Wifi Thermostats

[edro]

It's that time of year again!
This holiday season has a few more options in the Wifi Thermostat arena.

Nest had a software update recently, but no new hardware models.
Honeywell has come out with their version of the Nest called the Lyric.
EcoBee3 is a newer model that is getting a lot of attention.

Here are a few generalization for each:
Nest

• $249
• Owned by Google
• Uses motion sensors on front of unit for occupancy feedback

Lyric

• $220
• Backed by Apple and will be on the Apple approved hardware list for Apple HomeKit
• Has geofencing for occupancy feedback. Can tell when you leave the house based on your cellphone location.

EcoBee3

• $249
• Backed by Apple
• Comes with 1 remote sensor (up to 32)
• Visual occupancy, but each sensor detects motion

Honeywell Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat

• $229

I really like the ability to see run time usage for your A/C and Furnace.
I like how the Nest can automatically learn your habits, but being that it uses motion sensors to do that, it will be location dependent.

I am going to get one this season, I just don't know which one yet.

 

[Kaido]

There's also the Honeywell Wifi thermostat: ($199, color touchscreen - different from Lyric)

http://yourhome.honeywell.com/home/...7-Day-Programmable/Wi-Fi+Smart+Thermostat.htm

As well as the Wink Norm: ($80, requires Wink Hub or Wink Relay controller)

http://www.quirky.com/shop/911

 

[Scarpozzi]

I'm going to answer your question by not answering your question!

I don't see the need for these things. I have a programmable thermostat. I set it to run winter months from M-F: 4:30pm-11pm 5am-8am @ 70 degrees or whatever....then 60 degrees in the daytime or 65 at night...

I don't even touch it until it warms up again and throw it back into cooling mode...where I flip the offline temps 5-10 degrees the other way.

While I totally get the concept of home automation, I think paying that kind of money isn't worthwhile @ $175 and up since the programmable side is more hands off. My electric and gas bills are plenty low as it is... My other concern is that my heat is dual-fuel...it goes from electric to natural gas as the temp drops below 40 degrees. I would feel weird taking the honeywell thermostat that came with my heat pump/furnace combo out...it's matched to the system and works great.

 

[Scarpozzi]

There's also the Honeywell Wifi thermostat: ($199, color touchscreen - different from Lyric)

http://yourhome.honeywell.com/home/...7-Day-Programmable/Wi-Fi+Smart+Thermostat.htm

As well as the Wink Norm: ($80, requires Wink Hub or Wink Relay controller)

http://www.quirky.com/shop/911

Ok...I'll answer with that info present.....I'd probably go with the Honeywell...

 

[RagingBITCH]

There's also the Honeywell Wifi thermostat: ($199, color touchscreen - different from Lyric)

http://yourhome.honeywell.com/home/...7-Day-Programmable/Wi-Fi+Smart+Thermostat.htm

As well as the Wink Norm: ($80, requires Wink Hub or Wink Relay controller)

http://www.quirky.com/shop/911

That's what I have. Love it. Can't say I care that much about the fancier units, or have an overwhelming desire to upgrade. (Got mine when HD clearanced them out for $120) I like being able to change the temperature online or from my phone...can't say I need to know everything else.

It's tempting to get the gadget that does everything, but in reality, unless you are going to sit and watch ur AC constantly 24/7, you'll forget about that feature in a few days as the novelty wears off and never use it again.

 

[edro]

There's also a more basic Honeywell Wifi version for $100.
http://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-RET9...honeywell+wifi

 

[edro]

The main things I like are:
1. Energy usage history.
2. Nest gives an estimate on screen of duration to bring house to the new set point (based on previous data).
3. Ability to change remotely. If you left the house and forgot to turn it down, you can.
4. Automatic turn down when you leave (Nest occupancy or Lyric geofence)
5. Ability to change/setup schedule from app or website. You could easily change the schedule anytime you wanted based on season or personal schedule. Traditional scheduling thermos are tough to setup and you are highly unlikely to change the schedule very often.

All of these things are well worth my $200+, especially when a regular Honeywell scheduling thermostat costs $40+.

 

[Stopsignhank]

I don't know much about the Nest and what I am going to talk about is an industrial thermostat, although it does have a residential setting. I recently installed This Honeywell thermostat to run our clean room at work. It is fantastic.

