Fix the Ecobee smart thermostat's most annoying feature. The user interface for the app is very similar to the interface of the main thermostat. You can see this in the video below: Both, the classic Ecobee3 and the Ecobee3 Lite have the same installation process. Gone are the old mercury dials that simply turned your system on or off & adjusted the temperature, here to stay are new devices that you can customize and control from a mobile device when you're miles away from home. By default, both of these thermostats are powered by a C-wire, which powers both the display on the thermostat unit as well as its Wi-Fi. On top sits the system mode (heat/cool/auto/off) and humidity indicator. (Now I just need more to fill up all my other rooms!). Well, why not add some smarts to your smoke detector with these HomeKit-enabled options? You buy SmartSensors for $40 each and add them to any Ecobee model. As ecobee3 lite gets to know your home’s heating and cooling patterns, it learns how long it takes to reach your desired temperature. The Ecobee3 Lite does not support as many HVAC devices, does not come with Alexa integration and the sensors are not as good. Other nights have been fine. The kit allows you to tap into the powered C wire at your furnace, rather than having to run a new wire up to your thermostat. With its beautiful design, easy-to-use touchscreen display, and up to 23 percent savings on heating and cooling costs, the ecobee3 lite is the smarter thermostat that helps you live better and save more. White Wall Plate Bracket Cover For Ecobee3 lite Smart Wi-Fi Thermostat by HOLACA. Now, it does. What’s more, you can integrate IFTTT (If This Then That for all you smart home newbies out there) with all 3 thermostat models and turn it on whenever you get home or inactivate it automatically when you leave. However, you can purchase a separate Wireless Room Sensor that acts as an occupancy sensor … Here's what you need to know! It might be harder for you to see the sensor in the Lite version, though, as it protrudes less than that of the classic Ecobee3. The geofencing feature allows the Ecobee3 thermostat to track your phone’s location. The main difference between the classic Ecobee3 and the Lite version is that the Ecobee3 Lite box does not include the actual room sensors. Rather than the ecobee3 turning on the heat at 6am, it goes on prior to my set time and brings the house up to temperature so it's 68-degrees at 6am. If you're in the market for a new thermostat for your connected home — look no further than the ecobee3. With this on, the unit will actually bring your house to temperature by the desired time, rather than power on at that time. Ecobee3 Lite smart thermostat review: The lower price comes at the expense of a signature feature You can add the missing sensors back, but not cost effectively. What is the Difference Between the Ecobee3 Lite and Ecobee4? Remote sensors. $35.98 . So that amounts to at least $250 + $30 per heater, and you lose any smart benefits. What this feature does is consider the current weather conditions and forecasts to determine the best time to heat or cool your house. Finally, I definitely agree with Ryan that it’s a bad idea to buy this kind of device from eBay. It offers features that are on par with other big names like Nest and Honeywell, and it's extremely easy to setup and just plain works. ecobee thermostats have a feature enabled called Smart Recovery. The longer you’ve had your thermostat, the more data it has and the better it is at predicting how long it will take to bring your home to a given temperature. While in the inactive state, they display big white numbers that indicate the current temperature, weather conditions, and the temperature outside. The bottom left icon gives you access to the main menu, where you'll find everything you need — access to settings, schedule, sensors, comfort settings, vacation, reminders, and more. Remote Sensors – Initially, the ecobee3 Lite didn’t support sensors. The app doesn't have the deep settings of the thermostat itself (nor does it need them) but it lets you control the temperature, turn your system on or off, change schedules, edit vacations, and check alerts among other things. While the perfect solution to the problem is pulling a C-Wire, most homeowners skip this lengthy and sometimes professional process in favor of the simpler DIY solutions. For example, if the bedroom is too cold, the thermostat is trying to even out the temperature with the living room and the room could get too hot. Both have a 3.5-inch glossy black digital display with a … When the main thermostat unit is active, you will see different icons (like weather forecast and Home/Away) on the interface as well as access various settings. So you can go about your business while the ecobee3 does the thinking for you. Then, three years after releasing Ecobee3, the Ecobee4 and  Ecobee3 Lite were born. The Ecobee4 also has better sensors and a LED light bar on the display: all other features are pretty much the same. I've played with a bunch of other wifi thermostats in my connected