Tutorial: Remote Thermostat Control

Remote Thermostat Control Tutorial

So you want to control temperature remotely?

You are in the right place.

1) First choose how you will control the thermostat: by phone or by internet. Here are factors to consider:

Do you have a landline at the location that you wish to control? If no, does cellular service work there? If the answer to either of the above is "yes", then you may want to consider a phone controlled thermostat (we offer cellular terminals, a.k.a. landline replacements, for almost all major cellular carriers.)

Do you have high-speed internet there? If "yes", you should consider internet control. The newest internet thermostats are very well-priced, feature-rich, and easy to install.

If you are considering a phone controlled thermostat with an Aube or Sensaphone-based unit, are you able to run a pair of wires from the controlling device (either the Aube Phone Controller or the Sensaphone, which will be plugged into a phone jack) to the thermostat? Phone controlled thermostats have two additional terminals than standard ones, so after you swap out the current thermostat for the new one, you will need to get two new wires from the phone controller to the thermostat. Do you happen to have two unused wires in the wall behind the thermostat already? If so, you could place the phone controller by the HVAC equipment and then use those two wires for the connection to the new thermostat.

If the above is not feasible and you do have high speed internet, consider using the BayWeb Internet thermostat with a Powerline Ethernet Bridge Kit. This will provide an installation in which you do not have to run new wiring to the thermostat (as long as you already have a minimum of three wires in the wall...four is recommended if possible).

2) Determine the type of heating/cooling system you have.

There are essentially five different categories that your system could fall into:

Hot Water Baseboard or Furnace-heated Forced Air, with or without Air Conditioning

Standard HVAC (with staging; Non-heat pump) (Usually has wires ATTACHED to thermostat terminal labeled "W2" and/or "Y2")

Heat Pump HVAC (If you have wires ATTACHED to thermostat terminals labeled "O", "B", or "O/B", then you have a heat pump system)

Millivolt System(If you have a millivolt system, you are limited to the TH140-28-01 phone thermostat).

Electric Baseboard (If you have this, you are limited to the TH115 series or the ,Honeywell EConnect Wireless Line Voltage Thermostat w/ Gateway. Contact us for a custom solution).

3) Determine how much control and monitoring you need.

Do you want to select an exact degree point, or do you simply want to apply and remove a fixed "override" setpoint?

Do you need to be able to turn the system ON and OFF in addition to, or instead of, changing degree setpoints?

Do you need to be able to get a real-time temperature reading of (and/or alerts about) the current conditions at the location?

Would you like occupancy-based controls, so that the system only gets activated when people are present, or so that you can place a limit on the range in which the local keypad is allowed to control the temperature?

4) Use the answers to the above questions to help you navigate the following comparison charts:

Remote Thermostat Control Comparison Chart

	Aube Phone Controller	Venstar Comfort Call & Slimline Thermostats	Sensaphone 400	housEvolve Thermostat Kit	Deluxe Freeze Alarm	BayWeb	Venstar	Mi Casa Verde Vera	Honeywell
									>
Model	CT-240, CT-241, plus thermostat	ACC0433, plus thermostat	FGD-0400, plus XFR-0024 and thermostat	he_th_kit (includes one thermostat)	FA-D2, plus XFR-0024 and thermostat	BW-WT1, BW-WT2	T5800, plus WiFi Key Module	Micasa Verde Vera3, or MiCasa Verde Veralite and Honeywell Z-Wave enabled thermostat	YTL9160AR1000-THM6000R1002
Method	Telephone (landline, VOIP, cellular) with add'l equipment	Telephone (landline, VOIP, cellular) with add'l equipment	Telephone (landline, VOIP, cellular) with add'l equipment	Telephone (landline, VOIP, cellular) with add'l equipment	Telephone (landline, VOIP, cellular) with add'l equipment	High-Speed Internet	Wireless High-Speed Internet	Wireless High-Speed Internet	Wireless High-Speed Internet
Capabilities	Toggles between two degree setpoints	Toggles between two degree setpoints, phone selection of preset temperature settings, announces current temp (by phone)	Toggles between two degree setpoints, announces current temp, reports temp/power alarms (by phone)	Phone selection of any degree between 45F and 85F, full HVAC control (Heat/AC/Off) by phone, announces current temp, reports temp/power alarms (by phone)	Toggles between two degree setpoints, announces current temp, reports temp/power alarms (by phone)	Web/Smartphone selection of any degree between 35F and 90F, full HVAC control (Heat/AC/Off/Auto), displays current temp via web/smartphone, occupancy-based controls, reports temp/other alarms (by email/SMS)	Web/Smartphone selection of any degree between 35F and 90F, full HVAC control (Heat/AC/Off/Auto), displays current temp via web/smartphone, reports temp (by email/SMS)	Web/Smartphone selection of any degree between 35F and 90F, full HVAC control (Heat/AC/Off/Auto), displays current temp via web/smartphone, reports temp (by email/SMS)	Only Web/Smartphone thermostat with full control for electric baseboard heaters, selection of any degree between 41F and 86F, displays current temp via web/smartphone, reports temp (by email/SMS) One thermostat can control multiple heaters, up to 8 EIM can be used per thermostat
Optional Add-Ons	none	Outdoor temp sensors available	Add'l monitoring sensors (water, humidity, security, etc.)	Garage door monitoring and control, Water monitoring and control valves	Water sensor (WS-04), Motion Sensor (MA-S01)	Wireless Motion Sensors, Wired Water/Sump sensors, wired humidity sensors, and more.	Screensaver via SD Card (SD Card not included)	Add'l monitoring sensors (water, humidity, security, etc.)	Wireless outdoor temp sensor, Remote control for local control without internet.
Averaging	No	*1-8 Sensors	No	No	No	Professional Only	No	No	No
Temp Swing	No	1 - 6 degrees F	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Calibration (adjust read out)	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
Vendor Service Fee	None	None	None	None	None	None	None	None	None

*Can also report outside temperature. Does not interfere with Comfort Call.

Aube/Sensaphone Phone-Controlled Thermostats Comparison Chart

Remote Control Setback Thermostats Selection Chart
Type of Heating/Cooling System	Thermostat Models	7-Day Programmable?	Heat/Cool Capabilities	Fan Control Terminal?	Remote input for phone control?	Requires XFR-0024 when used with Sensaphone, Deluxe Freeze Alarm, WisDom, or CT241 Aube Phone Controller?	Requires XFR-0024 when used withCT240 Aube Phone Controller or AGM GSM Module?
Hot Water Baseboard or Furnace-heated Forced Air	TH1402801	Yes	Heat Only	No	Yes	Yes	No
Hot Water Baseboard or Furnace-heated Forced Air	TH141HC28 (aka FGD-0064)	Yes	Heat and Cool	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Millivolt System	TH1402801	Yes	Heat Only	No	Yes	Yes	No
Electric Baseboard	TH115-A-240D	Yes	Electric Heat Only	No	Yes	No	No
Please note: This table simply details the capabilities of each thermostat model. If you are unsure of which model is the proper model for your system, please contact your electrician or HVAC specialist.

Shop Remote Thermostats

We are Here to Help!

Send us an email at support@diycontrols.com. Describe your situation as best you can, and we will help you select the equipment that is right for your needs!