You can have wireless thermometers that can control the thermostat. So if you want it to be 74 degrees in your TV room you put the thermostat in the TV room. There are of course other things it will do, but I will tell you it is a damn good thermostat.

 

[Scarpozzi]

All of these things are well worth my $200+, especially when a regular Honeywell scheduling thermostat costs $40+.

If you look as warm and fuzzy as your avatar, what do you need heat for anyhow?

 

[Linflas]

Honeywell has 2 lines of wireless thermostats, Prestige ones that work with Redlink and require a gateway box for you to access over the internet. The nice thing about these is you can have wireless remote sensors work with them. From what I can tell they don't have these with the WIFI enabled line as far as I could tell when I was looking at them last spring.

 

[boomerang]

I put one in last month in the condo in Florida. A Honeywell that I picked up on special for $99. http://wifithermostat.com/Products/WiFi7DayThermostat/

The residence is a part time one for us, primarily in the Winter. It is unoccupied for long periods of time. I was paying a home watch service to come in every two weeks to essentially just make sure the AC was running. Now, I can monitor the temperature myself. I have set up email alerts if the temp goes too low or high and I can control all aspects of the thermostat from anywhere. I disabled the setback functions. It suited my needs exactly and there is no ongoing fee involved to be able to monitor it.

I will be putting a Foscam in when we return in January and I will know everything I need to know about the place while we are gone.

 

[Kaido]

The main things I like are:
1. Energy usage history.
2. Nest gives an estimate on screen of duration to bring house to the new set point (based on previous data).
3. Ability to change remotely. If you left the house and forgot to turn it down, you can.
4. Automatic turn down when you leave (Nest occupancy or Lyric geofence)
5. Ability to change/setup schedule from app or website. You could easily change the schedule anytime you wanted based on season or personal schedule. Traditional scheduling thermos are tough to setup and you are highly unlikely to change the schedule very often.

All of these things are well worth my $200+, especially when a regular Honeywell scheduling thermostat costs $40+.

Between the Nest & the Lyric, I would go with the Nest. It has a lot of backing (Google), a lot of integration (Nest Protect, Dropcam, etc.), and a lot of interconnectivity (Wink, etc.). It's been on the market for awhile now & has a huge user base as well, so as a flagship product from Google (which bought Nest for over $3 billion dollars), I'm sure we'll only be seeing it continue to improve & advance. Even the Jawbone fitness band works with Nest:

https://jawbone.com/blog/jawbone-up-works-with-nest/

 

[Kaido]

Ok...I'll answer with that info present.....I'd probably go with the Honeywell...

Yeah, I'm planning on the Honeywell myself (not the Lyric, the other one). I like that it has an easy color touchscreen & a dedicated Wifi app, as well as integration with my home automation system (Wink). My family wouldn't know how to use the Nest model; the Honeywell is an intuitive rectangle color touchscreen, which is much easier to learn on first use.

Now we can fight over the temperature via wifi :biggrin:

 

[slag]

I don't see a need for expensive thermostats. Buy the cheapest programmable one you can find that works for you heating/cooling configuration. I have a 30 dollar one I got at ACE or home depot a few years ago that just plain works. I program it for all 7 days for what temp I want for up to 3 different times of the day and set it and forget it. There's no need for wifi.. there's no need for an adaptive/learning thermostat.. Just program in what temp you want at what time you want it and get on with your life.

 

[Mixolydian]

I love my Nest (2nd Generation). Worth every penny, IMO.

 

[gorcorps]

I don't see a need for expensive thermostats. Buy the cheapest programmable one you can find that works for you heating/cooling configuration. I have a 30 dollar one I got at ACE or home depot a few years ago that just plain works. I program it for all 7 days for what temp I want for up to 3 different times of the day and set it and forget it. There's no need for wifi.. there's no need for an adaptive/learning thermostat.. Just program in what temp you want at what time you want it and get on with your life.

While the whole adaptive/learning thing seems pretty odd to me, there are people out there who can benefit from a wifi connected one. If you have a very steady work schedule that never wavers, then this probably wouldn't be of much use. However, I don't always leave at the same time... and some times I end up going out instead of going right home. So it makes sense to be able to remotely change the programming to conserve a bit. It's not useful for everyone, but to assume that every single person lives the same steady schedule you do is just silly.

 

[norseamd]

Are there any CC wired smarthome products available?

