Home Automation
Introduction to Smart Home Technology
The smart home revolution has begun. Homeowners everywhere are actively searching for innovative solutions to improve the overall energy efficiency of their residence.
Since home heating accounts for a significant portion of energy consumption, wifi-enabled smart thermostats have quickly grown in popularity. There are many options when it comes to choosing the right smart thermostat for your home. Based on your budget, home heating system, and taste, we’re here to help you find a suitable option.
The first step is determining what type of heating system you have.
Do I have High-voltage or Low-voltage Heating?
Most smart thermostats are built to work with a specific type of home heating system. Low voltage and high voltage heating systems work differently and therefore require unique smart thermostats designed to handle their particular energy demands.
Check out our blog post that clearly defines the differences between low voltage and high voltage heating to help you definitively answer this very important question.
Smart Thermostats Designed for Low Voltage Heating
The majority of homes in North America run on low voltage heating/cooling systems including furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, and central air. These systems run on 24V circuits that power the thermostats. If you have low voltage heating, Ecobee, Nest, and Honeywell Lyric smart thermostats are all compatible with your home. For more information, check out their online reviews or visit the Ecobee, Nest, or Honeywell websites for product specifications and installation demonstrations.
Smart Thermostats Designed for High Voltage Heating
While low voltage heating dominates North American homes, there is still a substantial number of homes in Canada and the US that are high voltage. In fact, one in three Canadian homes, and one in 10 homes in the US use a high voltage heating system.
High voltage heating systems are most prevalent in Canadian provinces and northern American states, including British Columbia, Quebec, and Washington. The further north you go, the more likely you are to rely on a high voltage heating system.
This doesn’t answer the compatibility links direction of taking me to a blog post about what smart thermostats will work for my electric baseboard heaters that have only two-wires.
I would really like a solution from Mysa, as I found that other providers such as Dimplex offer thermostats for two-wire electric baseboard models.
Unfortunately Mysa doesn’t offer a two wire solution, as our technology is designed with more advanced wiring systems in mind.
Perhaps you should think about finding a way for your product to work with 2 wire systems, since there are tons of 2 wire systems out there!
We’re aware of that, but the current iteration of Mysa wouldn’t translate to a two wire setup with the architecture we have in place. As we grow and offer more products, it’s definitely feasible that it’s something we could address, but at this time we’re still working on making our first product the best it can be.
Totally agree with Mark and Debbie. There are MANY two wire systems out there and no good remotely controllable thermostats. I would love to have MYSA fill that gap.
In Amazon reviews, I have read that a small number of customers seem unhappy with the fact that if the WIFI goes out in the home, the reset of MYSA units must be done locally. Is this true? If true, what is the default temperature that the units go to before they are reset? I assume they do not simply turn off. That would be bad
A lot of those reviews are based on older builds of both the software and hardware. Our most recent firmware versions have focused on connectivity issues and we’ve seen a GREAT improvement overall when it comes to the number of concerns that arise with connectivity.
This includes a huge increase in automatic reconnection after a WiFi reconnection.
If the thermostat loses connection, it automatically returns to the last temperature it was set to when it comes back online, but will not follow any schedules until you interact with the app.
Hello,
Will you be coming out with a low-voltage thermostat alongside your high voltage thermostat?
My home has a mix of high voltage baseboards, and low voltage controlled forced-air fan heaters. It’d be wonderful to be able to have all the heaters controlled from within the same eco-system/app, as well as completely controlled with Alexa.
Thanks!
While it’s not currently in the plans, never say never!
Plus there are different compatible platforms that allow you to mix and match devices with control, such as IFTTT.
I have an electric box that has only two wires. A black and white. It is a 120 v. I can’t hook up the load line anywhere. What do I need to get my gas furnace to work with mysa?
Unfortunately Mysa would not work with a 2 wire or gas furnace setup.
I am looking for a upgrade to my baseheaters. What i would like to do is add a controller beside the panel controlled by wifi, and remote room temp sensors that link to the controller. This will enable a upgrade without any rxtra wiring to and from baseboards.
The nature of electric heat means that a direct load has to go to each heater – that means you need a separate Mysa for each heater.
Is there going to be a 2 wire product at any point?
Due to the nature of powering the electronics in the Mysa, this is unlikely. But never say never.
hi have tried a few times to check my system? l have federal pacific electrical system in my raised ranch, kitchen/living room on the side, 2 bedrooms south side, bathroom between them on the west side. Lower level large family room [not used] on the north side, laundry room on west side, and a 1 car garage on the south side. The rooms all have 2 wire [20 gauge]. All i want to control with your thermostatic is the kitchen/living room, can you advise me on what thermostat is best to use?
Sounds like you have high voltage heating but we are unfortunately not compatible with 2 wire setups.
Can a separate wire be run?
If you really want to, sure!
is it compatible with Amazon Echo and Google home?
Mysa is compatible with both.
Any plans to support wireless ambient sensors? My thermostat is currently above a cadet wall heater and always reads hotter so looking for a way to incorporate remote sensors to get better feedback on room temp to thermostat.
There are no plans as of right now to support them in our own software, however, using IFTTT or SmartThings as an intermediary platform should allow you to set something like this up.
Will Mysa work with ceramic electric thermal storage heater models.
If it’s self contained, unlikely. If it’s wired in-line with the high-voltage supply from your household, we’d need to see the wires to determine that.
Is there anything out there for hydronic baseboard heating? I have a boiler with 3 zones. I’m having trouble finding anything that’s compatible.
If it’s a closed system, Mysa MAY be compatible, but usually nest or ecobee will work with hydronic baseboards from a boiler.
I have some baseboard heaters that operate by turning the knob on the unit and others that work via a wall thermostat. How can I retrofit the ones with knobs so that they can be controlled by a thermostat?
You would have to get an electrician to run wires and install a gangbox, but it is possible!
I have a 240 v space heater on a 20 amp breaker thru a plug. It is less than 3800 watts. Can the Mysa be configured to control the space heater?
Hey Ken, I can’t say for sure but your best bet to get in touch with our support team who handles more in depth compatible questions at support@getmysa.com
This thermostat looks like it would work well – BUT I have a 5000 watt heater. I can lower the output, but I do not want to do that.
Is there any option for a 5000 watt heater?
I’d be removing the built in thermostat and rewiring anyway, so wiring is not an issue (I am an electronics tech).
Hey Mark, thanks for your interest in Mysa. The current max wattage of Mysa is 3800 watts and we do not recommend exceeding that capacity because there is a risk of shorting the unit.