skip to main content

Heating & Air Conditioning Basements

Looking for wifi thermostat with second override thermostat

5 years ago

I have a somewhat unusual situation, I think. I have a finished basement apartment in my house that I want to rent as a vacation rental. Until I can go the whole nine yards and install either a separate HVAC system for the basement apartment or a damper zoning system, I want people staying in the basement to be able to adjust the temperature of the HVAC system, basically overriding the temperature set on the main level thermostat.

I also want to be able to monitor and adjust the temperature of the whole house remotely from my phone or computer via a wifi connection, because we will be away much of the time until we move to the house on a permanent basis.

I haven't found anything that seems to do what I want. I am finding several options for wifi thermostats with remote sensors (Ecobee and Nest, and probably others), but you can't change the temperature up and down with the remote sensor. I have also found a non-wifi thermostat system (Venstar T1800 with T1119RF Add-A-Thermostat) that does exactly what I want, but it doesn't have wifi remote control. Basically, I would install the T1800 where the current thermostat is, and install the T1119 in the basement. Whichever thermostat is adjusted last controls the entire system.

Does anyone know of a wifi thermostat that has a second remote thermostat that can be adjusted up and down?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

mike_home
5 years ago
I think your best option is to buy your preferred WiFi thermostats and hook them up to a zoning panel. This would allow the basement apartment to call for heat and cooling. The Honeywell HZ311 is a possible choice. It can control up to three zones. You would be basically setting up a zoning systems without any dampers. You will have everything in place to create a zoned system at a later date.

There are several YouTube videos on how to install these panels. You can also buy the kit version which includes the transformer. These panels are designed to be professionally installed. If you have basic DIY wiring skills you should be able to do it, or hire an HVAC company to install it.
mtvhike
3 years ago
Do you have more than one zone?
Related Discussions
How to program heat strips staging Greenspeed WiFi Thermostat
Q
Comments (5)
>This isn't about comfort, this is about cutting costs. Exactly. That's why I said, it optimizes both comfort and energy savings. The whole selling point of this system is how it intelligently manages everything. It will only call on anything above first stage heat if it is absolutely needed. Staging heat strips based on time is one of the LEAST efficient ways to run them. What if it's running for 20 minutes, and the timer says it needs to add more aux heat, but that isn't really necessary? When temps get low and you begin to supplement with wood, the system will find it much easier to keep up, and therefore keep aux heat use down. The only things you need to do are set an appropriate aux heat lockout (which you already did) and NOT set back your thermostat. Setting back is what leads to high stages of aux heat being called unnecessarily.
...See More
Bryant Connex Wifi Thermostat Wiring
Q
Comments (14)
Why did the contractor install a 120K BTU furnace? What was the size of the previous furnace? Did the contractor do a load calculation? The winter outdoor design temperature for San Jose is 38 degrees. The furnace is very over sized in my opinion. Your furnace is big enough to heat two houses in your climate. SW1-2 OFF means the staging is done by the furnace control board and not the thermostat. You would do this if the thermostat cannot control 2 stages. I thought your thermostat was a 2-stage model but I could be wrong. This might have been done if there was not a wire available to control the second heat stage from the thermostat. A 2-stage thermostat has W1 and W2 connections to enable stage one and two respectively. The R connection is the 24 volt power supply. When the thermostat calls for heat it makes the connection from the R terminal to either W1 or W2. In your set up the thermostat will only connect R to W1. After a period of time the furnace will advance to the second stage and stay there until the thermostat is satisfied. The is a poor way to use a 2-stage furnace and should have never been set up this way. Was the contractor a Bryant dealer? If he is then you have a lot to complain about.
...See More
WiFi thermostat
Q
Comments (9)
I am not an expert the wiring used on old boilers with zoning. The circuits are simple so it just a matter of understanding the configuration. It sounds like you have three thermostats each connected to a relay. One relay is different than the other two. The three relays control three independent zone valves. The relays are needed since the values use 120V for operation. How are the relays wired to the boiler and circulator pump? Are there 24V outputs wired in parallel? Now back to your original problem. Are you planning to install a WiFi thermostat on one zone? If so, then I think you are better buying a relay that has a C (ground) wire output rather than switching relays. Another method is to wire a second 24V transformer to the thermostat. There are some YouTube videos showing how it is done. The problem with this method is the the relay and the second transformer must be wired to the same phase of the 120V line voltage. If the are are out of phase then a lot of current will flow through the transformers. They neglect to mention this in the videos.
...See More
Wiring new wifi thermostat
Q
Comments (6)
Do you have a gas furnace and AC? When you say furnace comes on, are you saying the blower is running, but the outdoor condenser is not? Where did you connect the wire which was originally connected to Y/Y2? Did you set up the thermostat properly?
...See More

Related Stories

HOME TECH Why Google Just Paid $3.2 Billion for a Company That Makes Thermostats

By Mitchell Parker

Smart home technology just got a new champion — and everyone is speculating about the reasons

HOME TECH Wi-Fi: What It Is and How to Make It Work Better in Your House

By Media Rooms Inc

As more devices rely on this technology in the home, it’s good to be prepared

DECORATING GUIDES 9 Tips for Making Your Shelf Display Look Great

By Eclectic Creative

Learn the tricks stylists use when arranging objects on a shelf

UNIVERSAL DESIGN What to Look for in a House if You Plan to Age in Place

By Laura Gaskill

Look for details like these when designing or shopping for your forever home

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen Confidential: Trends to Look For in 2017

These designers expect to see more jewel tones, pleasing textures and colorful cabinetry in kitchens this year

BATHROOM DESIGN 4 Secrets to a Luxurious Bathroom Look

By Toronto Interior Design Group

Give your bathroom a finished feel with a few splurges and budget-stretching moves

FURNITURE How to Keep Your Upholstery Looking Good

By Becky Dietrich, Interior Designer

You wouldn't expect your car to maintain itself. Show your sofa and chairs the same courtesy with this 3-part strategy

ACCESSORIES Everyday Home Must-Haves Beg for a Makeover

By Vanessa Brunner

The Nest's much-improved take on the thermostat has us pondering reinventions of other necessities around the house

LIFE Modern Manners for Conflict-Free Family Visits

By Laura Gaskill

Avoid thermostat wars, pet peeves and the great shower squeeze with these tips for having family as houseguests

HOME TECH Switch On the Phone-Controlled Home

Lock your front door from afar, let your thermostat set itself and more when you use your phone as a control device

Sponsored

More Discussions

Backsplash / microwave venting

4

Navien tankless heater stopped heating water after electrical outage

2

A/c making humming sound

3

windows replacement

1

Typical charge to install fuse

5