 

[poofyhairguy]

I really want one of these, but everything feels like Blackberries before the iPhone hit. I have high hopes that the Nest 3rd Generation will be the product I can dream it can be with better Google services integration.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I really want one of these, but everything feels like Blackberries before the iPhone hit. I have high hopes that the Nest 3rd Generation will be the product I can dream it can be with better Google services integration.

You just described most home automation products. There are a ton of products and companies that are all doing similar things with home automation...but only a few work well and most aren't cross compatible. Considering the shrinking cost of wifi and micro controllers, the costs of these systems are going to get lower and lower and the quality is going to get better. I just can't invest in something that I don't think I'll use.

Thermostat, Home Entry (ie locks and Garage Doors), Surveillance Systems, and Lighting controls are all in a similar boat.

IP cameras are probably the most successful example out of that list and have the highest adoption rate. Lighting and thermostat controls are following...but a lot can be done with proximity and light sensors. Things almost don't need an iPhone or Android App. I would like to be able to check the status of my garage doors to make sure they're shut, but it's almost easier to visually check using cameras. The locks and garage door controls are out there, but most are expensive for what they are. A remote or keypad can provide access to those who need it without a physical key.

 

[Kaido]

IP cameras are probably the most successful example out of that list and have the highest adoption rate. Lighting and thermostat controls are following...but a lot can be done with proximity and light sensors. Things almost don't need an iPhone or Android App. I would like to be able to check the status of my garage doors to make sure they're shut, but it's almost easier to visually check using cameras. The locks and garage door controls are out there, but most are expensive for what they are. A remote or keypad can provide access to those who need it without a physical key.

Hmm that's a good idea, using a webcam for a visual status check on a garage door. The non-HD Foscams are under $60 these days...

 

[Raizinman]

OK, I'm sold on the Nest, but can't seem to find one for under $200. Are there any Cyber Monday deals or other places that might discount the Nest? Where is the best place to buy one?

 

[Kaido]

OK, I'm sold on the Nest, but can't seem to find one for under $200. Are there any Cyber Monday deals or other places that might discount the Nest? Where is the best place to buy one?

I think $199 is the lowest the Nest has ever been. You might be able to apply a coupon at Lowes for another $20 off:

http://slickdeals.net/f/7431712-nest-2nd-generation-179-at-lowes-after-10-coupon?v=1

Personally I order most of my stuff off Amazon. Free 2-day shipping with Prime & great return policy and customer service. Pretty much the best no-hassle way to buy products!

 

[Kaido]

I really want one of these, but everything feels like Blackberries before the iPhone hit. I have high hopes that the Nest 3rd Generation will be the product I can dream it can be with better Google services integration.

I played with all three of them at Lowes the other day - the Nest, the Lyric, and the Wifi rectangle touchscreen model. The Nest definitely feels like a solid piece of hardware. However, it'd be too confusing for my family to use, so I'm definitely going with the Honeywell Wifi Thermostat. It's at $189 on Amazon right now ($229 at Lowes & Home Depot); going to see if Cyber Monday drops it down anymore, but I doubt it.

 

[NutBucket]

Theoretically you shouldn't have to interact much with the nest once it's setup. The most I do with mine is turn it on and off.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Personally I'm not a fan of proprietary stuff that could potentially be hacked or is on the cloud, for home automation. (not sure if these are but I assume, it seems everything is these days) So I made my own. Can easily be done with Arduino and a prebuilt relay board these days and a bit of back end code on a controller server.

Mine does not use Arduino since I did not even know about Arduino when I made it but is similar idea. Relay board with 4 relays (only 3 in use, heat, and fan, no AC yet but relay is programmed for it) and temp sensors. Technically only the living room sensor is used, but when the furnace goes off it does use the hvac return and hvac supply sensor to keep the fan going till the residual heat from heat exchanger is mostly gone. Can squeeze a tiny bit of efficiency that way.

I work shifts though, so my requirements are a bit more advanced than someone who works M-F. I have a 12h day profile, 12h day weekend profile (does not start heat for lunch time) 8h day profile and 12h night profile. I set my schedule up in a calendar and then I don't touch it till the next schedule, though I sometimes override when I'm home if I'm cold.








I still need to make the interface look nicer though, I just never bothered yet. I have plans to make a better home automation system that is fully arduino, maybe even a single board solution, so this will probably change.


Though if I had to pick between the existing vendors I'd probably trust the Honeywell one. Would not trust a home automation device made by Google. They're too much into spy stuff.