
Types of Thermostat Wiring
Color | Terminal | Use | Details |
Red | R, Rh & RC | Power | Provides power from the transformer (24V ... |
Green | G | Fan Control | Turns the blower fan on/off for air in t ... |
Yellow & Light Blue | Y & Y2 | Cooling | Air Conditioner (AC relay specifically) |
Black | Any | Depends on your system. |
How do you wire up a Nest Thermostat?
Inside the box you’ll find a complete installation kit that includes:
- Welcome guide and installation instructions
- A larger trim plate that covers holes or a paint footprint from your old thermostat
- A metal mounting plate if your existing thermostat is installed on an electrical box
- Mounting screws and wire labels
- The Nest thermostat base and display
How to change color on Nest Thermostat?
How To Change Color On Nest Thermostat. Colors to the nest thermostat family nest thermostat settings google help to install and set up the nest thermostat learn about the common or c wire. Nest Gets Fancy With Three New Colors For Its Smart Thermostat Digital Trends.
How to connect Your Nest Thermostat?
compatibility checker in step 4 to connect your system wires to the Nest Thermostat. Note: If you have an R, Rc or Rh wire, you can put it into the R connector on the Nest Thermostat. If you have a W2, Y2 or O/B wire, you can put it into the * O/B connector, if needed. The exposed wire should be straight. 3/8 in Gently tug each wire to check
Where does blue wire go on Nest Thermostat?
How do I test my thermostat?
- Check your thermostat to make sure it is in the “On” position.
- Stand at the thermostat while an assistant stands at the furnace.
- Raise the thermostat heat settings slowly.
- Turn off the breaker to your furnace.

What color wire goes where on a Nest thermostat?
0:526:05Nest Thermostat Wire Colors [Explained] - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe Y wire is yellow. And that is the cooling wire or AC wire. So that controls your HVAC.MoreThe Y wire is yellow. And that is the cooling wire or AC wire. So that controls your HVAC.
What wires are needed for Nest thermostat?
With a Nest Thermostat E or Nest Learning Thermostat, you'll need to install a C wire if the thermostat has power issues or its battery often drains.
How do I connect the wires to my Nest Thermostat?
2:556:09How to install the Google Nest Learning Thermostat - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSimply hold down the connector button and push the wire all the way.MoreSimply hold down the connector button and push the wire all the way.
Does R wire go to RC or RH on nest?
An R wire can go into a Nest Learning Thermostat's Rc or Rh connector.
What is the RC wire on a Nest thermostat?
Description. R. The R wire is the power wire for your heating and cooling system. If you only have one R wire (no Rh or Rc), you can connect your R wire to either Rc or Rh on the Nest thermostat.
Can I use Nest 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.
Where do thermostat wires go?
Thermostat Wiring Tips The W wire is connected to your heating system. If your thermostat controls your heat, you will have a white wire. The Y wire is yellow and connects to your air conditioning compressor. The G wire is green and connects to the fan.
What is the difference between RC and RH on nest?
There is no standard for the colour of the RH wire, but most units use a red one. The RC wire, on the other hand, refers to “red cooling”. It's the same with the RH wire in that it powers the thermostat. For the RC, it powers the cooling system.
Does R go in RH or RC?
In a thermostat, the R wire is responsible for powering the entire HVAC system (through a transformer). If you have both an Rh (Red-heat for powering the heating) and an Rc (Red-cool for powering the cooling), then the R wire can be connected to either Rh or Rc.
Do I need a jumper from R to RC?
If you have a wire in the R terminal, and another wire (not a jumper) in the RC terminal, you will not need to connect the R and RC terminals. See our Basic Wiring article for more info here.
What is the brown wire on a Nest thermostat?
A brown wire is mostly likely a heat pump wire and should be connected to the O/B connector on the Nest thermostat. If the B wire is blue, it should most likely be connected to the C connector.
What is the wire on a thermostat?
Most thermostats have a Red wire that is the power wire that usually connects to R & RC terminals of the thermostat, a Green wire that energizes the Fan relay, connected to the “G” terminal on the thermostat, a Yellow wire that energizes the outdoor unit's contactor, (if you have air conditioning) and a white wire that
Can a Nest thermostat work without a wire?
In most cases, a Nest Thermostat can work without a common wire. Without a common wire it charges its internal battery using power from the heating and cooling wires. With some HVAC systems, such as micro-controller-based systems and certain gas valves, will require a C-wire to work with Nest Learning Thermostat.
What is the yellow wire on my thermostat?
Yellow Wires. The yellow wires underneath your thermostat connect to your compressor. They control your air conditioning system. The yellow wires terminate at your compressor contactor via an air handler. The yellow wires connect to the Y terminals on your thermostat.
Where is the green wire on a thermostat?
The green wire underneath your thermostat connects to the fan of your furnace or air handler. It terminates at the air handler or furnace. The green wire connects to terminal G on your thermostat.
What color wires are used for a heat pump?
