THERMOSTAT WIRING CONNECTOR

摘要

A thermostat and related methods is provided for controlling an HVAC system. The thermostat includes wiring terminals adapted and configured to make an electrical connection with an HVAC system wires such as common, heating and cooling control and return wires. The making of the connection with a common wire actuates switching open a loop of an electrical circuit used for power harvesting. According to some embodiments, the wiring terminal includes actuation of a moveable part of the terminal so as to accommodate the common wire that in turn actuates the switching open the power harvesting loop. More than one other loop can be switched. According to some embodiments, the wiring terminal can be used to automatically connect and/or disconnect Rc and Rh circuits when one or both Rc and Rh wires are present. According to some embodiments, the wiring terminal can be used for electronically sensing the presence of the HVAC system wire.

主权项

1. A thermostat for controlling HVAC systems comprising:
a plurality of wiring terminals each adapted and configured to make an electrical connection with one of a plurality of HVAC wires, wherein each wiring terminal includes:
a main body;a channel opening that is positioned on a first side of the main body, the channel opening being configured to enable insertion of a respective HVAC wire of the plurality of HVAC wires into an interior of the main body, the respective HVAC wire being inserted so as to make an electrical connection between the thermostat and the respective HVAC wire;a spring component that is disposed within the main body so that a contact portion of the spring component is positioned along an insertion path of the respective HVAC wire, the spring component being configured so that the contact portion is displaceable to accommodate insertion of the respective HVAC wire within the channel opening, the contact portion being biased toward the insertion path such that after insertion of the respective HVAC wire, the spring component maintains the respective HVAC wire securely within the channel opening and in electrical contact with the thermostat; anda button member that is coupled with the main body and operably coupled with the spring component such that pressing the button member displaces the contact portion from the insertion path thereby enabling removal of the respective HVAC wire from the channel opening.