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From: mstach@ihu1m.UUCP (Dan Hoelker)
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: Re: Want info on smart house thermostats
Message-ID: <270@ihu1m.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 31-Jan-85 13:01:24 EST
Article-I.D.: ihu1m.270
Posted: Thu Jan 31 13:01:24 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 2-Feb-85 00:47:33 EST
References: <495@cyb-eng.UUCP> <454@topaz.ARPA>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 39

I did quite a bit of checking before I bought a 'smart' thermostat.
As stated before the prices vary quite a bit.

The main features you probably want to look for are:
	1. Number of times per day you can change temperature.
	2. If there are separate settings for weekday and weekend.
	3. What kind of battery it uses for backup.
	4. Ease of programming (User friendliness).
	5. Manual override.
	
I wound up getting a Sears thermostat.  It is their best one.  The list
price is 99.95, but they frequently put it on sale for $69.95.  It is
very easy to program (just enter the time and the temp).  It has a door
that hides the membrane 'keyboard', and all instructions needed for
programming are printed on the door.  It has separate
settings for weekday and weekend (actually 2 day and 5 day groups, not
restricted to Sat and Sun.), which is ideal for us.  You can change
the temp. 4 times a day, e.g. 2 up and 2 down.  If you want to
manually change the temperature you can change it any way you want, then at
the next time the program would change the temp. it changes.  It also has
a hold feature, so you can set the temp. and it will stay there until
you hit 'run program' (HOLD is printed on the display so you can tell).
It uses a 9 volt battery for backup, and defaults to 68 if set for heating
and 78 if set for AC if the battery should go out.  It was very easy to
install.  The only feature that is slightly annoying is that the LCD display
alternates between the current time and current temp about every 2 seconds.
I almost wish they displayed both simultaneously (the temp setting is 
displayed continuously).

One feature that the Honeywell has that the Sears doesn't is that you can
set many times to change temp during the day.  For some people this
might be nice.  One problem I heard about the Honeywell (don't know
if it is still true) is that it has a special battery that you have
to send it back to the factory to be replaced.  It also does not have
the separate weekend and weekday settings.

			Dan Hoelker
			ihnp4!ihu1m!mstach