Nest Thermostat 2.0 Hits The FCC

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nest2
2012 Nest left, 2011 Nest right.

While perusing the FCC’s seemingly limitless database of upcoming gadgets, looking for something streamy, I landed upon what looks like the second generation Nest learning thermostat. And, I gotta say, the timing is fortuitous… Because, as a new home owner with dual climate control units, I’ve been stockpiling my Lowe’s coupons ahead of a potential Nest purchase. So my dilly dallying on the fence may allow me to pick up the latest greatest — assuming this new model (02A) replaces the original (01A). Most of the juicy details will remain confidential until March, 2013. However, I expect we’ll see the new “home monitoring unit” arrive this fall. Reports indicate the original Nest, launched in 2011 for $250, might incorporate a Zigbee chipset… whereas the new FCC docs proudly proclaims it via a dedicated “Zigbee report.” Hopefully foreshadowing the future direction of Nest Labs, either in terms of building out their own home automation solutions and/or integrating with other related HA products. I would’t mind a lower price of entry, either.

20 thoughts on “Nest Thermostat 2.0 Hits The FCC”

  4. Yeah, I’m trying to reconcile the shape differences. But the FCC dates don’t lie. The reports are dated this summer, so something is different. Then again, I saw a Vulkano placeshifter hit retail weeks or months before it received FCC approval… Via Google, I also found teardown reports available for Nest 01A. Perhaps they changed the styling on the original or the diagram is off, but didn’t need to resubmit as the FCC-specific guts were unchanged.

  5. My one complaint would be I’d like the ability to switch from heat to A/C more easily. Right now its a click, rotate exactly the right amount, click rotate exactly the right amount, click, which compared to the typical thermostat where all you have to do is move a switch…

    Obviously given the support for iPhone et all applications something modeless is required, but even a push button dedicated to cycling through the modes (heat, cool, range) would be better than what we’ve got now. Obviously there are other ways they could do this too…

  6. Dave, I’m a big Nest advocate/fan so I’m excited to hear what they do next. It’d be nice the Nest thermostat worked with dual stage A/C systems (it doesn’t right now– it treats a dual stage A/C like a single stage). I know a few people who can’t go Nest because of this.

  7. Glenn, Rakesh, Thanks for the first hand impressions. The home I sold earlier this year had a two stage AC, which I know well as I picked the replacement system. Not sure what we have now – I assume the smaller, upstairs unit is simple. The downstairs one may be more efficient. But I haven’t noticed anything to indicate it’s dual. Hm. Regarding heat to cool and back, that’s disappointing – I’d figured it’d have been more modern and seamless. We have two Honeywell programmable digital thermostats now, so it’s not like I’m hurting to upgrade.

  8. Re the heat to cool switching, the 2.0 software update added a seamless mode where you can pick a low and high range for temp, and the Nest will switch to heat or cool as needed to maintain that range. I think it has trade offs with some of the other features though. I’ve had a Nest since the spring. Besides learning about how it deals with temperature differentials (1.5 degrees) and setting the temp (each “click of the wheel” is about .33 degrees) it’s worked out pretty well, and I’m happy with it.

  9. I bet this is a device for controlling sprinkler systems… or something other than a thermostat. My guess is that they will be launching new products in new markets as opposed to constantly working on the thermostat.

  11. Everyone seems to be missing the point that the perfect circle of the original Nest is the key to making everything work.

    With the new shape, different parts of your home will experience radical shifts in temperature. Also, their odd decision to rely on Apple Maps to suss out the design of your home should create further problems.

    As everyone knows, simple physics proves the magic of the perfect circle.

  12. About the range thing… the compromise is that with it set in Cool or Heat mode, if you like to twiddle with the temperature a lot, its really easy. Just turn right or left until you get the number you want. In range mode, where it will do both Cool or Heat if it gets outside the range, its a little harder to use when you just want to tweak.

    In my case I like to set it optimistically so we get the lowest electricity bill. But sometimes its a bit much and you find yourself needing to tweak it up or down a notch.

    As a result I just don’t use the range feature.

  13. My guess is the redesigned shape is more to do with the trademark/patent claims of Honeywell. Either way, as someone upgrading my HVAC in my house I’m interested. Any good sites out there to learn more about higher tech options for home heating/cooling?

  14. The ports, if not the shape, of the older diagram match -could this just be a case of a terrible drawing? That sort of thing happens all the time in patent submissions.

    The new one has moved the USB port and that might be the only *visable* change, at least from the back.

  17. I purchased it at Lowe’s over the weekend, but it doesn’t actually arrive at the store until Tuesday night. I’m torn as it does seem like a splurge to replace a perfectly functional digital thermostat. I’m trying to justify it as “wall art” and hope to save a few bucks on our utility bills?

  18. If what I hear and read about it is to be believed, the savings can range from $20 to $50 per month, depending on how you use it….with that, it would pay for itself in less than a year (well, maybe more like 14 months on the low end, since you got it from Lowes and had to likely pay a sales tax).

    I’ve been following your streams of consciousness for a few years now, so I trust your gut on this stuff (heck, I first read of Nest 2.0 right here), so I say stick it out and let me know how it goes so I can make my final decision (I know, a bit selfish)! :)

  19. Installed it last night. Was super easy. The hardest part was figuring out which breaker switches I needed to flip (since I’m new to the house). We thought it would look a little more “finished” with the optional plate, but now I’m having second thoughts. Not sure how well the drywall screws would reattach if I remove and remount it. Hm.

    https://twitter.com/davezatz/status/261235405934981121/photo/1

    Seems like it may take a week or so to learn our patterns, calculate savings, and such. But so far it’s pretty and easy to control. I’ve also learned my downstairs has between 42-50% humidity… but don’t know what that means.

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