If I have a thermostat wire run to a location, any sense in having a on/off switch as well? Trying to reason why it would be needed if thermostat has on/off.
Switch with thermostat
- Thread starter Sloleak
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That might depend on whether or not your unit requires wiring for a blower. They run on household AC Voltage, not DC millivolts.
Was this a professional installation? Are both wires connected to the unit? Only one wire is needed, since a thermostat is the same as a switch for a milliVolt system. Not sure why you have a second wire.
New build install - wire from gas shutoff valve flush box to thermostat location. No switch currently installed, but still time to slip one in before wall board goes on. Freestanding fireplace
Whitenuckler
Feeling the Heat
I know on gas fireplaces you can have a switch that turns it on. I think even they use a regular 120V switch which is not millivolt rated. I it must depend on the stove having 120Vac? I'd have to look it up. So, if that is what they roughed in, you could have an actually thermostat wired as well. That would be good as on my old one it had the thermostat built into the remote which eats aaa batteries.
Put a box in the wall & run 18 ga. wire from the valve terminal block to that box. You will be able to accommodate either a t-stat, remote, or wall switch.
This is whatis installed..is there any reason to add the traditional wall switch by the fireplace?
![[Hearth.com] Switch with thermostat](https://www.hearth.com/talk/attachments/img_20250512_180518892-2-webp.338754/ "[Hearth.com] Switch with thermostat")
Whitenuckler
Feeling the Heat
No, you would not need another switch. Note that that wire will need to be extended from the gas shut off into your fireplace control panel. I guess you/they will be having a junction point there? If you can, maybe have enough loose wire to pull into your fireplace so you don't have a splice. Probably too late now
Whitenuckler
Feeling the Heat
If you don't make it all the way it's OK. I had a Napoleon gas fireplace in the living room. It was plugged in all the time (which I had the power coming from behind the mantle hardwired). It had one of those standard remotes and that had full control. It had 5 fan and heat settings (variable BTU gas valve). It also had a battery pack inside. I don't keep batteries in it, as they would corrode over time and ruin the battery box. That was only to light it if there was no power. It also had electronic ignition, no pilot.
No don't do this. I have seen a single pole switch in circuit with a mv tstat, this exact case and all it does is confuse people. It is not standard. Just wire the mv tstat to the correct terminals on the mv valve.
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