lifetime, and so far this is the one that stands out to me the most. $35.99. You can simply let your Ecobee do the thinking for you and adjust the temperature based on the weather; the thermostat activates the AC or heater only when you really need it, saving energy. You will have to insert that code into the app to pair the two devices. The main difference between the Ecobee3 and Ecobee4 is Alexa integration. Both have a 3.5-inch QVGA touchscreen at the center of the device. So you've automated your lighting, your blinds, your thermostat, your dog's feeding schedule, etc. Having a split-level house I've often had a hard time getting the temperature where I need it on all levels of my home, but thanks to the ecobee3 sensors, I've been able to have more control over what's going on, making for a more comfortable living space all around. The box includes a set of labels to stick onto your old wires so you know what's what before you begin. What is the Difference Between Ecobee3 and Ecobee3 Lite? The Ecobee3 Lite is designed with smaller homes in mind and for the more price-conscious customer. You can also create actions using the ecobee3 like turning down the heat if a door is left open, or turing it up when you arrive home. You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details without your permission. eco+ is a free upgrade now available to all eco+-compatible smart thermostats (listed above). Sadly, geofencing is not available on the Ecobee3 Lite, but there are ways around that (read below). It is more expensive than the classic Ecobee3, Ecobee4 or Ecobee3 Lite. Another good feature available in all of them, the Ecobee4, Ecobee3 and Ecobee3 Lite, is the Smart Recovery function. You can use the touchscreen on the unit to get setup, but you'll have to fire up the mobile app too so you can connect your ecobee3 and control things from afar (more on that later). What is the Difference Between the Ecobee3 and Ecobee4? The feature that allows automatic switching between cooling and heating is not available. However, if you have many rooms in your house that need monitoring, and you have multiple HVAC devices, the Ecobee3 is a better option. I've had zero issues with it and that's how I like it. Having done this in the past, I know what a pain it can be, so the fact that this is even an option when installing the ecobee3 is awesome. Using the ecobee3 is easy as can be. The longer you’ve had your thermostat, the more data it has, and the better it is at predicting how long it will take … Find out the differences between the three Ecobee products- Ecobee3, Ecobee 3 Lite and Ecobee 4. post-template-default,single,single-post,postid-3295,single-format-standard,ajax_fade,page_not_loaded,,qode-title-hidden,qode_grid_1300,qode-content-sidebar-responsive,qode-theme-ver-13.8,qode-theme-bridge,disabled_footer_bottom,wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-5.4.7,vc_responsive, Connectivity With Smart Home Hubs/Devices And Services. Sign up now to get the latest news, deals & more from iMore! If not, the ecobee3 comes with a Power Extender Kit to help with the install. VPN Deals: Lifetime license for $16, monthly plans at $1 & more. Basically, any standard system will be okay with the ecobee3. It does not have a built-in sensor, so it cannot do geofencing straight out of the box, per se. When it is turned on, the thermostat activates the AC or heater only when you are actually in the room, which is great. The ecobee3 supports conventional 2H/2C, heat pump (4H/2C) including 2-stage, gas, oil, electric, dual fuel, humidifier, dehumidifier, ventilator, and HRV or ERV. And if you want to use Alexa in your house, you should get the Ecobee4. It is self-explanatory and easy to follow, and the whole set up should not take more than 15 minutes. If activated, you can set a temperature for both when you are at home and when you are not. The ecobee3 will run you through a quick setup to get everything going and functioning properly. The data is encrypted so there’s no need to worry about safety here. Differences Between Ecobee4, Ecobee3 and Ecobee3 Lite, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o31LUkLXKY, If This Then That for all you smart home newbies out there, Ultimate SimpliSafe Home Security Systems Review. It's square with rounded corners, and there are two mounting options available depending on your setup. Since I want three, and I don’t need 3 room sensors, the Ecobee3 lite is the obvious choice for me. You can also set scheduled temperatures throughout the day, along with many other functions. The ecobee3 isn't much bigger than a standard thermostat. But to the right, you will see little dots that form a vertical line which you can use to adjust the temperature setting. This is one of the key differences between the two thermostats. Often compared to Nest Smart Thermostats, Ecobee3 won tons of followers. The only real difference between these 2 products is their compatibility with HVAC devices. Loads of possibilites. If you already have a wifi thermostat or powered unit, you're in good