Room thermostat installation & wiring guide: this article series explains the basics of wiring connections at the thermostat for heating, heat pump, or air conditioning systems.
We provide Honeywell, White Rodgers & other thermostat wiring diagrams and explanation showing how to wire a room thermostat, including just what connections to make and how wires and connectors are color coded to make things easy.
Our page top sketch, courtesy of Honeywell Controls, illustrates the wiring diagram for a traditional Honeywell T87F thermostat used for 2-wire single pole single throw control of heating only in a typical gas-fired heating system.
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Locate the room thermostat at about chest height on an interior wall, in a location where the thermostat won't be affected by drafts or other unusual temperature conditions.
[Click to enlarge any image]
As Carson Dunlop Associates ' sketch (left) explains, there are a number of places where you should not locate the room thermostat.
Don't locate the room thermostat in these locations:
It's important to mount mercury-bulb thermostats as level as possible since otherwise you're putting the thermostat out of accurate temperature calibration.
That's because the coiled bimetallic spring has to move that mercury bulb to a tipped position to turn the heating or air conditioning system on or off in response to room temperature.
When we found a thermostat that did not heat a room accurately to the called-for temperature, we'd take a look to see if it was installed out of level before looking further.
Because the "set" range on these thermostats may have had a lower-end of 55 deg .F., when we wanted the thermostat to maintain a building at a temperature lower than the minimum that the thermostat dial provided, we just tilted the whole thermostat backing plate on the wall in the proper direction to shift the operating range of the switch.
Newer thermostats that rely on other sensor and switch designs do not have this sensitivity to being out of level and some (such as the 3M-22 thermostat) note in their installation instructions that the thermostat does not have to be level.
Our photo (above left) illustrates the red (R) and white (W) wire connections in a simple two wire heating control thermostat hookup using the Honeywell RTH2300/RTH221 series programmable wall thermostat.
Here is a copy of
the Honeywell RTH2300/RTH221 Series Programmable Thermostat Owners Manual [PDF]
Because some controls are used in common on hot water heat, hot air heat, and steam boilers, readers should see these other articles:
see BOILER CONTROLS & SWITCHES,
If your building uses warm air heat,
see FURNACE CONTROLS & SWITCHES.
If your building uses steam heat
Thermostat wire used for heating and cooling systems is usually 18 gauge solid copper conductor, unshielded cable. Some installers may use 20 AWG copper thermostat wire.
A quick scan of heating and cooling thermostats in the catalogs of HVAC suppliers such as Grainger can quickly become overwhelming as there are literally hundreds of thermostat models and quite a few different types and applications.
If you are replacing a heating or cooling room thermostat or "wall thermostat" a shortcut is to examine what is already installed.
At THERMOSTATS, HEATING / COOLING we include photographs of just about every type of heating and cooling thermostat. Here we describe further details that can help you choose a replacement thermostat that will accommodate the wires used to control you rair conditioning, heat pump, or heating system.
Above: A Nest Learning Thermostat. See NEST LEARNING THERMOSTATS - topic home, or
see NEST THERMOSTAT INSTALLATION & WIRING for details about wiring Nest thermostats.
Pay particular attention to the following to help sort out what you've got or what type of thermostat you need:
Wiring connections for a room thermostat such as the Honeywell 24-volt T87F, the Honeywell series 10 (out of production), or Penn "Rimset" low-voltage wall thermostat models are pretty simple as are the wiring instructions for White Rogers, Mercoid, General Controls, and similar thermostats.
Our photo shows the backing plate that is mounted first when installing a round Honeywell Series 20 type room thermostat. Notice that the plate shows a "level" line.
We left off the actual wires so that you could see the "R" and "W" by the two screw terminals at the lower left 7 and 8 o'clock positions on the thermostat backing plate.
Note: The thermostat in this HVAC/R set-up is simply acting as an "on-off" switch to turn the heater or air conditioner on or off in response to room temperature.
The electrician or HVAC installer may have run a multi-wire set of low voltage wires through the walls of the building between the low voltage transformer and the thermostat (etc), but in this simple installation the other wires at the thermostat are not being used.
In a two-wire installation, the thermostat backing plate is mounted level on an interior wall in the room which we want to be the master temperature control for the area served by the heating or in a cooling-only climate, the cooling system.
