Looking for thermostat options.

[C4 BEAR]

Hi all,

 

Thinking of updating some of my old C4 thermostats and changing a few of my NON smart thermostats to smart ones. Are there options out there besides the C4 Aprillaire models?

 

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Frank

[msgreenf]

Ecobee 

[chopedogg88]

If reliability is of utmost importance, then Control4 therms are your best bet. 

Otherwise you can use Ecobee, Nest, Honeywell... But they all integrate via the cloud and have a tendency to break every so often. 

[Cyknight]

I concur - while not the prettiest, C4's own are by far the most reliable as far as integration goes.

I'd choose Ecobee as an alternative, followed by Honeywell (Wifi) or Aprilaire (Wifi) - these latter two use 3rd party drivers. Nest we only do if already there (ie client has already invested in it). Nest learning is sooooo overhyped....

[therockhr]

I use the Honeywell Wifi driver. It works I guess although you cant do scheduling and stuff with it and it needs reauthenticated every once in awhile. Honestly though, I rarely ever touch it. Unless you had a massive house with a thermostat in each room I dont think having robust integration matters.

[C4 BEAR]

Thank you all for your input and advice. I guess I will just go with the C4's so I don't have to worry about problems.

 

[chopedogg88]

Sure would be nice if Control4 would just come out with a sexy touchscreen thermostat...I would sell them like hotcakes...

[booch]

4 hours ago, chopedogg88 said:

Sure would be nice if Control4 would just come out with a sexy touchscreen thermostat...I would sell them like hotcakes...

You just gave me an idea, Ari — move my C4 THERMs to their respective engineering spaces and just rely on my T3s — really no need to display them at this point :-).

[chopedogg88]

Yes that's how I do most of my installs. Use flush mount remote temp sensor and put c4 therm in mech room. Use touchscreens/app/voice for control. 

[Neo1738]

9 hours ago, booch said:

You just gave me an idea, Ari — move my C4 THERMs to their respective engineering spaces and just rely on my T3s — really no need to display them at this point :-).

Best part is you can paint over the therm sensors in the room so they blend pretty nicely w the wall.

[Topspin14m]

I'm a longtime Ecobee and Nest user (2011-2016 I had Nest, then 2016-2021 I had Ecobee, now I have Nest).  Not to disagree with Cyknight, but I do prefer Nest because of the learning software.  It is nice that it automatically will adjust without your having to set a schedule (e.g. it learns that at night you want your thermostat set a certain way vs. the day by remembering how you set your thermostat over the course of a week or two.  Then it automatically sets a schedule and makes the changes without your having to keep doing it).  Ecobee really doesn't do that besides automatically switching to away mode when it detects that you aren't home.  You can obviously accomplish something similar with Ecobee by programming your own schedule manually -- that just takes some work and the Nest does it automatically/you can be lazy about it.

One thing I loved about the Ecobee (being in a northern climate) is that it knew when the temp hit below 60 degrees to kill the AC so the condenser wouldn't get strained.  Nest doesn't have this (seemingly obvious) feature, though you can program it via IFTTT. 

I also think the latest Ecobee design is killer, though the Nest is still more minimalist.  Finally, I think most C4 installers prefer Ecobee because Google killed Nest's compatibility with C4 for a period of time and that could always happen in the future.  So you have that risk -- though I'd argue that you have that risk with Ecobee as well (though maybe less of a risk since Ecobee doesn't have a whole competing smart home entity).

[Topspin14m]

12 hours ago, booch said:

You just gave me an idea, Ari — move my C4 THERMs to their respective engineering spaces and just rely on my T3s — really no need to display them at this point :-).

I think this is the preferred way of doing things with C4, as long as you don't feel you need the learning functionality.  Also, I don't think this would automatically detect when you are away, unless you set up motion sensors and program that functionality somehow (maybe C4 can do this--I don't know).

[booch]

15 hours ago, Neo1738 said:

Best part is you can paint over the therm sensors in the room so they blend pretty nicely w the wall.

Very cool -- appreciate the tip! Will have to add this to the end of my project list -- cleaning up all the devices I've accumulated, ha.

Off thread topic but related to the clean install -- any go-tos for 'recessing' NYCE ceiling and standard motion sensors? Figured I could experiment with can light trim for the former, but don't have ideas on the latter yet.

[booch]

13 hours ago, Topspin14m said:

I think this is the preferred way of doing things with C4, as long as you don't feel you need the learning functionality.  Also, I don't think this would automatically detect when you are away, unless you set up motion sensors and program that functionality somehow (maybe C4 can do this--I don't know).

It's definitely more attractive. And I don't use the learning functionality or need the sensors (have others) but appreciate the heads up.

I'm a little proud though I've let go of my OCD somewhat and am not freaking out about my current on-wall thermostats, multi-gang controls, etc., ha.

[Neo1738]

On 7/7/2022 at 10:09 AM, Topspin14m said:

I think this is the preferred way of doing things with C4, as long as you don't feel you need the learning functionality.  Also, I don't think this would automatically detect when you are away, unless you set up motion sensors and program that functionality somehow (maybe C4 can do this--I don't know).

W C4 just set that if alarm is armed thermostat goes to away. When unarmed come back. 

[DanITman]

Control4 Thermostats by far have the best integration and give you the best experience in the Control4 app.  I've used Nest & Ecobee and you can do so much more with the Control4 thermostats.  If you don't want to put them on the wall you can have a mix of thermostat types (wired/wireless).  The options are plentiful. 

[DLite]

On 7/8/2022 at 1:28 PM, DanITman said:

Control4 Thermostats by far have the best integration and give you the best experience in the Control4 app.  I've used Nest & Ecobee and you can do so much more with the Control4 thermostats.  If you don't want to put them on the wall you can have a mix of thermostat types (wired/wireless).  The options are plentiful. 

One thing I like about Ecobee is the ability to have multiple remote temp sensors tied to a single thermostat.  In C4, I can then programmatically change which sensors I rely on, which is a cool feature.

Is it possible to use multiple remote temperature sensors with a single C4 thermostat? Or is it just one remote sensor per thermostat?

 

[msgreenf]

22 minutes ago, DLite said:

One thing I like about Ecobee is the ability to have multiple remote temp sensors tied to a single thermostat.  In C4, I can then programmatically change which sensors I rely on, which is a cool feature.

Is it possible to use multiple remote temperature sensors with a single C4 thermostat? Or is it just one remote sensor per thermostat?

 

You can use multiple. You just wire them in parallel with each other

[c44me]

Ecobee