Any HVAC guys/gals in here?

[MtnRacer]

I wired up an Ecobee3 this evening and everything works great, however while I was upstairs hooking up a C wire, I noticed that the common wire for one of the Dampener controls (downstairs thermostat) is not actually hooked into the zoning board. Is there any conceivable scenario where this wire shouldn't be plugged in? :wtf I can't imagine somebody just removed it and I doubt it just fell out?



Basically, should I plug this back in where I think it goes, and how would I test it before and after? :toothless

Steve

 

[Lazerus]

If I'm seeing that correctly, the wire continues on unbroken. If that's the case, there are a few different circuits where this is common ( :laughing ) practice, doorbells being one example. If everything is working, leave it.

 

[panthera]

It is the common wire for the thermostat. If you want to power the stat from the zoning panel you connect the C wire. If your stat has batteries it can get power that way. The batteries are usually for back up if your unit loses power(it will keep your schedule programmed). I would hook that wire back up and make sure its hooked to the stat as well. You test it by removing the batteries and see if you stat is powered. Is that a carrier zoning panel?

 

[MtnRacer]

It's not the common wire, that's on a totally separate harness to the left. I've been looking at diagrams and I think it's supposed to be hooked up. But at Lazerus noted, sometimes things are wired this way. Gonna follow the rest of the harness and see where it goes tonight! :toothless

Steve

 

[Yakoo752]

does the lower thermostat function properly? ie open and close the damper according to temperature.

it's not a dampener it's a damper, this shuts off the flow of air to the lower portion of your home allowing the upstairs to continue running. I would reconnect it

 

[madsen203]

does the lower thermostat function properly? ie open and close the damper according to temperature.

it's not a dampener it's a damper, this shuts off the flow of air to the lower portion of your home allowing the upstairs to continue running. I would reconnect it

We need one of these for our house. Is it easy to install? How about to piggy back the current thermostat downstairs with a wireless one upstairs? We have the wireless (controlled) thermostat installed free from PGE and not sure if it allows for a bridged thermostat so we don't have to run control wires upstairs.

 

[Yakoo752]

Really depends on what your trunk line looks like and if you have access to the supply duct to the floor in question

but other wise they are really easy to install if you have the right tools, even without most are plug and play.

 

[MtnRacer]

does the lower thermostat function properly? ie open and close the damper according to temperature.

it's not a dampener it's a damper, this shuts off the flow of air to the lower portion of your home allowing the upstairs to continue running. I would reconnect it

How would you test a damper? I think I have the kind that spring open and power close.

Steve

 

[Yakoo752]

How would you test a damper? I think I have the kind that spring open and power close.

Steve

If I remember right, that's the standard option. Better to have them fail open then fail closed

turn ac system on, adjust lower level thermostat to a significantly higher temperature than upper level -

if you feel air blowing from a vent then it's not closing.

 

[MtnRacer]

If I remember right, that's the standard option. Better to have them fail open then fail closed

turn ac system on, adjust lower level thermostat to a significantly higher temperature than upper level -

if you feel air blowing from a vent then it's not closing.

:love

If you weren't in such a loving and committed relationship Matthew...

Imma try this tonight, THANKS!

Steve

 

[panthera]

It's not the common wire, that's on a totally separate harness to the left. I've been looking at diagrams and I think it's supposed to be hooked up. But at Lazerus noted, sometimes things are wired this way. Gonna follow the rest of the harness and see where it goes tonight! :toothless

Steve

Then it is most likely the common for your damper. Two leads going to a lower open damper- one to carry 24v and one for common. Your damper is probably wide open. A better photo can clear up any confusion. It looks like a carrier panel or bryant.

 

[MtnRacer]

Then it is most likely the common for your damper. Two leads going to a lower open damper- one to carry 24v and one for common. Your damper is probably wide open. A better photo can clear up any confusion. It looks like a carrier panel or bryant.

That's the conclusion I'm reaching as well. I think it fell out somehow. Weird, but not unpossible I suppose!

Steve

 

[MtnRacer]

Update:

All is well again! No idea how the little fucker got unplugged, but I tested it, plugged it back in, and tested again and it works a trick now. Thanks all for the help, saved me a visit from a professional for a super simple problem.

Steve