My old wired Honeywell thermostat is malfunctioning, and since I’m the proud owner of a new veraplus, I was planning on upgrading anyway.
There seem to be multiple options listed as “works with vera”, but I’d really like to hear from people that are happy with their systems. I’ll go ahead and prioritize my concerns as well
Must work with an electric heat pump system.
Functionally rich from the z-wave controller perspective (I don’t really care how many buttons the unit has as long as I can really leverage it via scenes / z-wave controllers)
Ease of integration / good support.
Price (this is dead last, I’m willing to spend more to get something that works and that I’m really happy with).
I have a Honeywell Wifi Thermostat (RTH9580 http://yourhome.honeywell.com/en/products/thermostat/wi-fi-smart-thermostat-rth9580). The thermostat itself functions well and I really like the interface. One of my two thermostats intermittently has connection issues with my Wifi router which can sometimes lead to issues…which I don’t love.
It connects to my Vera via the plugin that is available (read the forum thread for this because there are issues with the published version of the plugin and you will have to download a beta version from the forum http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,30125.0.html). There is a time interval that Vera pings the Honeywell servers to update the data from the thermostat. You can’t set it up too quickly or Honeywell will shut your account down thinking it is being hacked. If you make changes in Vera, hey are sent immediately to Honeywell and in turn to the thermostat. This works most of the time, but not 100% of the time. For example sometimes when my logic in Vera sends out a change of setpoint, one thermostat updates and the other does not. So overall, I don’t love the setup with this plugin.
I have given a lot of thought to switching to a z-wave thermostat rather than the Wifi one I have now. The problem I see with most of the z-wave thermostats is that I don’t love their local interface. But I think I would enjoy the overall functionality better.
I am also keeping an eye on the Ecobee thermostats with the remote sensors.
I have a Z-Wave thermostat … works great (Two Stage Heat/Cool Heat pump with Aux Electric heat).
It’s not fancy to look at (I painted the plastic to go with my interior). But I only ever look at the Temp when I walk by.
Automation takes care of everything else:
Heat/Cool Setbacks when I am away
Turn off A/C when Windows Open
When Windows are open the thermostat sensor still controls the fresh air circulation fans.
I have a z-wave Trane thermostat. I never touch it but sometimes look at temp. It’s not color, touchscreen, have a built in calendar or schedules or some cute looking shell. But it works and does it all threw home automation. Handles the 2 stages of heat and cooling that I need.
I have an RTS ct-101 I bought from Lowe’s under the Iris brand for $100. It is a decent programmable, z-wave, black and white touchscreen thermostat that handles my gas/heat pump system.
It isn’t fancy but it obeys my vera3/PLEG instructions and fails back to a programmable thermostat if my vera goes offline.
IMO thermostats shouldn’t be something you look at; it should just work.
I have been using a RCS TZ43 Z-Wave Thermostat with my standard HVAC system for several years. It uses 24VAC supplied from the HVAC system. It uses no batteries. It also supports heat pump HVAC systems. It works great.
I currently have a Trane Zwave thermostat paired to my Vera Edge. I don’t “love” it, but it mostly does what I want. I have it set for auto changeover, which was a big want in my setup, but I find it annoying not to be able to easily adjust the current set point. If I’m in bed and want to manually adjust the temp, the only way I’ve been able to is to change the scene. Or get out of bed and adjust the thermostat in the other room, but that defeats the purpose. BUT this is probably just due to my own inexperience and many other things requiring my time and attention. Previously, I had a Honeywell Wifi thermostat which I could adjust remotely, but it would not automatically changeover AND I had issues with the Honeywell site. I mostly resolved the site issues through workarounds and extra scenes, but could never get the changeover from heat to cool to work. And I didn’t like the thought of going outside my network to adjust a local thermostat. That’s one reason I switched from Nexia to Vera.
Still looking for the “perfect” thermostat, but I’m thinking they will all have their shortcomings.
