The Nest Thermostat is compatible with 2 wire low voltage HVAC systems that are either heat only systems or cooling only systems. Nest Thermostat 2 Wire Hookup: What You Need To Know Systems compatible with a Nest Thermostat 2 Wire Hookup generally fall into two categories which are heat only or cooling only systems.
How do you set the temperature on a Nest Thermostat?
- Selecting Hold from the Thermostat’s Screen
- How to End the Temperature Hold
- Ending the Hold from the App
- Ending the Hold from the Thermostat Screen
Can you have two Nest thermostats in one house?
The only thing Nest will do with multiple thermostats in one house is to coordinate away/eco mode. This is good to know, if not a little disappointing, thank you. If I'm reading this correctly, the house would have two separate thermostats now anyway; one for each system. Correct?
How to set Nest thermostat to hold temperature?
- Click on the Thermostat to deliver up the primary menu
- Choose Settings (There Gear wanting icon with an exclamation level within the center)
- Scroll to and Choose Eco
- Set “Warmth to” to “Off” by scrolling all the way in which to the bottom setting.
- Set “Cool to” to “Off” by scrolling all the way in which to the best setting.
What is the best thermostat for home?
Top 5 Thermostats
- Best Smart Thermostat: Google Nest Learning Thermostat
- Best Value: Emerson Sensi Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat
- Best Sensor: ecobee SmartThermostat
- Best Non-Programmable Thermostat: Honeywell Pro Non-Programmable Digital Thermostat
- Best Programmable Thermostat: Orbit Clean Comfort Programmable Thermostat
See more

What if my thermostat has only two wires?
If your heating system has only two wires, the job of the thermostat is simple. All it has to do is turn the heat or the cooling on and off. There's no auxiliary fan to worry about and no heat pump.
How many wires does Nest thermostat need?
How Many Wires Does Nest Learning Thermostat Need? Typically, four. This is parallel to the standard four wires that most standard thermostats use.
Does Nest work without C wire?
According to the Nest website, your Nest thermostat will work without a C-wire but specialists still recommend using an adapter if you can't get a C-wire installed. If your Best thermostat will not receive a constant flow of power, it might not work properly and it runs out of power it will not work at all.
Can you install a programmable thermostat with only 2 wires?
If only two wires connect to your existing thermostat, then it's not directly wired to a power source. That only means the programmable unit you purchase must be able to run on batteries.
How does a two wire thermostat work?
A basic two-wire thermostat can be compared to a simple single-pole switch that you will find throughout your home, only instead of you turning the switch on and off as required, a mechanical or electronic temperature controlled mechanism is the operator of the switch. The terminals are usually marked 'R' and 'W'.
What wires should be connected to Nest?
Wires labeled B typically should go into a Nest thermostat's O/B connector. But for some systems the wire in the thermostat's B connector is actually a common or C wire. Common wires should go in your Nest thermostat's C connector.
How do I connect my Nest thermostat without C wire?
3:436:53Nest Thermostat No C Wire Problem and Solutions - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFor the common wire. So what you would do is go to your nest thermostat. Take off the G wire.MoreFor the common wire. So what you would do is go to your nest thermostat. Take off the G wire. Usually. It's going to be the green wire going to G. So you press on it you pull it out and before.
How do I bypass the C wire on my thermostat?
0:202:52What if I Don't Have a C-Wire? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTurn your power to the thermostat off at the circuit breaker. Once you've installed the backplate ofMoreTurn your power to the thermostat off at the circuit breaker. Once you've installed the backplate of your new thermostat onto the wall unwrap the wire if it's wrapped around your wire bundle.
What color is C wire?
Blue wiresBlue 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.
How do you install a 2 wire digital thermostat?
2:388:10Furnace 2 wire thermostat install - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOne on the top. And there's one on the bottom. It's gonna allow us to remove the plate from the wallMoreOne on the top. And there's one on the bottom. It's gonna allow us to remove the plate from the wall. And then we have our two wires our black wire and our white wire in my case.
What do I do if my Nest thermostat is not compatible?
High voltage systems, such as electric baseboard heaters, aren't compatible with Nest thermostats. In some cases, it's possible that your system can be made Nest thermostat-compatible. Contact a local pro and have them install a step down transformer to 20 - 30 V.
What is the difference between a 2 wire and 4 wire thermostat?
If you see two wires coming out of it in the back you have a single pole. If there are four wires, you have a double pole. If you have more than four wires coming out of your thermostat, you most likely have a low voltage one, which would be used to control a central furnace, boiler, or something similar.
