Gas and Oil Home Heating Furnaces - Thermostat wire

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rcash54
06-06-05, 06:52 PM
Is there anything wrong with using phone wire for a milivolt thermostat install? I have a lot extra phone wire and would rather use it than to go out and buy 100 ft. of thermostat wire.

Seems to me like it should work just fine, but I thought I should get a pro opinion on the matter before pressing ahead.

Thanks...rcash

I just realized this may need to be in the electrical forum. :wall:

If so, I apologize, and Mods, feel free to move it.

Grady
06-06-05, 07:35 PM
Telephone wire is usually too light & can cause voltage drop thus a failure of the heating system. 18 AWG is what is normally used & telephone wire is only 22 AWG at best.
rcash54
06-07-05, 12:08 AM
OK, good advice.

I'm glad now that I asked the question, cause I just figured since it was a millivolt system that it really wouldn't matter...but I guess it does.

Thanks for the help. ;)

mbk3
06-07-05, 03:09 PM
Also keep in mind to not have any splices in the wiring. I have seen many jobs where several pieces of wire have been spliced together, including phone wire. Problems waiting to happen or already have happened on startup.