One of the common suggestions is to use Cat cables in place of a thermostat wire in a thermostat. The logic behind that is that both are low-voltage, low-current wires.
18-gauge and 20-gauge wires are generally recommended for thermostat wiring. Smaller gauge wire is appropriate for thermostat wiring because this wiring generally carries a very limited amount of power which makes it suitable for low-voltage applications.
There are a lot of thermostats on the market that do not require a C-wire, including older models and some smart thermostats.
Use a Power Adapter: Many smart thermostats come with a power adapter that can be plugged into a standard outlet. This adapter can provide the necessary power to the thermostat without needing a C wire.
Can Speaker Wire Be Used In A Thermostat? The speaker wire and thermostat wire are CL2 cables, so the speaker wire can be used in a thermostat as long as it is in an appropriate size of 18 AWG.
Can I Use any Kind Of Regular Electrical Wire In Speakers? Since the difference between electrical cables and speaker cables is nominal, it is perfectly acceptable to use any copper electrical wire in speakers as long as it is the right gauge.
3 core + earth for most systems and to any of our wiring centres. If you need to operate a switched circuit, which may be at a different voltage than the thermostat supply, then 4 core + earth cable.
Add an Adapter
Some smart thermostats include an adapter in case there's no C-wire in your home. You can also find thermostat adapters at a hardware store or online. If you have previous electrical experience, you can follow the instructions included with the adapter to install it.
Do all Smart Thermostats Require a C-Wire? Though all smart thermostats can use a C-wire and arguably may be more reliable with the use of one, not all smart thermostats require a C-wire to function. Some models, such as Google Nest, are designed to work even if your home doesn't have a C-wire.
The C, or common wire, provides smart thermostats with continual power. It's usually blue, but it may also be black, brown or purple. The O or orange wire connects to your heat pump (if applicable).
If you put wires into the wrong thermostat connectors during setup can, this can cause your system to malfunction or possibly damage it.
From unheard of to almost mandatory, the thermostat common wire or “C wire” has become a major issue. What is a C wire? The common wire is the neutral wire from the 24V transformer that provides the power that WiFi thermostats require in order for their features to work.
Some smart thermostats do not use wires at all and rely on batteries, just like older thermostats. This option is great if you don't have the time or budget to change your old house's wiring. Don't forget to stock up on batteries.
No, most telephone wire is 22 or 24 gauge. Tstat wire needs to be 18.
Nest thermostats don't support stranded wires, they require solid-core copper wires.
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This is why some folks say you must have a C wire. However, there is a trick or workaround to get a 'fake' C wire. Simply use the G (green fan power wire as a C wire). It will work.
The average cost to install a C-wire is $120 to $200, with a national average of $150.
You get 24V AC between R and C. Without C wire, you don't get any usable voltage. Old mechanical thermostats using mercury or bi-metal does not need common wire because it doesn't require power and often there are only 4 conductors, so connecting C wire will not be possible.
Honeywell (and others such as Trane) use a C wire on models that use WiFi or voice recognition or Z-wave so they can have a 24V connection. All thermostats use low voltage from the other connectors and typically use the batteries as a backup when there's no C wire.
The thermostat wire comes in a range of gauges which can be determined based on the number of conductors needed to power your thermostat/device. The most common size for wiring is 18 gauge because they typically come with 5 conductor wires which have become the standard for low voltage stats and HVAC devices.
As both are 18 AWG low-voltage copper wire, you can use sprinkler wire for your thermostat in the absence of your thermostat wire. There will not be any voltage drops, and you can theoretically use a sprinkler wire for any length of a run.
The blue wire—also called the C, or “common,” wire—is required to power any thermostat and ensure proper system function. Your HVAC system and thermostat configuration will determine what color the C wire will be. The C wire in homes with a heat pump is always blue.