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Attempting To Connect Ecobee 3 With Taco Zone Board And Air Handler

LincolnDuncan
LincolnDuncan Member Posts: 6
in Thermostats and Controls

The air handler electronics are all but inaccessible due to the handler being installed in a knee wall and facing away from the room. I have a Taco 3 zone control board connected to a 2 zone radiant system for heat. Ecobee tech support is telling me I cannot install this thermostat without access to the air handler for the C wire connection. Is this correct? If so is there another option or another brand without this limitation? Thanks.

Comments

  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 5,528

    sooner or later access is going to be needed.

    Now’s the time!

    LincolnDuncan
  • LincolnDuncan
    LincolnDuncan Member Posts: 6

    It is accessing a side attic door, hurdling the AC pipe and crawling on my hands and knees thru 35 feet of fiberglass to the back of the house. So yes, some day when I have the air handler replaced. Just not today when all I am after is having a thermostat I can program via my phone and monitor when I am away.

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 25,300

    You may be able to power the thermostat with a separate power supply. Amazon among others..

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    LincolnDuncan
  • bjohnhy
    bjohnhy Member Posts: 65

    What taco zone board are you working with specifically? Often it can supply a com wire

  • LincolnDuncan
    LincolnDuncan Member Posts: 6

    I thought that would be an option too but was told it was not. The Taco board also has a 24vac block on it but was told it could only go to only the air handler block as there was no way to complete the circuit. I do not understand why I could not do this from the Taco board when she mentioned a rebooting problem. ??

  • LincolnDuncan
    LincolnDuncan Member Posts: 6
    20250117_181204.jpg

  • LincolnDuncan
    LincolnDuncan Member Posts: 6
    Screenshot_20250117_181025_Yahoo Mail.jpg

  • LincolnDuncan
    LincolnDuncan Member Posts: 6

    I guess the AC adapter is for when there is no air handler present as it connects to the Rç?

  • bjohnhy
    bjohnhy Member Posts: 65

    Read SteveSan replies

    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/199601/c-wire

  • jesmed1
    jesmed1 Member Posts: 897
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1835754#Comment_1835754

    Bite the bullet and do the wiring as ecobee says. It's worth the hassle. I have two ecobees and they are terrific.

  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 6,467

    Why would an air handler be installed in such an inaccessible location? How long has it been there? There's nothing you can frame out in a wall or ceiling for better access?

    pecmsg
  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 5,528
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1835754#Comment_1835754

    That sounds like a cop out!

    What are you going to do when it fails in the middle of the winter.

    Are you going to complain because the repair bill was so high!

    its in the manual…………………Access MUST be provided!

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