shape. We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Smart home/away – There is no motion detector in the Lite so you’ll have to purchase sensors if you want smart home/away to work. One of the features that turns ecobee from a programmable thermostat with an app to something more useful is called Smart Recovery. With this on, the unit will actually bring your house to temperature by the desired time, rather than power on at that time. No spam, we promise. It’s a Works with Amazon Echo, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, Wink, and IFTTT. There are plenty of other things to tweak within the settings as well. Smart Recovery. It’s simple and very minimalist. So this is the question everyone asked me. Smart Recovery. You can decide to enable or disable this feature. The Ecobee3 is compatible with a wide range of HVAC devices. ecobee3 Lite loses its Alexa ability (not a big loss if you ask me), and Nest E doesn’t have Nest’s flashy looks. When it detects that you are approaching home, it automatically engages the home setting or whatever setting is on default. It is not compatible with humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and any kind of ventilators. The only downside to the tracking feature is that the Ecobee will only start tracking this data after a whole month of usage. This feature is one of the things that makes the Ecobee really stand out from other smart thermostat brands. Of course, it is available for both Ecobee3 and Ecobee3 Lite as well. However, this data is only available in the web portal and not in the main thermostat’s interface, nor on the mobile app. This includes Apple’s Homekit, Amazon Echo, Samsung’s SmartThings, Control4, and Vera Smart Home Systems. One of the things I really like about both these Ecobee thermostats is that they have very comprehensive weather reports. This enables you to activate or deactivate them all at once. How can I get eco+ on my smart thermostat? I haven't had any issues with the app whatsoever in my few weeks of use. The Ecobee3 has dimensions of 4x4x0.9  inches, while the Lite version is a bit smaller at 4x4x0.8 inches. The ecobee3 lite is very similar to the ecobee3, but does not include support for whole home accessories such as HRVs, Ventilators, Humidifiers, Dehumidifiers. Sadly, geofencing is not available on the Ecobee3 Lite, but there are ways around that (read below). Does my ecobee smart thermostat support eco+? Ecobee3 lite doesn't include a built-in occupancy sensor so it cannot automatically trigger Smart Home and Away. After that, take out the old wires (of course make sure your power is off first), pop off the old unit, and install the ecobee3 back plate. You'll need to add a custom device type and tweak a few things, but you'll then be able to control your thermostat through the SmartThings app as well — including temperature, system functions, and more. The Ecobee3 power extender kit is the ultimate solution to houses without a C-Wire. Popular . Like the Ecobee3, that doesn’t mean that you can’t control this thermostat with your voice. The ecobee3 lite’s touch screen is nearly twice the size of the Nest Thermostat E’s. You will probably need a picture of the thermostat that you are replacing to qualify. I would like to receive mail from Future partners. What this feature does is consider the current weather conditions and forecasts to determine the best time to heat or cool your house. That can be done on your phone or the Ecobee website after which you can add HVAC devices to the thermostat’s system. We will talk more about these functions later. These levels — noted as Home, Away, and Sleep — can be automatically changed on a set schedule, or when your presence isn't detected. The room sensors are wireless and powered by 3 Volt CR-2032 batteries, which should last for about 4 years. I think its time for me to turn off Smart Recovery. All in all, I would say that if you don’t have that much space and don’t have humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and ventilators at home, the Lite version is the better choice simply because it is cheaper. You can control it via different Apple devices using Siri, iPhone, iPad, or even an Apple Watch. Functionality: Supports regular thermostat capabilities and all other ecobee features & commands that enable you to control other devices … The unit will reflect the change, and below the temperature indicator you'll see a note of the current setting. Comparing Nest E VS Ecobee3 Lite, both are such amazing devices to try out and offer you a great experience. All smart thermostats need that C-Wire to run their Wi-Fi, keep their programming working and communicate with remote sensors. So you can choose to have the heat come on at 6am each day to 68 degrees, then go down to 60 at 10:30pm when you go to bed. The main screen of the mobile app essentially mirrors the display on your ecobee3 unit. Check with your local power company – – you may be able to get a partial rebate towards the purchase of any of the ecobee models, which is always nice. I have Echo dots near where these thermostats would be so