The Ecobee 3 Lite Thermostat was discussed in our post that asked the question, "What is a C-Wire for a Thermostat?" For anyone who hasn't had a chance to catch up on this, please hop over to that post for more info on C-Wires and what you need to know when ordering a smart thermostat.
We love the idea of smart thermostats. They're great at saving you money, learning your routines, keeping your energy consumption down, among so many other benefits. It is one of the first smart device product swap outs we recommend to people, because it has one of the biggest impacts!
That being said, smart thermostats can be a tough one to swap out your traditional thermostat for, especially in older built home, where the wiring wasn't set up to accommodate the wiring needs for a smart device.
In this post, I'll dive into what the Ecobee Power Extender Kit (PEK) is, and why you would need to use one in your home.
By the end of this article, you should have a solid understanding of what a PEK is, and whether or not you'll need to use one in your home.
Here we go.
One of the things that separate the Ecobee 3 Lite Smart Thermostat from the competition is the fact that the PEK is included with your thermostat purchase. With most brands, this is a separate piece of equipment that requires an additional investment if needed. This positions Ecobee to stand out right from the start.
So, you want to swap out your traditional thermostat for a smart one. You've read out article on what a C-Wire is and have taken a look at your existing thermostat. In doing so, you've realized that you do not have a C-Wire and you're going to have to purchase a smart thermostat that comes with, or is compatible with some sort of power adapter.
Let's dive into this a little deeper. The Ecobee PEK will work with your current electrical wiring, assuming you have at least 4 wires at your thermostat to work with. So, if you have at least 4 wires and none of them is a C-Wire, we can move forward with installing your PEK. With this information, you click the link above and order yourself an Ecobee 3 Lite Smart Thermostat and wait anxiously for its arrival, bookmarking this page to come back to for when it finally arrives (this afternoon).
Now let's assume you have your new thermostat in hand, you've taken your old one off and we are now ready to install your PEK and get your new smart thermostat up and running. You'll want to install the PEK at your furnace control board, wiring in with your existing thermostat wires, creating a C-Wire.
You'll want to follow these steps for the Ecobee 3 Lite. If you have a different Ecobee Smart Thermostat, please check out this link, which will outline different PEK installation options, based on which thermostat you purchased.
Step One
Turn off the power to your HVAC before starting.
Take a picture of the wiring at your old thermostat and furnace control board, so you're not trying to work from memory.
Step Two
Locate where your four thermostat wires are connected at your furnace control board. They should match and be connected to the standard terminals on the control board. So thermostat wires R, G, Y, W are connected to the matching R, G, Y, W terminals on the board.
Step Three
Remove each wire from the control board terminals and insert them into the matching terminals on your PEK. So again the four thermostat wires R, G, Y, W should connect to the matching R, G, Y, W terminals on the PEK. You've simply moved them from the furnace control board, to the PEK.
Step Four
Now looking at the other side of your PEK, you will see five wires R, G, Y, W and C. Connect each of these wires to their matching terminals on the furnace control board.
Step Five
Once that is done, double check your wires to ensure they have been matched to the proper terminals on each side and that they are securely connected and in place.
Close the panel on your furnace control board and return to where your Ecobee is being installed.
Step Six
Wire the Ecobee Thermostat so that the four available wires connect to the following terminals: R wire connects to RC terminal | G wire connects to C terminal | Y wire connects to PEK terminal | W wire connects to W1 terminal.
Step Seven
You should be able to place your Ecobee 3 Lite on the wall mount.
Restore power to your HVAC.
Watch your Ecobee power up and enjoy the benefits of a smart thermostat!
Although there are a few steps to follow, the PEK takes your standard thermostat wiring and adds the required C-Wire for smart thermostat functionality.
Do you know whether or not your home has a C-Wire? If not, would you try to install the PEK on your own? Let us know in the comments below!
While installing the PEK isn't too difficult, it can be an overwhelming task. Please reach out to your of our smart home techs today, so we can help get your smart devices up and running without the hassle! We've done this a lot and are happy to help out with installing this device in your home!
Further reading on Local Intellitech: Have you ever wondered what a C-Wire is, whether or not you have one, and why it's important?
By understanding what a C-Wire is, and whether or not your home is equipped with one, you'll be able to make informed decisions about which smart thermostats are compatible with your home.
This is such an important aspect of installing this smart device. A lot of older homes are not equipped with a C-Wire, which can be a frustrating experience if you're wanting to add smart technology to your home and find out you need extra parts along the way.
Knowing which smart thermostats will actually be effective in your home is the most important factor when it comes to selecting which device to purchase, so if you're still unsure about what Smart Thermostat you should buy, check out the above article and follow the information to help inform your decision.
Disclosure: I may receive affiliate compensation for some of the links below at no cost to you if you decide to purchase a paid plan. This site is not intending to provide financial advice. This is for entertainment only.
