Thanks to all of you who responded to my questions about running two thermostats for two separate HVAC systems in my new place.
As it stands: I am swaying toward the Honeywell T-6, but am open to any and all suggestions for alternatives. I am agnostic as to protocol (Matter, Z-Wave, Zigbee). I know this topic was brought up in September of 2024, but with my two-stat two-HVAC situation, you may have some ideas.
I want to have some occupancy/temp sensors around the place (guest room, family room, living room), and want to have the fan run at least 20 minutes per hour to keep air moving. Home/Away would be good as well.
The question: What are you folks using or suggesting for my setup? I have been an ecoBee fan for years, but want to - finally - be as cloud-free as possible and their Matter abilities are not out yet, and going the HomeKit to a HomeBridge to Hubitat - while feasible, is not desired if there is a simpler answer.
Side question regarding the T-6: I see reference to the T-6 and the T-6 Pro. I also THINK I am seeing two different model numbers listed on Amazon. For you T-6 users, which is the "right" one?
Fortunately, both are just good ol' fashioned gas furnace / electric air conditioner systems. One of them is 34 years old (yikes!) and I will be pricing a new system right away. With heat pumps having gotten as efficient as they are, I will ask the HVAC companies about feasibility / economics as the house is in the north end of Tucson, meaning virtually no nights below 30 deg F.
If you have equally solid Zigbee and Z-Wave meshes then it's really just a T-stat features and functions question. The Honeywell is a good unit, fairly common use around here, so you'll be able to get help w/using it.
I appreciate your suggestion, but the dis-qualifier here is that magic word, "eBay".
At that price it is likely a returned item re-boxed, or is counterfeit. My experience with eBay proved far less than satisfying over several years, so I won't shop there. Even Amazon is getting bad, with lots of people reporting re-boxed items, or being charged for new but being sent used, likely through vendors, not Amazon themselves.
I'll pay list if I have to, to be assured it is "factory fresh". Thanks very much anyway for the suggestion.
For an older model like this, you may be unlikely to find it at a Honeywell authorized reseller. I just looked on their site and did not find mention of any Z-Wave T-Stat model. Finding a reputable seller on Amazon may be your best (only?) bet. I bought two T6's in the the last two-three years, one on eBay and one on Amzaon, and both were legit/worked w/out issue. You do need to look at the seller's record/feedback carefully. If you only want to buy at retail (like Home Depot, Target, etc.) that will likely limit your options.
Why not Ecobee?
I am very happy with Ecobee Thermostat as well as few of my friend.
It has 100% local control but with the help of Home Assistant.
And, BTW HA is REALLY helpful for many integrations which are not supported directly by HE.
Good point, Ecobee w/HA is a good local control option.
I'm using Ecobee via the community integration which is not local, but I'm trying to reduce the overall complexity of my home automation setup, so decided I'd live w/any cloud issues. So far those potential cloud issues have never appeared, so things are working out.
If I can get 100% local control, I would be more than delighted to use ecobee again. I thought of adding home assistant to my habitat, but only if necessary. If you could point me in the right direction to do 100% local control with ecobee, I will gladly buy two of them again. They've been nothing but solid and the quality appears high.
I have mostly Honeywell T6 pro's however for one heating application I have an ecobee. The only reason I have the ecobee is it's wireless remote temperature sensor. Our thermostat location is not the best and the remote sensor makes a world of difference.
I won't be running a Pi. I like to experiment with this stuff, and likely will either buy a HA Green, or get a very cheap "brick" PC like from Bee-Link and load HA onto it. What I need is some sort of How-To to run ecoBees through the HA for local control.
Oh, that much I gathered. As for somewhere in the house, I will have a room dedicated to my tinkering addiction, and so it will be there along with my HE, various other kit, and my routers and switches.
Generac already pulled the WiFi version of TankUtility (propane tank level monitoring), a company they bought, rebranded as Moblile Link, and is now only doing cellular. This rendered my WiFi sensor obsolete. Which was okay, since I'm doing the Sinope zigbee monitor now.
I have an old version Ecobee. The app does seem better than it used to be. Perhaps Generac's coffers are helping with that.
