Invention fo smart thermostats change the way of controlling the temperature inside the house. Still, there are many limitations like most advanced and big players are only manufacturing smart thermostats for low voltage systems, so those are not compatible with high voltage heater, baseboard heaters, convectors, and forced fan heaters. A separate line voltage thermostat required to control these high voltage systems that give birth to the idea of a line voltage smart thermostat.
A line voltage smart thermostat can regulate the heating and cooling systems that run on the direct electricity of 240V of 120V, and allow to stay connected with the mobile app through Wifi connectivity. Electric baseboard heater is a known example that commonly used in the USA.
What is Line Voltage Thermostat?
If you ever experience this thermostat, then you know well that thick wires come out from the base of high voltage thermostat because it is a device that runs on direct line voltage and used to regulate the heating system like baseboard heaters. It is also known as a two-wire thermostat.
It is simple to install, in fact, its installed ins series with the heating system. And its simple functionality ON/OFF the power to heating device intermittently. The thermostat can detect the temperature and when the required temperature reached it cut the power to the heater, it’s simple and when the temperature dropped it again through the electricity so heater starts working again. Honeywell multi-zone thermostat is the best one when you have to select a low voltage smart thermostat.
Before you buy any thermostat for your heater you need to check the compatibility with your device, a high voltage smart thermostat usually used for the following equipment:
- Baseboard heaters (or any type of resistance heaters)
- Forced Fan Heaters & Convectors
- Radiant Ceiling Heaters
If you are sure about your heating system and know it well that what type of thermostat you need then surely you can pick one or you may check the base of your existing thermostat to figure out what type thermostat it is. If you found more then two wire coming ours from your thermostat that means you are not using a line voltage system.
Smart thermostats are getting attraction day after day but when it comes to line voltage thermostat a very limited choice is available, here in this article I list three best smart line voltage thermostats and no other options are available in the market.
Mysa Smart Thermostat for Electric Baseboard Heaters
- High line voltage compatible
- Easy to install
- Wifi connectivity
- IOS and Andriod App
Mysa Smart Thermostat for Electric Baseboard Heaters comes as a first choice when you have to control the baseboard heaters. Its high voltage compatible that provide remote access through Wifi connectivity. When it’s connected with the Wifi, it can be controlled from anywhere, and its app either ios or Andriod provide full control over the thermostat. Like from the app user can make schedule can view current setting as well as can set temperature. Full control means users do not have to go near to the thermostat; all configurations are accessible from the remote app.
It’s easy to install and hardly will take 20 minutes to install, and its equipped with many amazing features like it’s vacation mode suspend all operations for a specific time and easy scheduling offer make a schedule with just a few touches.
Smart does not only means wifi connectivity, but it’s also compatible with the Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, and IFTTT. So it’s possible to add voice control in this smart baseboard thermostat, Its connectivity is quick and stable while watching tv or during cooking, you can aks your intelligent voice assistant to raise the temperature or turn on a favorite mode.
It also supports geofencing, that can turn your heater on and off when you enter and leave defined radios and control are available on the mobile app. But I figure that this feature is hidden in the experimental features menu on the mobile app, so it may not be visible for everyone until one is aware of it.
Not only the thermostat is elegantly its a minimalist dot-matrix display, and capacitive touch-sensitive buttons make it a real beauty and straightforwardly design but its app too, which is most simple and easy to operate and design while keeping the user-friendly approach in focus.
In its line its most expensive thermostat but a trust worthy option which comes as one time investment and can serve you for longer period.
Stelpro STZ402+ ki WiFi Ready Smart Thermostat, ZigBee Ready
- Zigbee compatible
- Can control electric baseboards and convectors up to 4000W
- Compatible with forced fan heaters
- Equipped with humidity sensor
Stelpro STZ402+ ki WiFi Ready Smart Thermostat is fully compatible with the Zigbee hub, and this connectivity enables the user to get control over mobile and add many other functionalities. This smart device can control the electric baseboard heaters and convectors up to 4000W. I figure out that it is useable in most of the homes and a perfect smart device with a remote app. Modern thermostats cannot control the baseboard equipment and having such a Wifi enabled device which effectively manages all of high voltage heating solutions can be a good addition in any home.
You may not feel comfortable if you are not using the Zigbee hub because its remote connectivity depends on the Zigbee. Usually, I recommend it to those who have a good experience with the Zigbee Hub and know how it works. If you have already set up your smart home using Zigbee hub, then it’s a perfect solution for your home. A user can comfortably control the temperature of his house from a distance.
Its made to paired with controllers that can further enhance its functionality. You will be amazed to know that it can adjust the lighting, activation of safety and entertainment system, temperature, and much more.
Any novice user can make a schedule as he wishes because of its straightforward and simple scheduling feature. I used this system for a long time to automate my forced air unit system, and it works amazingly, but I was not using Zigbee for other devices so it was a big reason to move forward and replace it with a system that can be controlled directly through Wifi.
Stelpro ASMT402 Smart Home Thermostat
- Made for Baseboard, convectors and fan heaters
- Maestro controller and Zigbee compatible
- Accessible and can be controlled from the mobile app
- Energy saver
Final Thoughts
I was convinced that there is no proper smart thermostat for line voltage systems, but recently the entry of MySa fill this gap. In the USA nearly 10% of homes use line voltage heating system which earlier was using simple and programmable thermostats which do not have any connectivity. But now there is a solution, maybe in future we will see a single thermostat to deal with all low voltage and high voltage heating and cooling systems.