Will a Nest Thermostat work with 4 wires?
3:3611:37Nest Wiring Diagram 4 Wires - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow our C in RH in a four wire nest. System are typically basically the same thing they're justMoreNow our C in RH in a four wire nest. System are typically basically the same thing they're just inputs for power.
How many wires does a smart thermostat have?
4 Wire Thermostat Wiring (Heat Pumps, HVAC) Smart thermostats like Nest and Ecobee thermostats require 4 wire thermostat wiring to function properly. In addition to heating (2 wire thermostats) and C or fan (3 wire thermostats), 4 wire thermostats include the cooling wire, usually in blue or yellow color.
What is the difference between a 2 wire and 3 wire room thermostat?
Typically, a 2-wire thermostat just connects to the boiler, whereas the extra connection of a 3-wire thermostat is connected to the mains power.
What color wires go on a Nest Thermostat?
To wire up your Nest Thermostat, simply: Connect the Red wire from the transformer to either the Rc or Rh terminals (as they are connected internally) Run the White Wire from the furnace to the W terminal. Connect the Yellow Wire from the compressor to the Y Terminal.
How to check if Nest thermostat is compatible?
Look closely at the end of one of the thermostat wires. You may need to pull one out of the connector to check. If there is more than one large strand, the wiring isn’t Nest-compatible. When you’re done, reinsert it into the correct connector.
What type of fuel does a Nest thermostat use?
Google Nest thermostats are designed to work with most 24 V systems, even older systems. They work with all common fuel types including natural gas, oil, and electricity.
What wire is needed for heat only?
Heat only or cool only C wire or Nest Power Connectorrequired
Can you replace stranded wires in a Nest thermostat?
Note: If your wires are stranded, you may be able to contact a local pro to cap, solder or replace stranded wires with a solid core wire, which will work with the Nest thermostat. The method may depend on your local electrical code requirements.
What is a dual fuel system?
A dual fuel heating and cooling system (also called a hybrid or packaged system) is a combination of a heat pump for primary heating and cooling, and a furnace (usually gas or oil) that provides a second and/or third stage of heating.
Can a thermostat be stranded?
If your thermostat’s wires are high voltage or stranded, then your system isn’t compatible. But, it’s possible that a trained professional can make your system compatible. Stranded wires. Look closely at the end of one of the thermostat wires. You may need to pull one out of the connector to check.
Is Google Nest thermostat proprietary?
If your system only has two wires, but you have both heating and cooling, your system is likely proprietary. Proprietary systems aren’t compatible with Google Nest thermostats.
What is the red wire on a thermostat?
Red is connected to the oil primary and so is white, this is the basic two wire install. The green and yellow wires are the fix. They come directly from the transformer. The green provides the "common" needed for the Thermostat to power itself.
What is the color of the thermostat wires?
No more pulsing, and the heating system was functioning as it should. Red is connected to the oil primary and so is white, this is the basic two wire install. The green and yellow wires are the fix. They come directly from the transformer. The green provides the "common" needed for the Thermostat to power itself.
Can you connect a nest to an AC unit?
The answer is to connect it as though the nest has an AC unit installed i.e. connect it to Rc. The nest is setup as heat only and only recognizes that it has heating installed as there is no full compliment of AC wiring, but will happily then pull its power from the common wire and Rc line. Problem solved!
Do some brands use different wires to trigger each other?
I guess some use the neutral and some use the common wire to trigger each other . He said it is common for them to fail this way even right out of the box and you can't adjust them.
Does Nest have a common wire?
Nest's offered solution of simply adding a common wire is all well and good if your furnace is able to provide a common wire. The primary on simple forced air systems often does not - the only connections they offer will be the connections for Rh and W1 no others.
Can you get a nest boiler to work without pulsing?
We tried about every combination of wiring to get our boiler working with it. Even with nest tech support on the phone we couldn't get it working without the pulsing issue. In the end I had to add a relay to electrically separate the nest from the boiler. Nest and separate 24v transformer on one side of the relay and the thermostat wires from the boiler on the other. So far so good.
What is a 2 wire thermostat?
When it comes to low voltage systems, a 2 wire thermostat is usually known as a “ heat only thermostat ” and is used for systems like a gas furnace (with only heating option). A 2 wire thermostat can not be used for hvac systems with cooling option, or heating systems with multi stages or a heat pump.
What color wires are used for thermostat?
