topher@cyb-eng.UUCP (Topher Eliot) (02/14/85)
A smart thermostat might not be such a good idea with a heat pump because most heat pumps have backup resistive heating, and a two-stage thermostat that closes one set of contacts (for the pump) when it's only a little cold, and both sets (for the resistive heating) when it's real cold. The problem is that when your smart thermostat decides it's time to warm up the house, all of a sudden the house is "real cold". Of course, you'd have to find a smart two-stage thermostat to start with. While sitting in a waiting room this morning I stumbled upon the Popular Science article that was previously mentioned here, and I seem to remember it saying something about some thermostats that would gradually raise the setting, so as to nurse the temperature up with just the heat pump. But the nurse wouldn't let me copy the article (I've only spent $300 at that clinic, after all). (By the way, for those of you waiting for a summary of letters about smart thermostats, the only item that was mailed to me just suggested that I consider re-locating as well as replacing the thermostat). Cheers, Topher Eliot Cyb Systems, Austin, TX {gatech,ihnp4,nbires,seismo,ucb-vax}!ut-sally!cyb-eng!topher