Programmable Thermostat

[mcp6453]

The programmable thermostat on my upstairs Comfortmaker heat pump has started acting strangely. It's made by Totaline. In normal operation, when it is being programmed, certain numbers or digits (temperature, heat, cool) will flash to indicate which parameter is being set. After a few seconds, the flashing stops to indicate that the control is no longer in the programming mode. The problem with my unit is that it sometimes continues to flash.

I've removed and restored power to the thermostat and to the heat pump to try to reset the unit. Neither has helped. My guess is that the unit is defective. (I cannot find a reset button.) The biggest problem is that when a time-of-day setting is activated, such as changing the heat from 69 to 72 degrees at 6:00AM, the heat does not kick in.

I cannot find a model number anywhere on the unit. It looks almost exactly like the "Gold Programmable" on page 4 of the Totaline brochure at

meaning that it may be a Model P274. How can I find out which unit is the correct replacement? I want to replace it myself. The heating and cooling stages don't mean a lot to me. The heat side has emergency heat and normal heat (is that two stages?) As far as I know, the cooling is only one cycle. Am I going to have to get the model number of the heat pump to get the specs, or is there another way to characterize the unit?

[sligoNoSPAMjoe]

It is my experience that most all thermostats are made cheaply and should be considered throw-a-way.

I understand they will hold memory for some time without batteries or outside power. They are designed to do this to allow for folk like me to take their good old time in replacing those batteries, including maybe going to the store for new batteries and not loose their memory. If you can do without it for a few days or would happen to know where you could drain the power safely you might be able to establish a re-boot.

Maybe it would be a good time to buy a new one and keep the original as a backup.

[Tony Hwang]

Hi, Honeywell Vision Pro line is very good choice. You have to know the HP specs like how many cool/heat stages, aux. heat, etc. to find the correct replacement and configure the system option accordingly per owner's manual. I always use Viion Pro 8000 series for family and friends. Some times over kill but it is very good.

[mcp6453]

Where can a consumer buy one of these?

[Tony Hwang]

Hi, On-line store or eBay, even HD. Vision Pro 8000 has 3 models. Get a proper one for your need.

[mcp6453]

Thanks. How can I definitively determine what type of heat pump I have?

[Phisherman]

Do yourself a favor and get a Honeywell. Some of the newer ones automatically adjust clocks for daylight savings time, although not sure how that works when a dumb-ass president changes the dates.

[RLM]

Have you removed the cover of the thermostat and replaced the battery. My Dad called me once and was ready to replace his heat pump because of one of these digital thermostats had a battery inside. He replaced the battery and all was well. He didn't know that a battery run the memory. Just a thought.

[Tony Hwang]

From model no.

[Tony Hwang]

Hi, When batteries need replacement it'll give plenty of warning displaying flashing letters "Batt" Programmed setting is stored in the NV memory and dead batteries won't erase it. You can either set it to dactory defaulr setting or reprogram it any way you want. Some one mentioned Day light saving time change. Mine has a button wich moves clock one hour back and forth.

[mcp6453]

Mine doesn't use a battery -- it has a large capacitor to bridge power interruptions.

[Mark]

Your dad must be related to my brother-in-law! He moved his family into a house his wife HAD to have that was previously owned by a old couple that hadn't done ANY maintenance in 30 years. First cold day he called saying he was going to have to replace the old furnace cause it wasn't putting out much heat. I asked him if he'd changed the filter. He called me back and said it was so dirty he had a hard time getting it out of the enclosure. He still needs to replace the old unit for overall efficiency, but not cause it isn't putting out enough heat!

[Lp1331 1p1331]

For the life of me, I can't figure out why Honeywell has so many different versions of the VisionPro, instead of one that you could set up for different types of systems with dip switches and/or the configuation setup menu. I have seen one that says it is for gas/electic/heat pump, but there is no W2 terminal on it for the peat pump, so there is no way to control the aux. heat. The White Rogers that we usually use can be used on nearly any system-- gas, electric or heat pump, single or two stage compressor, can be programmable or non, with or w/o time delay for the compressor etc. The OP probably just has a standard heat pump. Pretty much any heat pump stat should work-- if it has an "Emergency heat' setting, it should have a W2 terminal. Larry