Ecobee ecobee3 lite User manual

How to install
your ecobee3 lite

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conserve energy, save money and
do something good for our planet.
Let’s get started!
Or continue reading!
Download the ecobee
app for customized
installation instructions.
be happy

First things first. Here’s what
you’ll find in the box.
PEK
W2
W1
RH
Rc
G
Y1
Y2
O/B
C
You’ll also need these tools:
OPTIONAL
ecobee thermostat Drill for mounting anchors
(3/16” drill bit)
Hammer
ecobee backplate Small flathead
screwdriver
Pencil
Power Extender Kit
(PEK)
Phillips
screwdriver
Wire stripper
Drywall plugs
Install guide (this booklet)
and wire labels
Trim plate

Start Your Install
Guide 1 or Guide 2?
Start here to find out.
The steps in this section will help
you decide which install guide you’ll
use to complete the installation.
These icons indicate useful tips and important reminders.

STEP 1
TIP:
Look for your master switch or circuit breaker box in the basement,
attic, utility closet, or behind a wall panel near the thermostat.
Power off your Heating, Ventilation and Air
Conditioning (HVAC) system by using the
master switch or circuit breaker box. This is
important for your safety.
ON OFF
ON
OFF
Confirm your system is off by turning on
your heat (during winter) or your AC (during
summer). Wait a few minutes - you should
not feel air coming from your vents.
STEP 2
TIP:
If you have a boiler, check to see that the main flame is extinguished.
OR

Great, please
continue to
the next page
Sadly, you might
not be compatible
You can double check here:
ecobee.com/compatibility
STEP 3
Remove your old thermostat cover from
the wall.
TIP:
Many thermostats simply pop off or unclip from the base, while
others may have screws that you will need to remove.
Does your old thermostat’s backplate have
any of these indicators?
CHECKPOINT: COMPATIBILITY
L1 L2
WARNING
HIGH VOLTAGE
110 VAC
OR
120 VAC
OR
240 VAC
YES NO
OR

STEP 4
Take a picture of the wires connected to the
terminals of your old thermostat. You may
need to reference this photo later on.
CHECKPOINT: C WIRE
Do you have a C wire connected to your
old thermostat?
YES NO
RCRHRCRH
Continue to
Guide 1
Continue to
Guide 2
YES NO
OR

Guide 1
GUIDE 1
Install your ecobee
with a C wire
If you have a C wire, it will power your
ecobee. You won’t need the Power
Extender Kit included in the box.

CHECKPOINT: DON’T SKIP AHEAD
Have you completed steps 1 - 4 in the ‘Start
Your Install’ section?
STEP 5
Carefully disconnect and label the wires from
your old thermostat one at a time, using the
labels provided.
TIP:
If you have a jumper between Rc, Rh or R, leave it alone. Only label
the wires that run from your wall into a terminal block.
W/W1
Y/Y1
Rc
RCRH
Continue to
the next page
Return to step 1
in ‘Start Your Install’
YES NO

Unscrew the mounting plate of your old
thermostat to remove it from the wall.
STEP 6
WARNIN G:
Be careful, as some thermostats may contain mercury. Recycle your
old thermostat safely with your local hazardous waste facility.
R
C
RCRH
W/W1
Y/Y1
STEP 7
Decide if you want to use the trim plate with
your ecobee. The trim plate is useful if you
want to hide marks or holes left on the wall
by your old thermostat.
PEK
W2
W1
RH
Rc
G
Y1
Y2
O/B
C
PEK
W2
W1
RH
Rc
G
Y1
Y2
O/B
COR

STEP 8: OPTIONAL
If using the trim plate, align the mounting
holes on the trim plate and backplate and
press them into place together.
STEP 9
Pull the wires through the hole in the
middle of the backplate and then attach
the backplate to the wall using the drywall
anchors and screws provided.
TIP:
Use a 3/16” drill bit to drill a hole for the drywall plugs.
Rc
G
Y/Y1
W/W1
C

