On Thu, 23 Apr 2020 12:02:39 -0500, Mark Lloyd
wrote:

On 4/23/20 10:29 AM, micky wrote:
Another problem with getting a heat pump is that the wirign to the
thermostat is inadequate. no easy way to run a new wire to the same
location**.

I don't have a heat pump, but 2 stage AC and heat. This requires 7 wires
(including power return) to the thermostat. I now have 10 wires
installed (3 for later use).

I have a 2 stage furnace plus AC running on 4 wires - using a single
stage thermostat.

1) I know they make wireless thermostats and wifi thermostats, but I
wonder if they made ones that are wired but can get by on only 4 wires,
maybe by modulating the signal or something, and demodulating it at the
furnace end.

I have seen one of those. It has a unit next to the furnace, and the
connection to the wall unit works like USB USB (2 wires for power, and 2
for data). I don't remember brand/model.

2) Also, a much harder question: For years I've been looking for this,
a setback thermostat that had a Next button. So if you come home early,
leave early, go to bed or get up early, instead of having to use the up
or down button and count how mnay degrees you set the temp up or down,
you push one button once, to go to the next time period/temparature.

My thermostat doesn't have that, just the manual override (temporary
(changes to schedule at next scheduled time) or permanent).

[snip]