Ecobee Thermostat with Big Maxx Heater

[Homewrecker]

I've been running a Big Maxx 50K heater since 2013 along with a simple Honeywell battery powered heat-only T-stat. I've had no issues other than the common one where the orifice tube ****** gets clogged which I need to clear out twice a year.

Since I can't leave anything alone lol, I wanted to switch to an Ecobee T-stat. I've already got one installed in the house and love it.

My current configuration for the Big Maxx wiring to the T-stat is a 3 wire cable with Red, White & Black running to the R, W & C terminals at the heater.

The closest info I can find on the Ecobee site states the following:

I have R, G and W at the equipment and thermostat, cannot run a spare wire, and do not want to purchase additional equipment​

You can repurpose the G wire by moving it to C on both the ecobee and equipment sides. Doing this will mean you will no longer have independent fan control.


Based on this diagram and since the wire at the T-stat & heater is already connected to the 'C' terminal it would appear that I wouldn't have to change anything at the heater terminals. I would only have to connect the new Ecobee using the RC terminal for the Red, W1 terminal for White and the C terminal for black.

Am I getting this right or am I missing something else? It says I'll be losing independent fan control but I've never had that anyway nor do I know if the Big Maxx even supports that.

Edit: I know the Ecobee has a minimum temp of 45 degrees. That's not an issue since I keep the garage at around 57 in the winter when I'm not working in there and turn it up to 70ish when I am.

 

[PoorUB]

Based on this diagram and since the wire at the T-stat & heater is already connected to the 'C' terminal it would appear that I wouldn't have to change anything at the heater terminals. I would only have to connect the new Ecobee using the RC terminal for the Red, W1 terminal for White and the C terminal for black.

Am I getting this right or am I missing something else? It says I'll be losing independent fan control but I've never had that anyway nor do I know if the Big Maxx even supports that.

You have it correct. Just ignore the G terminal.

 

[JOE.G]

Ecobee T-stat Will work with the Big Maxx? Then I can control it from an Phone and computer?

Thanks

 

[allinon72]

Tstat wire accessible to where you could run a larger multi conductor wire?

 

[PoorUB]

Ecobee T-stat Will work with the Big Maxx? Then I can control it from an Phone and computer?

Thanks

As long as you have WiFi that will reach it.

 

[PhantomEB]

Hmm. I need to look at the Sensi we have in the house….I so would put that in the garage.

every which way to keep wifi in the garage!

 

[Homewrecker]

Tstat wire accessible to where you could run a larger multi conductor wire?

Not really. When the house was built I ran a 3 wire in the wall and ceiling to the area where the heater was going to be hung. I could run another wire on the outside but if I can make it work with the existing wire that's what I'll try and do first.

 

[PCustoms]

Hmm. I need to look at the Sensi we have in the house….I so would put that in the garage.

every which way to keep wifi in the garage!

I hooked my old sensi up to the pellet stove in the shop. Had to get a 24v transformer, but works great.

 

[allinon72]

Not really. When the house was built I ran a 3 wire in the wall and ceiling to the area where the heater was going to be hung. I could run another wire on the outside but if I can make it work with the existing wire that's what I'll try and do first.

I see - I can tell you that my 30k Big Maxx supports the fan control and I find it useful on occasion for ventilation when the humidity or temps are high.

 

[PhantomEB]

I hooked my old sensi up to the pellet stove in the shop. Had to get a 12v transformer, but works great.

and transformer goes on which wire?

 

[PCustoms]

and transformer goes on which wire?

I believe C, whichever one is +24v common (I edited my post, incorrectly wrote 12v)

 

[Homewrecker]

I see - I can tell you that my 30k Big Maxx supports the fan control and I find it useful on occasion for ventilation when the humidity or temps are high.

The terminal strip on mine does have the "G" wire so I guess it would have fan control as well. I don't really have a need for it. As long as the heater comes on and keeps everything warm when it's -20 outside that's all that matters to me.

Edit: Finished the install and everything went as expected. It detects the heater as a "Boiler". Everything functions as it did with the Honeywell T-stat.