[quote=“Scoutmedic, post:8, topic:191715”]I currently have a Trane Zwave thermostat paired to my Vera Edge. I don’t “love” it, but it mostly does what I want. I have it set for auto changeover, which was a big want in my setup, but I find it annoying not to be able to easily adjust the current set point. If I’m in bed and want to manually adjust the temp, the only way I’ve been able to is to change the scene. Or get out of bed and adjust the thermostat in the other room, but that defeats the purpose. BUT this is probably just due to my own inexperience and many other things requiring my time and attention. Previously, I had a Honeywell Wifi thermostat which I could adjust remotely, but it would not automatically changeover AND I had issues with the Honeywell site. I mostly resolved the site issues through workarounds and extra scenes, but could never get the changeover from heat to cool to work. And I didn’t like the thought of going outside my network to adjust a local thermostat. That’s one reason I switched from Nexia to Vera.
Still looking for the “perfect” thermostat, but I’m thinking they will all have their shortcomings.[/quote]
Why cant you change your temperature from a phone or tablet? What app are you using?
I have a Trane TCONT624AS42DAA I bought at cost which was only 133.00 but it is very easy to read on my app interface. It has the ability for heat pump or electric. Schedules, Automatic, Heat or Cool, I am using this for a Condo rental. So I can make scenes easily if the temperature gets to a certain level. That is what I need and the ability to turn on and off when needed. No frills But is working great with my VeraEdge with no issues.
I just switched from Honeywell Wifi thermostats to Ecobee3 thermostats and I love it!
The Ecobee3 has remote sensors and its own internal logic which determines the temperature average across multiple rooms. I was trying to do this in Vera and there was no easy/clean way to do this. The only real thing that Vera does now is send a “home” or “away” command to each of my Ecobee’s when my home or away mode is activated based on geofencing. So I let the Ecobee do its thing for the most part. And it looks good too! I am very happy with this setup.
[quote=“integlikewhoa, post:9, topic:191715”][quote=“Scoutmedic, post:8, topic:191715”]I currently have a Trane Zwave thermostat paired to my Vera Edge. I don’t “love” it, but it mostly does what I want. I have it set for auto changeover, which was a big want in my setup, but I find it annoying not to be able to easily adjust the current set point. If I’m in bed and want to manually adjust the temp, the only way I’ve been able to is to change the scene. Or get out of bed and adjust the thermostat in the other room, but that defeats the purpose. BUT this is probably just due to my own inexperience and many other things requiring my time and attention. Previously, I had a Honeywell Wifi thermostat which I could adjust remotely, but it would not automatically changeover AND I had issues with the Honeywell site. I mostly resolved the site issues through workarounds and extra scenes, but could never get the changeover from heat to cool to work. And I didn’t like the thought of going outside my network to adjust a local thermostat. That’s one reason I switched from Nexia to Vera.
Still looking for the “perfect” thermostat, but I’m thinking they will all have their shortcomings.[/quote]
Why cant you change your temperature from a phone or tablet? What app are you using?[/quote]
I can adjust the temperature up or down within a scene or with the app on my tablet/phone. It just changes my heat and cool set points until the scene is triggered again. I guess what I’m wanting to do is temporarily override the settings and adjust the temperature up or down 1-2 degrees from the current room temp.
We are using nine Ecobee 3 stats (and 12 or so remote sensors) with Watou’s plugin, security system integration, a few LFM20s to trigger our building HRVs, and Aeotec Smart Energy Switches to cut power to computer peripherals. I posted a review thread on the Ecobee 3s here: Ecobee3 Review (9 units, net-zero building) | The Garage Journal
I’m very happy with the entire setup…zero issues now that I’ve got the Vera Plus set up. The Ecobee, DSC, PLEG plugin and Combination Switch plugin are all that I’ve needed to trigger home/away changes with security zone arm/disarm events, enable “free” cooling using the commercial HRV units, turn off AC on window opening, and this summer…night cooling. I’m also auto-arming the security system when tenants leave and forget to arm, using the Ecobee remote sensor occupancy sensor status. These are quite slow to switch over to “not occupied” status which works well in terms of auto-arming the security system.