In the case of a low voltage (24 volts) 2 wire thermostat, there will be a ‘red’ and ‘white’ color wire coming into its back. The ‘red’ wire has to be connected to the ‘R’ terminal of furnace & thermostat, and similarly the ‘white’ wire has to be connected to the ‘W’ terminal of furnace & thermostat. Note: You’ll have to take all the safety precautions before you wire a thermostat. Remember there is risk of electric shock if you fail to keep the safety protocols.
What is the temperature range of a Honeywell thermostat?
This is a basic heat-only thermostat, with only 3 buttons on the device. The temperature range can be set from 40 deg F to 90 deg F. If you’re using it in garage mode, the temperature range can be from 35 deg F to 90 deg F.
How to tell the difference between a low voltage and a line voltage thermostat?
Well, the key difference here is the ‘thickness’ of wires coming out of the thermostat. The low voltage (24 volts) model will be having ‘thin wires’ or ‘small wires’ coming out of its back, whereas the line voltage (120/240 volts) model will be having ‘thick wires’ or ‘bigger wires’ coming out of its back.
Is a 2 wire thermostat programmable?
Note: Almost all of the ‘2 wire thermostat’ models available in the market are ‘non-programmable’ types. If you prefer a programmable variant or a model with WiFi or smart features, you can buy any model you like and wire it up for a single-stage heat only system (by just connecting the two wires ‘R’ and ‘W’).
Can you use a single stage thermostat?
Keep in Mind: If you are having a single stage heat only system (like a furnace) in your home, you can use any kind of thermostat that supports single stage systems.
Do you need a wall plate for a mechanical thermostat?
The body is designed such a way that it covers any marks (on walls) which could occur while replacing your old mechanical thermostat. In most cases, you don’t need an additional wall plate. This model is suitable to be used for single stage furnace, single stage heat pump or milli volt systems.
Why do you need more than one thermostat?
If you have more than one thermostat in your home, they’ll work together to try to keep you comfortable and help save energy.
What is a multi stage thermostat?
A multistage system will have multiple heating wires (such as W2 or W3) or cooling wires (Y2 or Y3). Nest thermostats are compatiblewith up to three stage conventional heating (systems with W1, W2, and W3) and two stage conventional cooling (systems with Y1 or Y2).
What is a zoned thermostat?
In zoned systems, each thermostat controls heating and cooling independently in order to heat or cool different areas of the house. Thermostats in zoned systems can control the same heating and cooling system or each thermostat can control its own system. When multiple thermostats control one system, the house is divided into zones using dampers in ...
What does Nest do when you are away?
Your phone's location and Nest product sensor data are used to tell when your home is empty or occupied. So all of the Nest thermostats in your home can switch to Eco Temperatureswhen you’re away, and back to your regular temperature schedule when you return.
Can a Nest thermostat be used in zoned homes?
If you have multiple dampers controlling the flow of warm and cool air to zones in your home, your system may be compatiblewith the Nest thermostat as long as your system only uses standard thermostat wires.
Can you have two Nest thermostats in the same house?
Nest thermostats in the same home don’t share temperature schedules. Each thermostat learns a separate schedule for the zone that it controls. So you can teach your thermostat downstairs to warm up the kitchen in time for breakfast, while the thermostat upstairs turns down for the day.
Is Google Nest compatible with Nest thermostats?
Zoned system compatibility with Nest thermostats. Google Nest thermostats are usually compatible with zoned systems that use multiple thermostats, including zoned systems with dampers. However, some zoned systems that require thermostat damper control aren’t compatible with Nest thermostats, while other zoned systems may need a C or common wire, ...

Overview
Systems that are Nest-compatible
- There are some key differences between Nest thermostats and what systems will work with each.
Note: Use this table for reference only. - System types
Nest Learning Thermostat
Systems that are incompatible with Nest thermostats
- While most 24 V heating and cooling systems are compatible with Nest thermostats, there are s…
If you have one of the system types below, it won’t work with a Nest thermostat. - Proprietary systems
• If you find wires in your thermostat’s connector that have non-standard labels (for instance 1,2,3, or A, B, C), your system is proprietary.
Get pro installation for a dual fuel system
- A dual fuel heating and cooling system (also called a hybrid or packaged system) is a combinati…
The Nest thermostat is compatible with these systems and supports up to 2 alternate heat sources. - You have a dual fuel system if you have a furnace inside of your home, and a heat pump on the o…
If you have a dual fuel system, you will need to have a trained professional set up your thermostat. It’s important for a professional to assess the requirements for your specific dual fuel configuration since choosing incorrect options for a dual fuel system can result in damage to yo…
Thermostat wire labels
- If you need to know more about what the labels on your thermostat wires mean, refer to the follo…
Thermostat wire labels