Hello Lelia, 1. Let me state that neither James nor I are H/VAC professionals so neither of us can speak to your Sensi Smart Thermostat compatibility question with any degree of certainty.
2. Smart thermostat to specific H/VAC compatibility goes far beyond the scope of this thread. 3. I strongly suggest that you contact an H/VAC professional, in your local area, for detailed compatibility questions. 4. You may contact Sensi customer support at: 888-605-7131 to ask general Sensi Smart Thermostat to H/Vac compatibility questions. 5. If you discover that the Sensi Smart Thermostat is not compatible with your H/VAC system, remember that there are a lot of accessible smart thermostats on the market. We had some wonderful suggestions from a lot of people, on this thread, so it may be just a matter of doing some research in order to determine which smart thermostat is right, for you. Good luck, Mark -----Original Message----- From: viphone@googlegroups.com <viphone@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Lelia Struve Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2023 2:31 PM To: viphone@googlegroups.com Cc: vipho...@googlegroups.com Subject: Re: An Alexa Compatible Thermostat, Anyone? hi James and all, here is my deal, I have both a heater on one wall and swamp cooler. So my propane heater and swamp cooler are of course separate. Would I be able to use this thermostat? If yes, I think you both said it is easy to change temperature? How? Lelia Sent from my iPhone > On Jan 8, 2023, at 5:20 PM, M. Taylor <mk...@ucla.edu> wrote: > > Hello All, > > Okay, as my final follow up to this thread, I did some research and > discovered the following general facts: > > 1. > The C cable is also referred to as a Common cable. This is what my installer > called it which is why I got a bit confused when writing about it, here , > on-list. > > 2. > Many Smart Thermostats require a C cable because they have a touch screen > which requires more power than a mere non-touch screen digital display. > > 3. > Generally speaking, if a home was built in the last 40 years or so, it will > have a C cable available, in the wall. > > 4. > If a home does not have a C cable, there are several alternatives including > using a phone cable as a C cable or, more simply, purchasing a very > inexpensive (less than $100) C cable conversion kit from Amazon, that simply > splits one of the H/VAC cables so that a C cable can be attached to the > required terminal on the Smart thermostat. > > 5. > The Sensi Smart thermostat I purchased, while having a digital display, is > not a touch screen so batteries can be used to power the display if one does > not have a C cable readily available. > > 6. > On my model, one can disable the physical buttons via the Sensi iOS app, to > prevent others from controlling the thermostat. While I have no need to do > this, I can easily imagine several scenarios in which one might want to lock > the thermostat. > > 7. > For those of us who are low vision, from within the Sensi app, the backlight > of the thermostat display can be set to, on, so that it can be used as a kind > of nightlight. I am finding this feature most useful. > > 8. > On the model I purchased, one can see and control the humidity as well as the > temperature. > > Okay, I think that is all I can contribute to this thread. > > Mark > > -----Original Message----- > From: M. Taylor <mk...@ucla.edu> > Sent: Friday, January 6, 2023 10:48 PM > To: 'viphone@googlegroups.com' <viphone@googlegroups.com> > Cc: 'vipho...@googlegroups.com' <vipho...@googlegroups.com> > Subject: RE: An Alexa Compatible Thermostat, Anyone? > > Hello Chris, > > Yes, that is exactly what it means. One would have to remove the device from > the wall plate in order to replace the batteries. > > However, this should not be a deterrent as I suspect that one would only need > to change the batteries once a year, if that often. > > Given the level of device detail that Apple Home Kit provides, I would not be > surprised if it reported device battery level. Again, I do not know since I > did not insert any batteries into my unit. > > I will admit that, now that I've gotten the unit working with Siri, I find > myself using Siri rather than the physical buttons to control the thermostat > (smile). > > I will force myself to use the buttons on the device, at least once a week, > so that I continue to be comfortable doing so. > > Mark > > > -----Original Message----- > From: viphone@googlegroups.com <viphone@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of > Cris Ali > Sent: Friday, January 6, 2023 3:06 PM > To: vipho...