry go round. The house is complicated enough already without making it worse.

I built a spec house and put in the same equipment. The buyer paid to have have it changed to NEST and they weren't that happy so HW was re-installed. I have no idea what they are doing now but the NEST was raising hell with the air handlers.

Bad LP ~ Are you using the HW's VisionPRO 8000 as a standalone thermostat or, as some of the advertising suggests, do you have to have a RedLINK wireless adapter to use it?

At the moment, we simply have two leads (red and white) running from the {dead] second gen NEST "computer" thermostat to our propane-fired Navien hydronic boiler. If possible, we would like to a have a simple 7-day programmable digital thermostat that can simply be hooked up to the same two leads. I'm hoping that the RedLINK device is used only when two or more VisionPRO thermostats are used in a given house, but I honestly don't know.

Thanks for your time ~ Okla

 

[Bad LP]

Bad LP ~ Are you using the HW's VisionPRO 8000 as a standalone thermostat or, as some of the advertising suggests, do you have to have a RedLINK wireless adapter to use it?

At the moment, we simply have two leads (red and white) running from the {dead] second gen NEST "computer" thermostat to our propane-fired Navien hydronic boiler. If possible, we would like to a have a simple 7-day programmable digital thermostat that can simply be hooked up to the same two leads. I'm hoping that the RedLINK device is used only when two or more VisionPRO thermostats are used in a given house, but I honestly don't know.

Thanks for your time ~ Okla

To use RedLink you must have both the modem and a tstat. Each RL will support 2 stats.
In the other house the stat looks and programs the same but is not internet capable. Don’t need it there. Sorry I forget the model. 7 zones doing just what I want with no effort to override any time or hold. House is very active to solar and overcast so easy bumps work great.

 

[gthomas785]

What's wrong with a regular thermostat?
Amazon

 

[Okla]

What's wrong with a regular thermostat?
Amazon

Not a thing. As long as it does the basics, like 7-day programming, it's fine with us.

That's exactly why I asked the question here, to get opinions from those who've had experience with this kind of thing in the past.

 

[sloeffle]

Easy-to-Use Programmable Thermostat with Soft-Touch Keys |Model 8466

The Aprilaire Model 8466 thermostat is an easy-to-use programmable thermostat offering temperature and fresh air management in a quality digital control.

www.aprilaire.com

10 years and I've had zero issues. I tried a high end Honeywell Wi-Fi thermostat last year and switched it back out for the above model. I like the Aprilaire thermostat because it allows you to set a droop temperature. I have geo and its not good for it to be off and on every 15 - 20 minutes. You'll need to pick a model that suits what you are heating / cooling your house with though.

 

[Okla]

Easy-to-Use Programmable Thermostat with Soft-Touch Keys |Model 8466

The Aprilaire Model 8466 thermostat is an easy-to-use programmable thermostat offering temperature and fresh air management in a quality digital control.

www.aprilaire.com

10 years and I've had zero issues. I tried a high end Honeywell Wi-Fi thermostat last year and switched it back out for the above model. I like the Aprilaire thermostat because it allows you to set a droop temperature. I have geo and its not good for it to be off and on every 15 - 20 minutes. You'll need to pick a model that suits what you are heating / cooling your house with though.

Please forgive an old vet for asking, but what is "droop temperature"?

 

[brenndatomu]

Please forgive an old vet for asking, but what is "droop temperature"?

I know for me, I start to droop about 80*

 

[Rob711]

I’ve looked into this as well! I wanted to sell myself on the nest.

Then I learned from a somewhat respected friend of mine had one. Forget what exact issue was but he says it’s a nice paper weight now. Another friend had it his new to him home. It would set heat to low when they were all home. Changed to a ecobee, he’s happy. Ecobee seems to have better reviews. The nest totally looks cool so there’s that.

 

[Okla]

Rob ~ I wholeheartedly agree. Our NEST thermostat will make a lovely looking paperweight.

 

[sloeffle]

Please forgive an old vet for asking, but what is "droop temperature"?

My geo furnace has 3 stages of heating, and 2 stages of cooling. Droop is a setting in the thermostat that you can set to say the temperature must be x degrees below the setpoint for the y to kick in. With my Aprilaire thermostat I can set the droop to 3 degrees. As example, when the setpoint of the house is 70 degrees, the heat strips ( big $$$ to run ) won't turn until the temperature of the house is 67. Come to find out, some thermostats like to use the heat strips for brief amounts of time to heat the house quicker. Again though, I'm talking my experience with a high end ( Lyric T6 Pro ) Honeywell thermostat. Unfortunately with geo I can't go to Menards and buy and off the shelf thermostat. Honeywell makes a very good thermostat IMHO. There are lots of setting on the Lyric that I wish I had on my Aprilaire.

Another thing that I wasn't fond of was the lack of deadband / hysteresis. Deadband is similar to droop. In my example above, if I have deadband set at 1, the furnace won't kick on until the temperature is 69 in the house. The higher end Honeywell thermostats don't have an adjustable deadband setting. Geo equipment is designed for long run times and not being able to set the deadband caused the furnace to cycle way too much. High cycle ( on / off ) rates kill electric motors, and compressors.

 

[maple1]

What's wrong with a regular thermostat?
Amazon

Exactly.

 

[JohnDolz]

I go between VT and CT so access to a thermostat via my phone adds value to me. That being said I have 6 Sensi thermostats, they are basic and work great. I got all of them either free or for $5/ea from the Utility company (both VT and CT have a program that I was able to take advantage of). For me I start a fire on Friday when I leave for VT, drop the temp in the house to 50 and unless is was an incredibly cold weekend I still have top tank temps in the 160's when I start to drive home so I can use the Sensi to turn the temp up in CT and start warming up the house before I get there.