that means I won’t use that function. The Ecobee3 Lite looks identical to the brand's existing $249 Ecobee3 Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat. In most cases, the smaller mounting plate will do best as it sits behind the unit and doesn't protrude around the edges. Both the Ecobee3 classic and Lite versions keep track of changes in temperature settings. Some smart thermostats like Nest and Honeywell Lyric are operated by built-in batteries, but the Ecobee uses a C-wire as a power source,  making it more reliable and efficient (it doesn’t run out of power). They can be used for ecobee… I do have to say that I love my ecobee3. Everything you'll need immediately — reading & changing the temperature, checking the weather, viewing the humidity, or getting to settings — is all right on the main screen. ecobee3 understands how your home heats up and cools down, and uses wi-fi to track your local weather throughout the day. The main thermostat’s response to commands using the app or the web portal is fairly quick and seamless, but it depends on the strength of your WiFi connection. For example, I have my house set to heat to 68 at 6am. To summarize the similarities and the differences between the classic Ecobee3 and the Ecobee3 Lite, please read this table. Ecobee3 Lite Smart Thermostat. This is because you have to have a thermostat and relay system for each heater in your home. Here's how to make it right. The Ecobee4 is slightly thicker at 4x4x1 inches. To change the set temperature, simply tap the slider on the right side of the screen and drag it up or down to the desired temperature. But you still get all the other smart functions offered by the ecobee3; Wireless Sensors, Smart Home/Away, Follow Me, Smart Recovery, Schedule and Vacation settings, Home IQ, connection to Homekit/Amazon Echo/IFTTT/Smart Things and Wink, … However, sensors are not included with the Lite so you have to buy them separately. The web interface is much of the same, just with more of a dashboard layout and a few different options. Another good feature available in all of them, the Ecobee4, Ecobee3 and Ecobee3 Lite, is the Smart Recovery function. Out of the box, the Ecobee does one thing very, very wrong. The price of smart thermostats is gradually creeping down, and at just $169 the new Ecobee3 Lite is one of the most affordable yet. Ecobee3 Lite has a temperature sensor on the base, but it doesn’t detect occupancy, meaning you’ll lose the Smart … All 3 products — the classic Ecobee3 and the Ecobee3 Lite and Ecobee4 — can connect to smart home hubs and devices. If you don’t have a C-wire for your thermostat, you can use Power Extender Kit or PEK, that you connect to the furnace control board to draw power from there. However, you should be able to integrate it with Apple Home Kit/Apple TV or integrate it with Smart Things Hub and create an IFTT to utilize any sensors you have for that system. You'll see the current set temperature, temperature slider, system mode, humidity, and even weather. While Ecobee4’s main selling point was Alexa integration, the Ecobee3 Lite promised to be a cheaper alternative with fewer features. In 2014, Canadian smart home company, Ecobee, has released a well-acclaimed smart thermostat called Ecobee3 and which was met with much praise. So not only will your ecobee3 unit pick up the temperature from where it's placed (your living room for example), but you can also use sensors in other rooms to get an average temperature across the entire house. Other than that, they function basically the same as the more expensive models. The ecobee3 lite is a budget model with few sacrifices. For some of these hubs, like Homekit, Amazon Echo, and others, you can incorporate your Ecobee thermostat and group it with other smart home devices and appliances. As I said at the start of this article, there is really no better or worse here; they are simply a little different. Once installed, you will need to create an account on the Ecobee app. The same cannot be said for the Lite version though. Single room sensor is included in the package when you buy ecobee3 thermostat. With the Smart Recovery setting enabled, you don’t actually have to schedule temperatures anymore, if you are not the type to micromanage. | Snap Goods. For example, I have my house set to heat to 68 at 6am. Some people do not like that, but I think it helps to keep the thermostat screens clutter free and simple. Installing a low voltage smart thermostat like Nest or Ecobee with electric heating completely negates one of the major benefits of smart thermostats. At the lower left corner, you can see a wedge-shaped section, which is the motion sensor. As you continue to use your ecobee, it learns how long it takes your home to get to a desired temperature. Unless you need the extra accessory terminal, most people prefer saving some money with the ecobee3 Lite over the ecobee SmartThermostat. However, as these thermostats try to achieve consistent temperatures throughout the house, they might create inconsistencies. 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