Ecobee Thermostat

[ryanp77]

I installed a Ecobee 4 in my house about two weeks ago and I have noticed a couple of times that when the furnace kicks off the Ecobee loses power and it takes a minute or to reset itself it comes back on and everything seems "okay" but I know that this should not be happening.I checked my wires that I have running from my furnace to my old T-stat before I bought the Ecobee and everything was there that I needed. When I first installed it I got an error code flashing on my furnace and I had to replace a 3v fuse on the board.

I have been out of town for the past week for work so I haven't had any time to really spend any time looking into the issue. The house and furnace are only 6-7 years old, I replaced the non programable T-sta that was here when I bought the house last August.

Any ideas on what it could possibly be? If it is a wire or furnace issue I would prefer to just send the Ecobee back and just get a standard programmable T-sat, I have about a week left before I can't return it to Amazon, so any thoughts or ideas would be helpful thanks.

 

[Stuff]

Sometimes that is a sign of the furnace overheating causing the temperature limit switch to cut out. Any error codes at the furnace when this happens?

 

[ryanp77]

Sometimes that is a sign of the furnace overheating causing the temperature limit switch to cut out. Any error codes at the furnace when this happens?

Over the winter on some cold days the furnace would short cycle now and then, I just checked the furnace now the light is solid so no errors at this point

 

[papp101]

I would try wiring in the thermostat in the basement and testing to see if it exhibits the same issue with a short run of wiring - could be that it's getting the bare minimum on a long run, or undersized wire, and there's enough of a voltage drop or fluctuation to mess with the ecobee.

I'd installed one and had some line voltage issues which makes me think they are sensitive.

Good luck!

 

[dogdog]

These are low voltage thermostats, the transformer usually have a VA rating to them. typically 40VA.. If you have something else that shorts or draws more current than the transformer can provide, it usually would cause some electronics to reset... if the voltage is low enough....

Or it could be line voltage issue...

or get another transformer just for the thermostat and use an isolation relay... that way you know for sure it's not some other low voltage components drawing too much power causing a reset/reboot.

 

[couch67]

I would double check your connections at the thermostat. The ecobee uses spring connections and maybe the power or ground is not seated right. If that is not it I would package it up and send back.

 

[jd_1138]

I installed a Nest E a month ago. No problems so far. I guess these smart thermostats need a common wire sometimes? My system doesn't have a common wire, but it works anyway over the wires it has.

 

[Falcon67]

I'd also think to check the wires in the back, they are a bit of work to get seated well. We've had ours over 6 months and so far the only winter issue is that she really likes temp X and I really like temp X+1.

 

[ripperd]

I'd also think to check the wires in the back, they are a bit of work to get seated well. We've had ours over 6 months and so far the only winter issue is that she really likes temp X and I really like temp X+1.

Alot of thermostats have a temperature offset you can program into them deep on the menus. So you can set a -1 offset, and the real temp will be +1, but the visible temp will be what your wife wants to see!

 

[ryanp77]

These are low voltage thermostats, the transformer usually have a VA rating to them. typically 40VA.. If you have something else that shorts or draws more current than the transformer can provide, it usually would cause some electronics to reset... if the voltage is low enough....

Or it could be line voltage issue...

or get another transformer just for the thermostat and use an isolation relay... that way you know for sure it's not some other low voltage components drawing too much power causing a reset/reboot.

Is there a certain kind of transformer and isolation relay that I should look for ?

 

[dogdog]

I installed for him the RIB relay base on the recommendation from ppl here, you can choose other 24Vac relays if those fits you... the 10AMP one is plenty. I think the Ecobee site there is a post mention it needs 3VA power these thermostats... but not sure when you were having the issue if there is enough power at the thermostat. Usually reset is either a power issue or some short, might be a bad thermostat.... dunno.... can't tell, not there.

There are combo units with build in power and relay....

RIB Ribu1C relay and the Honeywell AT140A1000 40VA transformer, should be plenty enough.... because this one will only power your thermostat and that relay, minimum power. (*** you would need to order a proper input voltage one for your system of cause.... 120V / 240V to 24Vac.)

Otherwise, if you don't want an isolation relay, then you'll have to look into upgrade your current transformer. most of the transformers are 40VA. They do sell 100VA or 150VA ones... I know I have to upgrade that for a friend when the Low water cutoff valve drains more power than his then transformer can provide. If your system can upgraded that is... I think you mention something blew a fuse.. most likely not without complications.





I used the diagram from this article..Option 2....

https://support.ecobee.com/hc/en-us...Heat-only-2-wire-boiler-furnace-installations

 

[exmaxima1]

I installed a couple of Ecobees for a neighbor and they required 5 wires. If your old thermostat only had 4 wires, that might be the problem, and you need to install the converter.

 

[dogdog]

The mystery is that he already installed it and working with intermittent resets/reboots when the units call for heat or whatever "furnace kicks off " means. Could still be an issue with wiring or the thermostat, but no way to tell unless he isolates it.

 

[ryanp77]

I checked the wiring before I purchased the T-stat I have the 5 wires that are needed so I would not need to use the converter that comes with it. When the Ecobee is resetting occasionally (I am guessing) is when the furnace hits the high limit. I will hear a click from the furnace then the Ecobee and the screen will have gone dark and then after a minute or so it comes back on and it goes back to working again

 

[freekwonder]

I'd also think to check the wires in the back, they are a bit of work to get seated well. We've had ours over 6 months and so far the only winter issue is that she really likes temp X and I really like temp X+1.

I've got a nest, and uckily my wife and I have agreed on a temp, her mom (who lives with us) is the problem. She likes it hotter than we do. What I love is the IFTTT app works with nest, so I get notifications on my phone when good ol' MIL cranks the heat up, I can go in and turn it back down. And in case I miss it, there is another IFTTT recipe, that stops the heat at a preset temp, no matter how hot it is set too.

 

[Stuff]

If it is overheating it is usually an airflow issue. Check your filters and make sure all registers are open and not blocked. Check dampers as well. Otherwise time to call for service.

 

[Renfrick]

Guys if you don’t have an extra wire for common you can use the “g” wire
Most people dont know what it does and don’t use that feature. Just jump “y&g” at your fan center and you’ll have an extra wire for common


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