STEP 10
Insert your remaining wires into the side
(not the front) of their corresponding
terminal blocks.
TIP:
Press the terminal block levers to insert the wires more easily.
Rc
G
Y1
Y2
Rc
G
Y1
PEK
W2
W1
RH
Rc
G
Y1
Y2
O/B
C
Rc
G
C
W/W1
Y/Y1
CHECKPOINT: INSERT YOUR R WIRE(S)
Do you have more than one R wire?
(That includes R, Rc, and Rh)
Insert your wires: Insert your single
R, Rc or Rh wire into
the Rc terminal.
NOYES
PEK
W2
W1
RH
Rc
G
Y1
Y2
O/B
C
R
G
C
W/W1
Y/Y1
R
H
PEK
W2
W1
RH
Rc
G
Y1
Y2
O/B
C
R
H
G
C
W/W1
Y/Y1
NOYES
R oR Rc Rc
Rh Rh
OR

STEP 12
Carefully push any excess wire back into the
hole and ensure there are no drafts coming
from the hole(s) in the wall.
TIP:
Large holes behind your thermostat will affect temperature readings.
Prevent drafts by covering the hole(s).
STEP 11
Tug on the wires gently to ensure they are
securely connected.
TIP:
When a wire has been connected correctly, the lever on that
block will lower.
PEK
W2
W1
R
H
C

Turn the power to your HVAC system back
on using the master switch or at the circuit
breaker box.
STEP 14
ON OFF
ON
OFF
STEP 13
Gently press your ecobee thermostat into the
backplate until it ‘clicks’ into place.
TIP:
If the thermostat ‘rocks’ or is not flush with the wall, be sure the
excess wires are pushed all the way into the wall.
Rc
G
Y1
C
W/W1
OR

ALL DONE!
Congratulations,
you did it!
To complete your set-up,
follow the instructions on
your ecobee screen.
STEP 15
Say hi to your new ecobee! The screen will
power on and guide you through the set-up
and registration.
hi
TIP:
If your thermostat does not power on, please see the
troubleshooting tips in the ‘Extras’ section.

Guide 2
Install your ecobee
without a C wire
If you don’t have a C wire, you’ll
need to use the Power Extender
Kit (PEK) included to reliably
power your ecobee.
GUIDE 2

Continue to
the next page
Return to step 1
in ‘Start Your Install’
CHECKPOINT: DON’T SKIP AHEAD
Have you completed steps 1 - 4 in the ‘Start
Your Install’ section?
The Power Extender Kit requires your system
to have the following wires:
Do you have these wires?
CHECKPOINT: 3 OR 4 WIRES
RCRHRCRH
YES NO
Continue to
the next page
The Power Extender kit
will work with your system!
Give us a call
Looks like you have one or more
wires missing. Please contact
ecobee support for more
information. 1.877.932.6233 or
[e-mail]
NOYES
4 wires: W/W1, Y/Y1, G and R (or Rc or Rh)
OR
3 wires: Y/Y1, G and R (or Rc or Rh)
OR

STEP 5
Take your Power Extender Kit, wire labels,
tools, your smart phone, and go to your
HVAC system.
ecobee wire labels
Power Extender Kit wire labels
(not required for all installs)
TIP:
Your HVAC system can most often be found in your basement or
your attic.
TIP:
Some cover panels can be removed by lifting upwards first, then
pulling outwards.
STEP 6
Open your HVAC system’s cover to reveal the
control board.
Control board
Y
W
G
C
R

Y
W
G
C
R
STEP 7
Take a picture of the wires connected to your
control board. You may need to reference
this photo later on.
STEP 8
Label only the R, Y or Y1, G and W or W1
wires with the matching labels provided.
If you have more than one wire going into
these terminals, only label those coming
from your thermostat.
Y
W
G
C
R
W
Y
G
R
TIP:
If you have wires connected to both Rc and Rh terminals at the
control board you may have a two transformer system. Please
contact support to help you with installation: 1.877.932.6233 or
[e-mail].
Wires going to
your A/C
(ignore these)
Wires going to
your thermostat

STEP 9
Disconnect the labeled R, Y, G and W wires
from the control board.
Y
G
W
R
Y
W
G
C
R
Y
W
G
C
R
STEP 10
Connect the wires you disconnected from
the control board into their matching gray
terminal blocks on the Power Extender Kit.
TIP:
Press the buttons to insert the wires more easily.
RGYW
W
G
Y
R