How many wires does a thermostat need?

The most basic thermostat has 2 wires; usually a red and a white wire. Two wire thermostat wiring is used for furnaces only and usually doesn’t need a “C” or “Common” wire. That’s why we only need two wires: Red wire for power (24h).

What is Y2 wire on thermostat?





Y2 – This is the thermostat terminal for cooling second stage if your system is so equipped. Many systems only have a single compressor but if you have two compressors which should only operate off of one thermostat then you need the Y2 thermostat terminal for second stage cooling.

What is RC thermostat?

RC: The RC terminal is the 24-volt cooling power supply. RH: The RH terminal is the 24-volt heating power supply. (Note: The RC and RH terminals are jumpered together in a four-wire heat/cool system and a single-stage heat pump system but not in a five-wire heating/cooling system.)

What is W1 wire on thermostat?

The W or W1 wire controls your heating system. Y or Y1. In most systems, the Y or Y1 wire controls your cooling system. If you have a heat pump, your Y or Y1 wire controls your compressor. Your compressor is responsible for heating and cooling your home.

How do you bypass a thermostat?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Ones your jump ring stick this jumper in there and tighten those screws back up and flip the furnace which Bagon. Well guys and that is how you bypass your thermostat.

How do you hook up a thermostat to a gas valve?





Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: And heading over to the th on the combination gas valve. It's then going to go through this wire over to the solenoid it's gonna power the solenoid. And come back through over to the TR.

Should I use Y1 or Y2?

In conventional cooling systems, Y/Y1 controls the first stage of cooling and Y2 controls the second stage, which helps cool down the home faster. In heat pump systems, Y1 controls your compressor, which heats and cools your home.

What happens if you wire a thermostat wrong?

Potential consequences of improper installation could include: Electric shock. Blowing a circuit breaker. Damaging the thermostat unit, the electrical system or even the AC/furnace unit itself.

Does Y go to Y1 or Y2?

Of the Y, Y1, and Y2 wires, Y or Y1 go to the Y terminal and Y2 to the Y2 terminal. The O/B wire can have many configurations. It can be W-O/B, O/B, W-O, W-B, or even separate O and B wires. If you have separate O and B wires, tape off the B wire so it doesn’t make contact and connect the O wire to the O/B terminal.

What’s the difference between W1 and W2?



W1 is the classification we use for galvanized steel hose clamps (according to DIN3017) that are used in no-corrosion environments. W2 is the classification for stainless steel hose clamps (combination of AISI430 and zinc plated screw) that can be used in corrosion sensitive environments.

Is W1 same as W?

W – When you see a W terminal, it just means heat. Usually, you will only see W when the control only has one stage of heat. W1 – Means first-stage heat. In a heat pump, first-stage heat is the same as the first-stage cool.

What is the black wire used for on a thermostat?

This the Common Terminal, and usually, a blue or black wire is run to the transformer from this terminal to complete the circuit, and in some cases, provide power to the Thermostat. This terminal is found on thermostats designed to work with Heating Pumps and is used to power the defrost cycle on the heat pumps.

Does heat work without thermostat?



In a central heating system, the main thermostat is an essential component. Without it you would have to turn your heating on and off multiple times a day to try to keep the temperature in the home reasonably constant.

How do I turn my heat on if my thermostat is broken?

How Can I Make the Furnace Work if the Thermostat Is Broken?

  1. Turn off the breaker to the furnace. …
  2. Remove the thermostat cover. …
  3. Locate the red and white wires attached to two screws on the thermostat. …
  4. Wrap the exposed ends of the two wires together. …
  5. Return the furnace breaker into the “On” position.


Does thermostat need jumper wire?

Jumper wire basics



Most of your current thermostat’s wires will be connected to your thermostat and go through the wall to connect to your HVAC system. However, some thermostats will have a jumper wire that doesn’t go back through the wall to connect to your system.

What can I use for thermostat jumper?



Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: If you had larger head screws. Here you could use alligator jumpers like this. We could still use them you just have to open the alligator jumper up and connect that to the W.

How do you make a thermostat jumper?

To create a new jumper for RC/RH, use a short piece of thermostat wire, strip the insulation off both ends of the wire and bend it in half. Connect one end to RC and the other end to RH on the wall plate. Leave the wire that comes out of the wall attached to either RC or RH.

What color is the C wire on a thermostat?

Blue wires

Blue wires are also called “C” wires because they are the Common wire. C wires are necessary for any “smart” thermostat that needs to be connected to a power source 24/7, regardless of your heat pump type.

Is RC and C wire the same?



The C and Rc wires are not the same. To install this thermostat you should follow the exact same wiring of the previous thermostat.

What is the common wire on a thermostat?

A C-wire, or a common wire, runs from your low voltage heating system (24v) and carries continuous power to your thermostat. In today’s electric market, most newer heating and cooling systems have C-wires, which guarantees compatibility for the installation of all smart thermostats.