The Ecobee’s are programmed and scheduled (and do an amazing job) with Smart Home/Away, Follow Me, and Smart Recovery. They can run 100% with no web connection if required, and will operate correctly if the Vera box disappears as well. I primarily use the Vera to override Home/Away settings, fan settings, which in turn turns off HVAC equipment. The redundancy created makes for a very reliable system.
I’m also using SmartThings at home (about 50 devices) and the Vera is miles ahead in terms of reliability. I just need the Vera Plus with
Zigbee box to ship and mature a bit…will likely move the home over to that. All of the lights at home are Zigbee.
[quote=“denwood, post:13, topic:191715”]We are using nine Ecobee 3 stats (and 12 or so remote sensors) with Watou’s plugin, security system integration, a few LFM20s to trigger our building HRVs, and Aeotec Smart Energy Switches to cut power to computer peripherals. I posted a review thread on the Ecobee 3s here: Ecobee3 Review (9 units, net-zero building) | The Garage Journal
I’m very happy with the entire setup…zero issues now that I’ve got the Vera Plus set up. The Ecobee, DSC, PLEG plugin and Combination Switch plugin are all that I’ve needed to trigger home/away changes with security zone arm/disarm events, enable “free” cooling using the commercial HRV units, turn off AC on window opening, and this summer…night cooling. I’m also auto-arming the security system when tenants leave and forget to arm, using the Ecobee remote sensor occupancy sensor status. These are quite slow to switch over to “not occupied” status which works well in terms of auto-arming the security system.
The Ecobee’s are programmed and scheduled (and do an amazing job) with Smart Home/Away, Follow Me, and Smart Recovery. They can run 100% with no web connection if required, and will operate correctly if the Vera box disappears as well. I primarily use the Vera to override Home/Away settings, fan settings, which in turn turns off HVAC equipment. The redundancy created makes for a very reliable system.
I’m also using SmartThings at home (about 50 devices) and the Vera is miles ahead in terms of reliability. I just need the Vera Plus with
Zigbee box to ship and mature a bit…will likely move the home over to that. All of the lights at home are Zigbee.[/quote]
Thanks, will look at the ecobee review! I used to have a SmartThings v1 controller but since they don’t offer a migration tool I’ve switched to vera and never looked back!
Also know you don’t need to spend 250 if you don’t want to on a themostat. There not many things a 250.00 thermostat (think nest also) can do that a 50.00 one cant. Nor do you need many of the things that it can do. Most of these very expensive thermostats were designed for people who don’t have a smart house or home controller. There extra features are based on this and try to use logic to make that single device smart by itself which still doesn’t work out as a home controller does.
My Trane TZEMT500 (which is a RCS with trane logo) also does averaging of 3 different sensors. But I don’t use them.
In VERA the thermostate device is going to look and act the same no matter if its a 50.00 thermostat or a 250.00 one. The result is also going to be the same. A/C or heat comes on/off or auto.
You’ll also find that using a thermostat with a smart home means that your not physically using the thermostat much or at all.
From work before you head home you might be checking your vera app and turning it on if the house is hot before you get home
you might be using a scene to have it automatically doing things
Maybe at night while your in bed you want to adjust the temp, so you yell at your amazon echo to do it or grab you phone next to your bed and change it turn it off or what ever.
or if your the type that just sets it to auto all the time and let it does its thing.
Some expensive units have nice color touch screens that want you to walk over and give them attention, but all four options above don’t require it and I think its starting or already is a thing of the past. If you did want a nice touch screen in the hallway a tablet with IMPERIHOME app that can control VERA or the whole house (including thermostat) would be a better and more useful option. Also a 8" tablet for this cost around 50.00 at your local wal-mart or target. Do alot of research before you start buying to see the road you want to take.
I’d agree completely. The reason we use the Ecobee 3 units is that I wanted them to operate and actively manage home/away completely on their own without automation. Smart Recovery and data logging was big on my list as well.
If you’re handy with code, and willing to spend some time, you could do a pretty decent job with an $80 zwave stat and Vera. We’ve only had the Vera Edge for 3 months or so now, but it’s been 100% reliable.
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