This thermostat wire color code will help homeowners understand the anatomy of their thermostat: 1 White wires 2 Yellow wires 3 Green wires 4 Orange wires 5 Red or “Rc” wires: Industry standard for geothermal heat pumps 6 Rh wires: Industry standard for geothermal heat pumps 7 Blue or “C” wires
Why are blue wires called C 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.
What is the red wire on a transformer?
The Rh wire, another type of red wire, is also responsible for 24-hour volt power from your transformer. The Rh wire connects to your heating system as opposed to your cooling system. This wire may be red without an “H” attached to it, depending on if you have a dual transformer setup.
What are the different types of wires on a geothermal heat pump?
Yellow wires. Green wires. Orange wires. Red or “Rc” wires: Industry standard for geothermal heat pumps. Rh wires: Industry standard for geothermal heat pumps. Blue or “C” wires. Make sure you know what’s happening underneath your thermostat! Read on for information about all possible thermostat wires.
What does a red wire mean?
Red wires indicate power. You may see an Rc and/or an Rh wire.
What is the white wire on a thermostat?
The white wire behind your thermostat controls the heating section of your HVAC system. It is connected between the W terminal and the heat source, a furnace, or a boiler. Many houses use dual-stage heating, which is more efficient and is quite common in modern HVAC systems.
How many wires does a thermostat have?
Most modern thermostats have the standard 4 or 5-wire template, with the only difference being whether a C-wire is present or not. However, older setups or simpler systems installed in places like cabins might use a 2 or 3 wire system. 2 or 3 wire systems usually have a single-stage boiler/heater installed. In contrast, newer systems might have air conditioners, heat pumps, etc.
What is the C wire used for?
In most modern 24V systems, the C wire is used to complete the power circuit for the thermostat if it consumes electricity . The majority of modern thermostats require electricity to operate, so a C-wire is necessary for them.
What is the E terminal on a heat pump?
This terminal is used for the emergency heating back-up in your heat pump. In case the primary heating fails, heat pumps have a smaller emergency heating in them. There is no thermostat wire color specified, but it’ll be connected to the E terminal. It is better to check what wires originate from your heat pump to see what color the wire is.
What is the green wire on a blower fan?
The green wire is connected to the blower fan relay and controls the airflow through the ducts. If you have a split system, the blower fan is indoor in the air handler, while in a package unit, the blower fan is in the outdoor unit.
What wires are used for a heat pump?
Some manufacturers such as Rheem and Ruud use the dark blue wire to connect B-terminal and the reversing valve. In this case, the reversing valve is used in heating mode.
What wire is used to connect a heat pump to a furnace?
In this case, your furnace will have low fire and high fire settings. If you have a two-stage heating system, a brown wire will be used to connect the W2 terminal to the dual-stage switch on your furnace or boiler. Heat pumps usually use staging for additional heating (auxiliary heating). In that case, the heat pump is also connected to the W2 terminal through the brown wire.
What wire to connect thermostat to?
Connect a C wireif you have an unused thermostat wire .
How to troubleshoot a Nest thermostat?
Troubleshoot or connect a C wire 1 On your thermostat, check for codes that can help you understand what's wrong. If you find a help code, follow the troubleshooting steps in Troubleshoot Nest thermostat help codes. 2 If you’re not sure what’s wrong or don’t feel comfortable fixing your system, the best solution for power issues is to contact a Nest Pro in your area. They can diagnose and help fix any possible problems with your system and thermostat installation. If needed, they can also connect a C wire or a C wire accessory, such as a Nest Power Connector to your Nest thermostat. 3 If you’re comfortable troubleshooting your system and take necessary precautions, you might be able to fix C wire issues yourself. Always make sure to turn the power to your HVAC system off at the breaker before attempting any fixes or installations.#N#Connect a C wire if you have an unused thermostat wire .#N#Install a Nest Power Connector if there aren’t any spare thermostat wires. 4 If you connected a wire to your thermostat’s C terminal and it caused your system to malfunction, you’ll need to check a few things:#N#Make sure the wire is fully inserted into the thermostat connector.#N#Turn off power to your system and check that the wire is connected to the C terminal on your system’s control board.#N#Turn power to your system back on and check that the issue is fixed. If not, contact a local Nest Pro for help.
What to do if your Nest thermostat is not working?
If you’re not sure what’s wrong or don’t feel comfortable fixing your system, the best solution for power issues is to contact a Nest Pro in your area. They can diagnose and help fix any possible problems with your system and thermostat installation. If needed, they can also connect a C wire or a C wire accessory, such as a Nest Power Connectorto your Nest thermostat.
What is a C wire thermostat?
Unlike other wires connected to your thermostat, a C wire doesn’t control heating or cooling functions. It only provides constant power to your thermostat.
Can you fix a C wire?
If you’re comfortable troubleshooting your system and take necessary precautions, you might be able to fix C wire issues yourself. Always make sure to turn the power to your HVAC system off at the breaker before attempting any fixes or installations.
