what type of replacement thermostat for 1969 radiant ceiling heat?

kiki1970

UPDATE:
Nothing turned out to be a simple (and affordable) fix for this old thermostat, so I decided to clean it up, scrape off the paint, etc, and created stickers out of vinyl sticker paper & matte lamination sheets to re-face it. This is as good as it's gonna get. It looks a lot better in person and now I can live with its vintage charm (that's what I tell myself, lol). Original-condition photo below updated ones.




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My 1969-built condo has radiant ceiling heat in the bedroom. It still works okay, but the GE thermostat looks ancient and I'd like to update it (see photo). It has a switch on one side, and a dial on the other. Would I need a thermostat with an analog dial *plus* a basic wall switch (like you'd use to turn on a light) to replace this? I can't find anything that looks remotely like it.

mattmia2

The replacements are a similar style unless you find an electronic line voltage t-stat.

I think that switch is supposed to be a double throw switch that connects the circuit to the electric heat or to the ac so that you can have a single circuit and service sized for one or the other but not both. i don't know what that on/off switch is for.

kiki1970

Thanks for your reply. We don't have central AC (or any AC), just the radiant ceiling heat, so when the switch is on "cool" it's not really doing anything. I wonder if we even need that switch at all. I just looked up "line voltage t-stat," and I think that's prob what we need, I'll do more research. Would like to do this DIY rather than hiring someone. Thanks!

mattmia2

you will have to ook at the rating of that one and make sure the new one is the same number of poles and same or higher current and if it is electronic will work with what voltage you have. may be 208v if it is a large building rather than 240v or even 120v. single pole.

EBEBRATT-Ed

@kiki1970

I would guess that is a line voltage thermostat with a double pole on-off switch. You have a few options.

1. Remove the thermostat and the switch and install a new thermostat the same as the ones used for electric baseboard heat. Honeywell (and others) make those with the temperatures on the dial as well as and "off" position which is required. (your old stat does not have an "off " position so that is probably why they installed the switch.

2. Instal a new thermostat and keep the switch

3. Honeywell also has a digital electric heat thermostat and they are nice. Problem is the only ones I have seen are single pole so the only break one wire and do not have an off position as far as I know. Breaking one wire is ok but as far as I know you would have to keep the switch to serve as a disconnect.


If anyone has found a double pole electronic electric heat stat with an off position I would like to know myself.

Must be a 2 gang bot there.

kiki1970

EBEBRATT-Ed: Thank you so much for that info. It does make sense to replace the t-stat and keep the switch (and maybe just get a new switch cover), or get a t-stat w/ an on/off. I wasn't sure whether I needed on/off or not, so this really helps. When I've found the one that works I'll update here.

kiki1970

Thanks to mattmia2 again for info re: poles/current/voltage . . .

hot_rod

take a look at the thermostats for electric radiant systems, Sun Touch is one of many brands. They have some nice looking line voltage stats https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.supplyhouse.com/product_files/Suntouch-500850-SB-Submittal.pdf

kiki1970

Thank you, hot_rod, I'll check those out!

EBEBRATT-Ed

The stats @hot_rod posted look good but I think with those you have to have a remote sensor mounted in the ceiling.

kiki1970

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. I def. don't have sensors. Plus, I'd have to go through asbestos popcorn to do anything inside the ceiling.

JUGHNE

There is a Honeywell PRO 7000, TL7235A1003.

2 pole with positive "off".
+/- 1 degree of set point. (often a downfall of cheaper tstats)
3600 watts
good digital read out.

kiki1970

Thank you, JUGHNE!

kiki1970

Refaced and cleaned-up thermostat...