The red wire from
the heater (or air conditioner control) or more-likely from the low voltage transformer is connected to the "R" terminal on the backing plate.
The white wire
from the heater or air conditioner control is mounted to the "W" terminal on the thermostat mounting plate. Typically the white wire is taking power from the thermostat to the operating control circuit board in the heater or air conditioner.
Typically the red wire is originating at the heating low voltage transformer and brings power to the thermostat. The transformer may be mounted on a wall near your heater, inside the heater or furnace, and on heat pump systems, on occasion the low voltage transformer may be outdoors in the compressor/condenser unit.
At the low voltage transformer you will see two wires labeled "C" for common and "R" for red. We discuss wiring the low voltage transformer itself
If you need to confirm that the low voltage transformer is working and putting out the right voltage,
see LOW VOLTAGE TRANSFORMER TEST
Summarizing, a typical 2-wire room thermostat where just three thermstat wires are all in use, the connections are as follows:
Table of 2-Wire Thermostat Connections |
||||
Thermostat Terminal ID | Function | 2-Wire TT Wire Color |
Typical Wire Colors |
Comments |
R | Control Power (24VAC) | Red | Red | From heater, control relay, or board originating From 24VAC from transformer to heater Common or C |
W | Heating | White | White | To heater control relay or board |
Watch out: a few installers may not have followed the convention of Red = power.
Always use a DMM/VOM to confirm the power source. Always follow wires to the controlled device to confirm where they are connected and thus their function.
Also see COMMON HEATING AND COOLING THER MOSTAT WIRING CONNECTIONS for added details for specfic thermostat brands.
Watch Out do not short any wires together. Turn off power & confirm it is off.
Don't forget to turn off all electrical power involved with your heating system before working on thermostat wiring, and confirm that power is off where you are working by using an appropriate test instrument such as a VOM. Failure to respect this advice risks equipment damage, and in some cases electrical shock or even a building fire.
Watch out: typically an older 2-wire roomthermostat hookup is not using the C wire or COMMON wire but if you replace such a thermostat with a new WiFi or Smart room thermostat you'll need the C-wire.
See solutions at COMMON WIRE at THERMOSTATS
As we explain in more detail
at THERMOSTAT WIRING DIAGRAMS,
At left the thermostat wiring diagram illustrates use of a Honeywell T87F thermostat in a 2-wire application controlling a gas fired heating appliance.
In the Honeywell T87F thermostat series the single pole double throw switch makes (closes) one set of contacts when the temperature falls - to turn on the heating appliance.
In thermostats that also control a cooling system, a second set of contacts will make or close on temperature rise. This second set of contacts may also be used to operate other controls or valves in some heating systems.
[Click any image or thermostat wiring schematic to see an enlarged, detailed version]
For completeness in understanding where the red and white thermostat wires originate and end up, at below left we illustrate the red and white thermostat wires originating at the low voltage transformer, and at below right we illustrate a typical thermostat wiring connection in an R8182 Aquastat primary controller of a heating boiler, using the T and T terminals.
Three-wire thermostat wiring instructions, also called "series 20 installations" we have three wires rather than two to connect.
Then the thermostat body is screwed in place. The screws that secure a round Honeywell traditional wall thermostat to its backing plate will also connect it properly to the wiring.
A plug connector may be used:
On other, in fact most contemporary room or wall thermostats it may be necessary to plug in a connector between the thermostat and its mounting plate.
On a typical 3-wire room thermostat where just three thermstat wires are all in use, the connections are as follows:
Table of 3-Wire Thermostat Connections |
||||
Thermostat Terminal ID | Function | 3-Wire TT Wire Color |
Typical Wire Colors |
Comments |
R | Control Power (24VAC) | Red | Red | Common or C wire from heater to thermostat |
Y | Heat | White | White | |
W | Cooling | Blue | Blue | from cooling to thermostat |
Also see COMMON HEATING AND COOLING THERMOSTAT WIRING CONNECTIONS for added details for specfic thermostat brands.
