Mercury Thermostat Wiring Oil Furnace

A brief tutorial video on how to install a nest thermostat 2nd generation.
Mercury thermostat wiring oil furnace. These run from the thermostat to the furnace and control the heat in a home. They connect to a two wire thermostat generally a mechanical thermostat with a mercury filled ball connected to a coiled bi metal strip. Changing a mercury thermostat to a digital. Mercury thermostats are extremely durable and long lasting but do wear out and develop problems occasionally.
To wire a thermostat of this kind basic electrical skills tools and safety techniques are required. I have only two wires connected on the old thermastat black and red. I am replacing a 2 wire mercury thermostat with a honeywell digital programable rth2300b thermostat. Two wire thermostats typically have a red and a white wire.
Troubleshooting a mercury thermostat is quite easy due to. The new thermostat has connections for o b y rc r g w and a jumper between rc and r. I have tried red to r black to w with. Like a mercury contact thermostat a mechanical thermostat uses a bimetallic coil to open or close the mechanical contact points and includes a heat anticipator some older versions of mechanical contact thermostats used a straight blade bimetallic strip and not a coiled strip.
When it gets too cold in the room the spring tilts the w end down and the mercury completes the furnace circuit asking for heat. Always turn off the power before starting work. This video is part of the heating and cooling series of training videos made to. The honeywell mercury thermostat has been installed in homes and businesses for decades though it is used less often since the digital programmable thermostat became popular.
This one covers the limitations of thermostat wiring that can be done with the oil furnace primary control. The most basic of systems such as an older heat only forced air gas furnace with a standing pilot light only need two wires for control. I have an oil burner with on demand heat.