quote: Honeywell

"this is a contractor installed thermostat; we recommend asking a contractor if 20 gauge wire can be used."

Guess Honeywell would know then huh. hey just twist a couple a them wires together 2- 20awg may make an 18awg.... just messin wif ya dude ..

I had a 56 Nomad once.........

and ahh you repeated yourself repeated yourself repeated yourself.........

 

Whenever someone asks me this, I ask them to put themselves in the position of sitting at a table with their insurance company's lawyer, a manufacturing company lawyer, and their own lawyer.

Someone has looked at the after incident report (because their job is to avoid a payout) and noticed "the instructions clearly called for" something it was the homeowner's responsibility to check/install/adjust/change or get a professional to do what he could not do.

How would you imagine that meeting goes from there?

So, rather than discussing what wire gauge can actually be used, the "big picture" idea is to consider what happens if less than what is recommended is used, and something bad happens?

 

Whenever someone asks me this, I ask them to put themselves in the position of sitting at a table with their insurance company's lawye, a manufacturing company lawyer, and their own lawyer.

Someone has looked at the after incident report (because their job is to avoid a payout) and noticed "the instructions clearly called for" somethin it was the homeowner's responsibility to check/install/adjust/change or get a professional to do what he cougd not do.

How would you imagine that meeting goes from there?

So, rather than discussing what wire gauge can actually be used, the "big picture" idea is to consider what happens if less than what is recommended is used, and something bad happens?

bwaa hahaha

 

20 guage wire makes agreat pull wire for 18 guage

 

To Roscoe's point:

Guess Honeywell would know then huh

Based on them telling me to ask a contractor, then no, I guess they wouldn't know.

Anyway, I realized that I left out at least one potentially important piece of information-- the distance of the wire run. The length of the existing wire is 40-50 feet.

Also, I found two relatively recent threads, originated by ramlam, asking about wiring Honeywell's indoor temperature sensor to this very same thermostat using 22 gauge phone wire that happened to be in the wall already. Those threads are at http://www.hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=127964 and http://www.hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=127617. The consensus there seemed to be that it was OK, and the poster reported that the installation worked out fine.

I realize I'm asking about a different component entirely... which is why I'm asking the question. And the answer is relevant regardless of whether I decide to do it myself, or pay a contractor to do it-- yes, I can ask a local contractor, but I'd like to be able to cross-reference his opinion with those of anyone here who has, and is willing to share, relevant knowledge.

Thanks...

 

To Roscoe's point:



Based on them telling me to ask a contractor, then no, I guess they wouldn't know.

Anyway, I realized that I left out at least one potentially important piece of information-- the distance of the wire run. The length of the existing wire is 40-50 feet.

Also, I found two relatively recent threads, originated by ramlam, asking about wiring Honeywell's indoor temperature sensor to this very same thermostat using 22 gauge phone wire that happened to be in the wall already. Those threads are at http://www.hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=127964 and http://www.hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=127617. The consensus there seemed to be that it was OK, and the poster reported that the installation worked out fine.

I realize I'm asking about a different component entirely... which is why I'm asking the question. And the answer is relevant regardless of whether I decide to do it myself, or pay a contractor to do it-- yes, I can ask a local contractor, but I'd like to be able to cross-reference his opinion with those of anyone here who has, and is willing to share, relevant knowledge.

Thanks...

I would not underestimate the importance of doing what it says in the instructions. It could be the difference between something coming out in your favor, and something not doing so.

And, I would not say that Honeywell is directing you to ask a contractor because "they don't know." In fact, someone at Honeywell DOES know, and has been advised to not say, but it has instead been decided that the instructions should suggest the size of wire that is unlikely to become problematic in the future.

That's the guide that you should use: what the manufacturer is willing to put on paper.

 

20 guage wire makes agreat pull wire for 18 guage

Unfortunately not when the 20 gauge wire is stapled.

Believe me, that was the first thing I checked. But it's immobile. And worse, the wire doesn't run across the (unfinished) basement ceiling and up to the thermostat, but, rather, it runs up inside the back wall, through the ceiling between the first and second floor, and then down into the wall to the thermostat. So I can't un-staple it without opening at least the wall and possibly the ceiling.

Hence my question... I do appreciate the suggestion, though.

 

That is about the simpilest part of this biz we're in. Ain't no trade secret, but I had to develope my own system for running wire long distances.

But 40-50 feet 20awg....check with a local pro. This is not DIY.

 

Nahhhhh sh*t for brains they Told you

at Honeywell, who simply told me "this is a contractor installed thermostat; we recommend asking a contractor if 20 gauge wire can be used."

Basically they said this is not something mechanically minded midgets should not be tackling But Hey you bought it,...........they don't care whether smoke gets out or not you own it.

They were trying to be nice, I don't care if you fry it, or burn your house down.

Be nice or beat it...........a.........h....o.......l.....e......

 

Based on your post

this is a diy project. This site does not offer support for diy projects. Honeywell gave you the best advice, call a contractor.
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