From: mguyott@eriador.prime.com (M. Guyott)
Subject: Re: Honeywell Electronic Thermostat
Followup-To: misc.consumers.house
Organization: /etc/organization
Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1993 17:51:52 GMT

In article <1i4t5nINNq4i@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> wb8foz@skybridge.scl.cwru.edu (David Lesher) writes:
> I recall others recently recommending a specific Honeywell
> model that 'learned' how long it took to heat your house, and
> reacted accordingly. I think it was a Chronotherm III, or such.
> My query is directed to those who have purchased it.
>
> a) What's the correct name?
> b) What did you pay for it, and where?
> c) How long a warranty did it come with?


I recently purchased two of these beasties.  Here is my experience.

a) Correct name:   T8602A, T8602B, T8602C, or T8602D at least if you want
                   to program the weekdays with one program and each
                   weekend day with separate programs.  These are the ones
                   I purchased.  I believe the T8600 line has only one
                   program that is used for all seven days.  You will have
                   to check this yourself.  I believe that the A and B
                   models are for heat only systems.  The A model gets its
                   power from batteries.  The B model draws its power from
                   the furnace.  The C (batteries) and D (furnace) models
                   are for heat and AC applications.


b) I payed $140.00 for each T8602C thermostat that I bought.  I purchased
   them through my electrician who said he bought them at Graingers for
   the price he charged me.  I believe him.

c) According to the documentation that came with the stat they have a one
   year warranty.  But according to the folks at Honeywell the warranty
   is actually five years.  I do not have anything in writing about the
   five year warranty.  Only what I was told over the phone.

The above information is as I remember it and may not be 100% accurate.  Use
at your own risk.

Honeywell has an 800 customer service number.  I don't have it with me but
if you want it send me email.  I'll bring it in on Monday with me.

One other thing I learned about these stats that you should be aware of.
The older T8602s used a recovery algorithm that was suited to 2 stage heating
and cooling systems (i.e. heat pumps).  This algorithm unneccesarily cycled
1 stage heating equipment on and off.  As of the 27th week of 1992 they
began making the T8602s so that they no longer unneccesarily cycle the heating
equipment for 1 stage heating systems on and off.  The way you can check if
you are getting a T8602 with the new recovery algorithm is by checking the
date stamp on the back of the stat.  If you take the stat out of the package
and look on the back you will find a long number that is the model number
(starting with T8602) and you will see a four digit number.  The four digit
number is the date it was made.  The first two digits of the number represent
the year the stat was make (look for 92).  The last two digits of the number
represent the week of the year in which that stat was made (look for anything
after 27).

Otherwise I think they are great stats.  My heating bill was 33% cheaper
last month then the month before.  I'm not sure if it was because of the
weather as well as the new stat.  I used to have the conventional "round"
manual Honeywell stats.  I think this new stat is great.

Good luck.

Marc
----
Two of the worst things we teach our children are that a knowledge of science
is nice but not necessary, and a knowledge of sex is necessary but not nice.

Marc Guyott              Constellation Software, Inc.          (508) 620-2800
                         Framingham, Mass. 01701 USA                Ext. 3135
mguyott@primerd.prime.com       ...!{uunet, decwrl}!primerd.prime.com!mguyott
mguyott@eriador.prime.com       ...!{uunet, decwrl}!eriador.prime.com!mguyott