On a typical 3-wire room thermostat where just three thermstat wires are all in use, the connections are as follows:
Table of 4-Wire Thermostat Connections |
||||
Thermostat Terminal ID | Function | 4-Wire TT Wire Color |
Typical Wire Colors |
Comments |
R / RC | Control Power (24VAC) | Red | Red | Common or C or 24VAC voltage, power to heating or cooling device |
Y | Cooling | Yellow | Yellow | Turns on A/C compressor/condenser |
G | Fan relay | Green | Green | Furnace or air handler blower |
W | Heating | White | White | Turns on heating furnace or heat pump contactor relay |
When the thermostat connects red to white you're calling for heat
When the thermostat connects red to yellow you're calling for cooling
When the thermostat connects red to green you're turning on the blower fan or air handler fan
Also see COMMON HEATING AND COOLING THERMOSTAT WIRING CONNECTIONS for added details for specfic thermostat brands.
...
On a typical 5-wire room thermostat where five wires are all in use, the connections are as follows:
Table of 5-Wire Thermostat Connections |
||||
Thermostat Terminal ID | Function | 5-Wire TT Wire Color |
Typical Wire Colors |
Comments |
C | Common C-wire | Black | Black Blue Brown | COMMON WIRE at THERMOSTATS |
R, Rh, Rc | Control Power (24VAC) | Red | Red | |
W, W1 | Heat | White | White | |
Y, Y1 | Cooling | Yellow | Yellow | |
G | Fan | Green | Green |
Notes to the Table Above
Also see COMMON HEATING AND COOLING THERMOSTAT WIRING CONNECTIONS for added details for specfic thermostat brands.
At left you can see the 11 possible thermostat wire connectors on the 3M-22 FIltrete thermostat. In this installation only two wires, R and W, have been connected.
Typical connections when wiring a heat pump are given in the table below.
Again, you will have to check to see how the installer has ran the wires from the thermostat.
On a typical 6-wire room thermostat where eight wires are all in use, the connections are as follows:
Table of 6-Wire Thermostat Connections |
||||
Thermostat Terminal ID | Function | 6-Wire TT Wire Color |
Typical Wire Colors |
Comments |
C | Common C wire | Black | Black Blue Brown | Common connection back to transformer |
R, Rh, Rc | Control Power (24VAC) | Red | Red | Power |
W, W1 | Heat | White | White | Heating |
Y, Y1 | Cooling | Yellow | Yellow | Cooling |
G | Fan | Green | Green | Fan control |
O / B | Reversing Valve | Orange | Orange Dark Blue |
Switch the reversing valve |
BLUE - the blue is usually common, dark blue (or orange) is to reversing valve
Also see COMMON HEATING AND COOLING THERMOSTAT WIRING CONNECTIONS for added details for specfic thermostat brands.
If your thermostat is controlling only a heating system or only an air conditioning system, you will only have a red wire, and a white wire coming form the inside unit, to the outside unit.
On an air conditioner these two wires will go on the contactor to send 24 volts to the coil to pull the contactor in to start the air conditioner.
On a heating system these two wires will go to two thermostat connections on the primary controller such as an aquastat or air handler control that turns on the heating unit. Depending on the type of heating system, the thermostat, acting simply as an "on-off" switch will
These are the traditional wiring schematics, again, check the thermostat to see if this is the case with yours.
On a typical 8-wire room thermostat where eight wires are all in use, the connections are as follows:
Table of 8-Wire Thermostat Connections |
|||
Thermostat Terminal ID | Function | 8-Wire TT Wire Color |
Typical Wire Colors |
C | Common (24VAC) C-wire | Black | Black Blue Brown |
R, Rh, Rc | Control Power (24VAC) | Red | Red |
W, W1 | Heat | White | White |
Y, Y1 | Cooling | Yellow | Yellow |
G | Fan | Green | Green |
O / B | Reversing Valve | Orange | Orange Dark Blue |
W2 | 2nd Stage Heat | Brown | Brown |
Y2 | 2nd Stage Cooling / Compressor | Blue | Blue |
See generic thermostat wire color code conventions in a complete set of tables
at THERMOSTAT WIRING COLOR CODES
Also see COMMON HEATING AND COOLING THERMOSTAT WIRING CONNECTIONS for added details for specfic thermostat brands.
Also see COMMON WIRE at THERMOSTATS for an explanation of this wire.
...
We moved this topic to LINE VOLTAGE 120V Wall Thermostat Wiring - separate article in order to keep our text on line voltage thermostats together.