@googlegroups.com > Cc: viphone@googlegroups.com > Subject: Re: An Alexa Compatible Thermostat, Anyone? > > Thanks Mark. I did not get the point of having to install batteries before > attaching to the base. Does that mean you have to take the thermostat off its > base each time you need to change the battery? Does the app have a battery > meter to let you know if the battery is weak? > Cheers, > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Jan 6, 2023, at 12:06 PM, M. Taylor <mk...@ucla.edu> wrote: >> >> Hello Chris, >> >> This particular thermostat has a terminal for a grounding wire but I do not >> know if one is required. I think not. >> >> While not wanting to get off-point, I will say that I suspect that many >> thermostats, in order to be widely compatible, allow for a great many >> installation options. >> >> For example, in the setup manual, for this model, it instructs the installer >> to insert 2 batteries into the unit before attaching it to the bass, that >> should already be mounted onto the wall. However, this unit, has a >> terminal, on the back, for a power cable. It's not actually called a power >> cable but I cannot remember the actual name of the cable. if one has such >> a cable already built into the house, as does mine, then batteries are not >> necessary. >> >> I had a professional installer switch out my old thermostat for the new one. >> He did it in seconds and did not need to read the installation setup guide. >> These setup guys are written for the non-professional user, in most cases. >> >> Mark >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: vipho...@googlegroups.com <vipho...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf >> Of Cris Ali >> Sent: Friday, January 6, 2023 8:09 AM >> To: vipho...@googlegroups.com >> Cc: viphone@googlegroups.com >> Subject: Re: An Alexa Compatible Thermostat, Anyone? >> >> Does it require a C wire? Some smart thermostats require C wire to be >> installed. >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >>>> On Jan 6, 2023, at 2:20 AM, M. Taylor <mk...@ucla.edu> wrote: >>> >>> Hello James and Everyone, >>> >>> I purchased the Sensi model st55 Smart Thermostat 2 days ago and had it >>> installed early this morning. >>> >>> In a word, it is amazing. The physical buttons are easy-to-use and allow >>> for complete use of the thermostat just as was my old unit. >>> >>> I did not configure the wireless settings until late this evening because >>> the buttons work so well. >>> >>> However, I now have the device setup to work with either Alexa or Siri. >>> And of course, one can use the Sensi app which is remarkably VoiceOver >>> accessible. >>> >>> Now I will tell you that the Apple Home Kit setup was a thousand times >>> easier than was Amazon Alexa. In fact, for the first time, I was truly >>> disappointed with Alexa because, in my opinion, not only would a blind or >>> low vision person be hard pressed to configure the unit without sighted >>> assistance, but the process is unintuitive and convoluted. In addition, at >>> the time of this writing, one cannot setup Alexa with the device until one >>> uses the Sensi app to create an external account, etc. Ridiculous. >>> >>> Apple Home Kit, on the other hand, was fast, simple, and could easily be >>> configured by a totally blind person as long as the person had the security >>> code which is included on a sheet of paper located inside the package. The >>> best part? One does not need to install the third-party Sensi app in order >>> to be up and running in minutes. >>> >>> I have decided to use Siri to run the thermostat as doing so is intuitive >>> and works flawlessly from all of my Apple devices including my Apple Watch. >>> >>> I think the Sensi people must love Apple because, if one did not want to >>> configure Home Kit, manually, to work with the device, one only has to >>> point iPhone camera to a QR code located in the packaging which >>> automatically launches Home Kit and begins the configuration process. Most >>> impressive, to say the least. >>> >>> While I love Alexa, this round definitely goes to Siri. >>> >>> Thank you all for your contribution to this thread and, like James, I >>> definitely recommend this $80 unit to anyone who is in the market for a new >>> thermostat, WiFi enabled or not. >>> >>> Mark >>> >>> >>> From: viphone@googlegroups.com <viphone@googlegroups.com> On Behalf >>> Of James Bentley >>> Sent: Tuesday, December 27, 2022 7:26 PM >>> To: viphone@googlegroups.com >>> Subject: RE: An Alexa Compatible Thermostat, Anyone? >>> >>> I’ve had a Sensi model st55 for 2 years now.Be sure you get