Evaporative Water Coolers - Thermostat for Swamp cooler
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Rainman
05-11-06, 08:16 PM
I am replacing my existing 6 position rotary switch with a thermostat switch or at least that's the plan. The rotary switch has 4 wires power, fan low, fan hi, and pump. The thermostat switch I bought at Home Depot has 6 wires. The instructions say I need to hook up a common wire and a ground to the cooler. Is there and easy way to do this. My cooler is a roof mount and I would have to run a couple long wires through the sweltering attic to do this.and I am not sure where I would connect them :(
ABQgame
05-18-06, 12:53 AM
This is going to be long winded, but should give you the help you need.
Of the two wires you think are missing, only one really is. The neutral (white) may not actually be available in the junction box where your current selector switch is located, but there is a neutral at the cooler (this is the means by which the electricity returns or nothing works).
The ground (green) does not exist as I assume your house is old enought to pre-date grounds being required. All new electrical products are required to provide connections for ground, but where ground is not available will still work.
All electronic thermostats (such as you have purchased) require a neutral to be present as they consume power (not much, a fraction of an amp), but without cannot work.
There is an alternative. Dial Manufacturing makes an all mechanical thermostat, model name SelectaStat, that only requires the four wires you have for your rotary switch. Not as fancy, in terms of features and control, but works well enough that as an electrician and engineer, I've never been bothered enough to pull the extra wires to use the electronic controls.
The temperature sensor in the SelectaStat is a bimetallic switch (two metals) that flexes based on the temperature, opening and closing contacts, thus turning the cooler on and off. There are also switches to select the fan speed (off, low, high) and turn the pump on and off. Nothing requiring any power itself, it just directs power (as your rotary switch does).
Installation of the SelectaStat is easy (if you still know which wires were which from the rotary).
The last time I saw a SelectaStat was at Samons in Albuquerque, may be available elsewhere, but not likely at Home Depot or Lowes.
Hope this helps and answers any other questions you might have.
Of the two wires you think are missing, only one really is. The neutral (white) may not actually be available in the junction box where your current selector switch is located, but there is a neutral at the cooler (this is the means by which the electricity returns or nothing works).
The ground (green) does not exist as I assume your house is old enought to pre-date grounds being required. All new electrical products are required to provide connections for ground, but where ground is not available will still work.
All electronic thermostats (such as you have purchased) require a neutral to be present as they consume power (not much, a fraction of an amp), but without cannot work.
There is an alternative. Dial Manufacturing makes an all mechanical thermostat, model name SelectaStat, that only requires the four wires you have for your rotary switch. Not as fancy, in terms of features and control, but works well enough that as an electrician and engineer, I've never been bothered enough to pull the extra wires to use the electronic controls.
The temperature sensor in the SelectaStat is a bimetallic switch (two metals) that flexes based on the temperature, opening and closing contacts, thus turning the cooler on and off. There are also switches to select the fan speed (off, low, high) and turn the pump on and off. Nothing requiring any power itself, it just directs power (as your rotary switch does).
Installation of the SelectaStat is easy (if you still know which wires were which from the rotary).
The last time I saw a SelectaStat was at Samons in Albuquerque, may be available elsewhere, but not likely at Home Depot or Lowes.
Hope this helps and answers any other questions you might have.
Rainman
05-19-06, 04:17 PM
That does help a lot. The thermostat I had was a dial digital. I took it back to Home depot. I found the one you suggested online at K and S Sales, it's a little pricey online (about $58), but if I can't find it cheaper I will go with that one. Thanks for the expert advice.:D