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**imeduc** · 10-02-2005, 05:28 PM

You say just 2 wires is all so get what you want . But one that needs batteries to work. With 2 wires like you have it dont make any difference what one you put on R or what one you put on W.

Be sure and turn power off when you go to work on it. You can burn up the transformer

ED

My mistakes dont define me they inform me.

**daddyoh** · 10-03-2005, 08:51 AM

Thanks Ed, That's what I wanted to know!

When you say "Turn off the power" I take it that you mean at the circuit breaker? Or do you mean the power switch on the furnace?

Dan

**lonestarheir** · 10-03-2005, 09:20 AM

Dan,

First off, is this a heat only system (no central a/c). If so, ed is correct. If you have a/c with the system, you have to get a 2 wire stat.

As far as the power goes, either the breaker or switch at the furnace will do for turning off the power. If your furnace just plugs into a regular plug, you can just unplug it. Any way you want to accomplish it, you just need to make sure that there is not any power to the furnace, otherwise you will blow the transformer.

__________________________________________________

Brandon
- Have you changed your filter this month? -

**daddyoh** · 10-03-2005, 09:30 AM

Hi Brandon,

This is a forced air furnace. No A/C. Since I have no A/C and only 2 wires, do I need a 2-wire stat or does it matter?

You guys have saved me a transformer! Thanks!

Dan

**lonestarheir** · 10-03-2005, 09:42 AM

In your case it should not matter what thermostat you get. My personal suggestion (after many years in the a/c business) do not get a HUNTER thermostat. I have seen more than my share of DIY'ers put these on only to call me out to replace it. Good luck

__________________________________________________

Brandon
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**Bredain** · 10-03-2005, 05:46 PM

You got a realy basic set up that a basic plain Jane stat would work. Do your sefl a favor though before heating season and have that 40 year old checked out. Make sure that heat exchanger is safe and sound. If you havent already begin a nest egg to replace it. Nothing like a big bill before heating season or worse that your system could kill you and your loved ones.

**daddyoh** · 10-04-2005, 10:21 PM

Thanks Bredain,

Another great tip! Have never had the heat exchanger checked.
I bought a LUX TX 500 electronic programmable stat. It says it will replace the 2-wire original round wall stat.

It has wiring instructions for my app: I should have noted which terminals the wires were connected to on the old stat, but...

The instructions say attach the gas valve wire to the W terminal & the transformer/thermopile wire to the RH terminal on the new stat.

How do I know which is which coming from the furnace? I have a red/white wire on the W terminal and a white wire on the R terminal
on the furnace.

imeduc (Ed) says it don't matter which one I put on the R or what one I put on the W. Logically, it seems to me that I should know which one is the gas valve wire & which one is the transformer wire and put em on the corect terminals.

Ed, with all due respect, I'd rather be safe than sorry. Given what I wrote above, does it still not matter which wires go to which terminals?

Dan

**imeduc** · 10-05-2005, 10:49 AM

OH BOY Lets just think about it .Now you only have a gas valve to turn on is all here. So you have two wires comeing out of the wall. Now if you put them together with power on. The gas valve will turn on. So does it know what is R and what one is W???????? NO. So it dont make a D** what is what on this set up. If you had G ,Y then it would R would have to be from the transformer for power as its called

ED

My mistakes dont define me they inform me.

**daddyoh** · 10-05-2005, 11:45 AM

Very well, Ed. Thanks for the info.

Information Is Power!

I'll finish the job tonite when I get home.

Dan

**daddyoh** · 10-06-2005, 08:48 AM

Installed the new stat last night. Cleaned the filter. It works!
All is well. Let there be heat! (and there was heat). I'm going to have AVISTA (gas co.)come out and check the heat exchanger as well.

Can someone tell me about heat exchangers: What they are and do, How to test them, how they can be unsafe? How to know when to replace it?
Or do I have to replace the entire furnace.

Do you guys recommend carbon monoxide detectors in the home. If so, what's the best one?

Any other safety tips related to gas furnaces?

Take it easy,

Dan

**lonestarheir** · 10-06-2005, 02:03 PM

Heat exchangers are what the gas flames burn into, then the air from the blower passes across these "exchangers" and creates the heat that comes from your vents. This is just a short explanation, but basically what happens. They are made of metal and sealed to ensure that no CO escapes into the air stream. If a hole develops, or a seam cracks, etc... then you are introducing CO. The heat exchanger can be changed out, but you will be better off changing the furnace if the heat exchanger is bad. They are checked with a carbon monoxide detector which should be able to detect particles down to 1 part per million (At least that is what I use). As little as 9 PPM can do you serious harm.

Hope this helps

__________________________________________________

Brandon
- Have you changed your filter this month? -

**lonestarheir** · 10-06-2005, 02:04 PM

Heat exchangers are what the gas flames burn into, then the air from the blower passes across these "exchangers" and creates the heat that comes from your vents. This is just a short explanation, but basically what happens. They are made of metal and sealed to ensure that no CO escapes into the air stream. If a hole develops, or a seam cracks, etc... then you are introducing CO. The heat exchanger can be changed out, but you will be better off changing the furnace if the heat exchanger is bad. They are checked with a carbon monoxide detector which should be able to detect particles down to 1 part per million (At least that is what I use). As little as 9 PPM can do you serious harm.

Hope this helps

__________________________________________________

Brandon
- Have you changed your filter this month? -

**lonestarheir** · 10-06-2005, 02:05 PM

Heat exchangers are what the gas flames burn into, then the air from the blower passes across these "exchangers" and creates the heat that comes from your vents. This is just a short explanation, but basically what happens. They are made of metal and sealed to ensure that no CO escapes into the air stream. If a hole develops, or a seam cracks, etc... then you are introducing CO. The heat exchanger can be changed out, but you will be better off changing the furnace if the heat exchanger is bad. They are checked with a carbon monoxide detector which should be able to detect particles down to 1 part per million (At least that is what I use). As little as 9 PPM can do you serious harm.

Hope this helps

__________________________________________________

Brandon
- Have you changed your filter this month? -

**daddyoh** · 10-07-2005, 09:31 AM

Great info Brandon!
I understand what you are saying.
This may be a good jumping off point to write about CO.
Can you write a little more about how the CO is introduced
into the house? Is it from the heat vents in the floor?
Is it from the furnace itself?
Where do you recommend placing the CO Detector?
So, when I buy a CO Detector, should I look for one that detects CO as low as 1 PPM?
Can I do the CO test myself, or should I have an expert do it?
If expert, what type of service person should I look for?
The gas co., HVAC person, gas furnace specialist?

Thank you,

Dan

"Let's all be safe out there!" (remember Hill Street Blues?)

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