this cheaper >>> $80.00, model available from Amazon. It has buttons that control selecting >>> heat or air conditioning and changing the temperature and more. It also >>> works with Alexa and there is an app for I Phone and I think, Android. >>> Note, the more expensive model is flat screen only. No buttons. The >>> buttons are important for a blind person to use the thermostat in case your >>> internet goes down. >>> >>> The $80.00, thermostat with buttons is model ST55. Here is an Amazon link. >>> >>> https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NB1OB0I/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encod >>> i >>> n >>> g=UTF8&aaxitk=16b53869f5473df1c2e96eaa091b5ae3&hsa_cr_id=18656750604 >>> 0 >>> 1 >>> &pd_rd_plhdr=t&pd_rd_r=a4851b0d-8d87-4199-8c2b-32c4437daff2&pd_rd_w= >>> 8 k n92&pd_rd_wg=ViTHK&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_mcd_asin_0_bkgd >>> >>> >>> HTH, >>> >>> James B >>> >>> From: mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com >>> <mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Wayne Scott >>> Sent: Tuesday, December 27, 2022 3:48 PM >>> To: mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com >>> Subject: Re: An Alexa Compatible Thermostat, Anyone? >>> >>> I highly recommendthe Sensi thermostat. It works with both Alexa and >>> iPhone. >>> Wayne Scott >>> >>> >>>> On Dec 27, 2022, at 2:23 PM, Katrina Anderson >>>> <mailto:kanderson8...@sbcglobal.net> wrote: >>> My Honeywell programmable thermostat has buttons around the visual >>> display. I am able to do some basic things without the Internet, app or >>> Alexa, but since I am totally blind, I have to rely on good notes (not >>> enough space for braille labels). I am very pleased with this thermostat, >>> and what is especially cool is that I had nothing to do with selecting it. >>> The thermostat was selected/installed by the company/workers who installed >>> a new furnace and AC 7.5 years ago. In case it would prove helpful, >>> details about my thermostat follow: >>> Honeywell Thermostat Model and/or Serial #: Focus Pro TH6320WF >>> Above based on the Model 6000 >>> >>> Katrina >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com >>> <mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Sieghard Weitzel >>> Sent: Tuesday, December 27, 2022 2:58 PM >>> To: mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com >>> Subject: RE: An Alexa Compatible Thermostat, Anyone? >>> >>> Honeywell T9 or T10 would probably be my choice, we have a Honeywell T5 >>> which has long since been discontinued, but it works well although it is a >>> touch screen thermostat so if for some reason your internet goes down you >>> would have a hard time setting anything on it, but I believe many smart >>> thermostats would be the same way. >>> >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com >>> <mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of M. Taylor >>> Sent: Monday, December 26, 2022 2:01 PM >>> To: mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com >>> Cc: mailto:vipho...@googlegroups.com >>> Subject: An Alexa Compatible Thermostat, Anyone? >>> >>> Hello Everyone, >>> >>> Okay, I know that I have asked this question before but, now that I must >>> buy a new thermostat for my home, within the next week or so, as my 32 year >>> old model is starting to fail on a virtually daily basis, what Alexa >>> compatible thermostat do you either recommend and / or are currently using? >>> >>> I am aware of the Nest brand models; I thought they were Google-only models >>> but I think they also can work with Alexa, right? Does anyone have any >>> experience with Nest / Alexa compatibility? >>> >>> Also, I know that Honeywell makes Alexa models but, from what I have read >>> on the web, today, one must setup an online account with Honeywell before >>> the device can be used with Alexa. That sounds like a lot of trouble to >>> me; maybe. >>> >>> The only thing I know for certain is that I want a model that will work >>> with Amazon Alexa, out of the box, because I do not want to use a >>> third-party app, is I can avoid doing so. >>> >>> I have come to trust the Alexa app for iOS and iPad OS. >>> >>> Mark >>> >>> >>> -- >>> The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list. >>> >>> If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if >>> you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners >>> or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. >>> >>> Your V iPhone list moderator is Mark Taylor. Mark can be reached at: >>> mailto:mk...@ucla.edu. 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