Ever since thermostats have been serving the mankind, it has undergone numerous makeovers in terms of its shape and features. As we tend to create a smarter home, with each passing year, the add on features available are plenty. Now the thermostats not just control the temperatures control the temperatures by themselves, but are smart enough to save you great bucks in terms of energy bills.
Although these add ons have made life simpler in terms of the output they produce, it is quite tiresome to learn the new technology and the associated programming, for a common person. Also, the budget needed to buy these high end thermostats may burn your pockets.
Therefore, there are some of us who still like the good old manual thermostat models, which are still untouched by the new generation digitalization wave.
They are simple to use and very light on the pockets. One such popular manual thermostat model is the Honeywell’s manual double pole premium YCT410B1000/U model. These are line volt thermostats and come in single pole variant as well. The Honeywell T410A1013 is its single pole model variant.
This article describes the features and operation of this Honeywell manual thermostat.
If you are buying a thermostat for the first time, then you must be wondering what do the single pole and double pole terms signify.
Basic difference between single pole and double pole thermostats
A single pole or 2 wire thermostat, keeps the heater on at a minimum set temperature at all times. It does not cut off the heater completely from the power source. This may pose some safety concerns in the case where temperature dips suddenly in your absence.
If the temperature goes below the set minimal temperature, the heater gets turned on automatically. If this happens when you are on a vacation with things lying near to the heater, a serious fire mishap may occur.
A double pole or a 4 wire thermostat, on the other hand, has a “turn off “ option wherein, the heater is turned off completely. This makes this model more reliable and hence is more popular among the consumers.
If we talk about the Honeywell manual thermostat, its double pole variant is more popular than its single pole variant, even when almost all its features are quite similar.
This thermostat is ideal for a line voltage baseboard heater and is rated at 120 – 240V ,5280 Watts.
The single knob controller makes it super easy to use. The installation manual guides through the installation of this product to make the process a breeze.
Let us dig deep into more of its features.
Basic Design
The 2.2 x 2.8 x 4.5 inches rectangle shaped thermostat from the house of Honeywell has a very basic box like design. The front panel has a dial to set the temperature at the desired value. The thermostat design goes well with any wall and kind of looks like an old school fan regulator.
The mounting base is made of rugged plastic which makes it robust. It has a single cover and has vents on both top and bottom. The temperature is displayed in Fahrenheit, in both the variants of the thermostat. You need to handle the product carefully, mishandling or extra pressure on the know, may damage the dial and sensor.
The temperature range over which this thermostat controls is 50C to 250C.
The only difference in design between the two variants is that the leftmost position in the single pole thermostat indicates the minimum temperature that can be set, while the leftmost position in the double pole thermostat is marked “off”. The “off” mark indicates that the heater is turned off.
Bi metallic temperature Sensor
The accuracy of this thermostat owes to its bi metallic temperature sensor. This sensor uses the two fundamental properties of a metal: the thermal expansion and the temperature coefficient. Here two thin metallic strips are bonded together in a way that there is no motion between them.
This basic sensor is less expensive and is one of the reasons behind the low cost of this manual Honeywell thermostat.
This sensor works well to sense the high temperatures; however it may not generate accurate result at low temperatures. The accuracy of this thermostat is found to be +/-5 degrees.
Operation
The operation of a manual thermostat is the simplest. You are free from the hassles of programming the desired room temperature and there are no issues of memory outage. All you need to do is turn the knob to the desired temperature level.
If you intend to use the single pole variant, be sure of keeping your valuables away from the heater. The heater gets heated up unexpectedly with a sudden temperature dip. This poses serious safety concerns if not monitored properly.
The double pole variant has no such issues, you can turn off the heater when not required and set the temperature when heating is needed.
If the thermostat is used for the first time, it is recommended to set the temperature at 20oC and check whether the heating done is satisfactory. If you do not get a satisfactory output even after 2 hours, try setting the knob to increase or decrease the temperature as required.
Compatibility
The line Manual thermostat from the house of Honeywell can be used for the temperature control of a radiant cable, electric baseboard and resistive rated fan forced heaters within the ratings: 22A at 120/240, 5280Watts.
This cannot be used for inductive loads like contactor/relay.
Low on maintenance
This Honeywell’s thermostat needs limited care. It comes with a trouble shooting guide, which explains all the possible problems that may occur along with the remedies.
Like for example if there is an issue with the heating, the guide will help you understand the cause and look for a suitable solution.
Installation
The installation is quite easy and effective. You will need to read all the instructions carefully and follow them to get the best results. If your heater has been inoperative for a long period of time, ensure that the heating system is in working condition before installing this device.
Check the thermostat before using it, by turning the heater on first and then turning the thermostat knob fully towards left and then right. Once you hear the clicking sound and the heating system starts working, you can be ensured that the thermostat has been installed properly.
It is recommended to contact a professional, if you do not have any prior experience handling household wirings.
Power Source
This thermostat is wired directly to the line source and does not need batteries to operate. This means you will be free from the hassle of changing the batteries and its related cost.
Now that you got a detailed idea about this basic model from Honeywell’s, let us wrap up this article with an overview of its pros and cons.
Pros:
- Simple design
- Rugged plastic makes it strong
- Easy to use knob
- Comes in two variants: double pole and single pole
- Easy to install
- Works with 120-220V electric baseboard heater upto 5280 Watts
- Reasonable price
Cons:
- Cannot be used for inductive loads
- Accuracy is quite low: about +/-5 degrees
- Bimetallic sensor gives less accurate results at low temperatures.
Thermostats are generally needed during the cold, chilly winter days. If you are ready to buy a new thermostat and need a basic one, this one is ideal for you. It is cost effective and keeps your room nice and toasty at a temperature you wish.
Hope this article helped you to learn the features of the Honey well 4 wire/2wire premium manual thermostat.