1) Make sure you get the right model. There's precious little description on the Amazon Web page, but there are two models depending on the Wattage requirements.
2) In the photos, it looks like the thermostat flush mounts to the wall. This for me was the real selling point: I can finally have a thermostat that's inconspicuous! As I installed it to my standard wall box, I quickly became convinced that there was no way to have a flush mount. Perhaps if the wall box was recessed into the wall and you could cut away the drywall around it, you might be able to get a flush effect. Instead, it sticks out from the wall (like every other thermostat), except the faceplate protrudes. This just looks silly. I have explored numerous ways to make this look better or to recess more of the unit into the wall, but I am convinced that this is not possible without a custom installation. Perhaps there is an optional decorative plate to go with it?
3) It's really loud when it clicks on or off. Louder than the old thermostats, and certainly lounder than the completely silent digital thermostats made by several vendors. The clicking could be quite distracting if put in a bedroom.
4) The plastic on the housing and especially the dial is very flimsy. The mechanism for turning on the thermostat entails pulling out the nob. The nob felt like it might actually break in the process. Similarly, the plastic is so thin on the faceplate that the LED status indicator actually lights up a good portion of the faceplate when there are no lights on in the room. It feels and looks cheap.
Bottom line: Save your money. At current Amazon pricing, you can buy nearly two nonprogrammable digital thermostats for the same price. I suspect they will ultimately look better and hold up better than this product.
Plus: Works with radiant and fan based heat. Electronic and therefore more accurate than bimetallic thermostats.
Cons: Poor fit to wall. Loud! Cheap materials.
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Bi-metallic thermostats are a thing of the past. Our old thermostats wasted energy since they needed +-15 degrees variance to turn on or turn off. These thermostats are great replacements for your old bimetallic sets. They don't ground to the frame like the old ones which seemed weird, but they have nice long leads red and black. I have them running large cadet fan/element heaters in the walls. When the unit turns on, a nice subtle blue LED lights up just above the dial. Pull the dial out and the unit is active. Push the dial in and the unit is inactive. My wife is happy that I installed the Celsius rings instead of F. We set them to 22 degrees as a back up if the fireplace would run out of wood. Every degree clicks into place for exact temperature and I it's accuracy with a room thermometer. It was off only 1 degree. Fits into a standard box, but you will want to insulate the box since the unit will allow you to see into the box through the main panel. They really kick butt! Remember, these are 16a max. I guess that's why they can use only two wires for a single pole. Very nice product. Simple and accurate. Replaced three of them, box to trash, in under 30 minutes with a Phillips head screwdriver. Awesome!
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