For clarity & speed we have moved wiring instructions for individual types or brand of heating or cooling thermostats to the individual articles listed below at MORE READING
Watch Out: do not short any wires together. Turn off power & confirm it is off.
As we have warned before, don't forget to turn off all electrical power involved with your heating system before working on thermostat wiring, and confirm that power is off where you are working by using an appropriate test instrument such as a VOM.
Failure to respect this advice risks equipment damage, and in some cases electrical shock or even a building fire.
We provide thermostat wiring connections for just about every type of residential heating or cooling room thermostat as well as a description of thermostat wiring color codes & conventions.
This article series answers most questions about central heating system troubleshooting, inspection, diagnosis, and repairs. We describe how to inspect, troubleshoot and repair heating and air conditioning systems to inform home owners, buyers, and home inspectors of common heating system defects.
Shown below, a Sunvic room thermostat for sale in the U.K., Models TLM2402, TLM2453, TLM2661, with an installation leaflet from 2012.
...
Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.
On 2020-11-28 by Deb - Two wire non programmable thermostat do I use w or b connector?
Two wire non programmable thermostat do I use w or b connector
On 2020-11-28 - by (mod) -
Deb you'll want to be sure you know what each of your existing thermostat wires actually is - see details at
THERMOSTAT WIRE CONNECTIONS - 2-WIRE like the T87F inspectapedia.com/heat/Thermostat_Wiring_Instructions.php#2w
where you'll see that the standard wire colours are R - red and W - white.
On 2020-11-26 by Gary - Is there a WiFi thermostat that has emergency backup heat?
Is there a WiFi thermostat that has emergency backup heat? I have a gas pack and want to use the heat pump feature for my heat but if I want gas heat on colder days I can set it to that.
All I see are cold and heat, I have a Sensi now and the heat is gas. Would like to set it to heat pump. I have a trane and replaced the trane thermostat with the Sensi.
On 2020-11-26 - by (mod) -
Gary
There might be a thermostat that will switch on backup heat but not that I've found.
Instead backup heat usually works like this:
In the heating system itself, normally a heat pump (outdoor compressor/condenser capable of running in heating or cooling mode) supplies warm or cool refrigerant to the air coil in the indoor air handler (typically a forced-air heating or cooling system).
When in heating mode if the outdoor compressor/condenser cannot provide enough heat (because of low outdoor temps) then in the air handler a control board (printed circuits, sensors, relays, etc) senses that condition and switches on a backup heat source - such as electric heaters in the air handler or an external hot water heating boiler that feeds hot water to a hot water coil in the air handler.
All of that time the call for heat was originating at the same basic wall thermostat.
On 2020-09-11 by Jeff - How would I check the Black wire function?
I replaced an older Honeywell therm with a Honeywell RTH2510/RTH2410. I replaced as they were in the old therm but no work. 6 wire--Red, White, Yellow, Green, Brown, and Black. ALL wires are in the corresponding color spots, and I have the Black in the "B" spot and the Brown in the "O" spot. Do I have it wrong?
The Orange and Blue Wires were not used and there is no C on the therm wiring lug. How would I check the Black wire function?
What other lug could the black wire go to?
what other lug could the black wire go to?
Thanks, I read through that but the Orange and Blue Wires were not used and there is no C on the therm wiring lug. How would I check the Black wire function?
On 2020-09-11 - by (mod) -
Jeff
My best-organized reply is at
THERMOSTAT WIRE CONNECTIONS - 6-WIRE Red, White, Blue, Yellow, Green, Orange Wires
https://inspectapedia.com/heat/Thermostat_Wiring_Instructions.php#6w
There you'll see that the O or B spot is usually working the reversing valve - usually that's an orange or dark blue wire.
The black wire is attached to C or common and is a 24VAC power source.
Check to see what your Black is doing.Also see COMMON WIRE at THERMOSTATS
inspectapedia.com/heat/Thermostat_Wiring_Instructions.php#6w
On 2018-11-17 by Ken - Thermostat display won't stop flashing
I installed a new Thermostat because my heat and A/C stop working at the same time. My old Thermostat would not stop flashing the battery sign even after intalling new batteries.
On 2018-11-18 - by (mod) -
Ken
This may have already been obvious to you but the first thing I would try in the circumstance you describe is to confirm that the batteries are good.
...
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