Trane Xl950 Tstat ... good, bad, ugly?
I had been leaning toward Trane dealer for new construction HVAC (rather than Lennox dealer), however have serious concerns about Trane communicating Tstats (950 or 850) that seems would be required with recommended XV18 HP and TAM8. I'd have 2 or 3 zones.
1) Amazon reviews primarily are scathing for the 950 (as well as the inappropriate for me 824) - see quote from retired tech instructor's Amazon review at end of thread. HVAC-talk.com also has numerous threads with big 950 problems. Is criticism of 950/850 valid, assuming dealer knows there stuff and places unit in "good" location?
2) Can above equipment be used effectively with other Tstats such as Ecobee, or Honeywell?
3) Remote temp sensor & 950/850 One Amazon commenter suggested this as solution to some reported problems. Your thoughts? Any idea of extra cost?
Amzn review "Did my own troubleshooting. Traced the problem to bad design by Trane.
They had indeed used a tablet as the basis for the XL950. To be able
to sense room temp, there is a sensor at the lower right of the case.
Inserting a shielded temp probe in the grill next to the XL950 sensor
showed internal case temps from 95 to 105 degrees - this less than 1"
away from the sensor that is supposed to read room temp and decide when
to turn on the system. Hardly a recipe for accuracy!
Turns out even a
slight breeze past the unit disrupts the convection airflow that Trane
depends on to cool the hot internal components and transfers heat to the
room temp sensor 3/4" away throwing the any readings off."
Comments (7)
10 years agoI read the reviews on Amazon and some of the posts on HVAC talk. I was curious to see if there it is a design problem, or people complaining about the interface being to difficult to use.
It looks like to me there is a design problem. The heat generated by the device (you can't call these things thermostats in my opinion) is causing the temperature reading errors. I also think the communication system is not very robust and prone to errors. The newest software may have fixed this. It doesn't look good when Trane can deliver a device that has to do simple communication.
The most important function a thermostat must do correctly is read the ambient temperature. If it can't do that then it is worthless in my opinion. If it were me, I would have serious reservations about buying the XL950. I recommend either getting a Trane system that does not require the XL950, or looking at similar equipment from Carrier or other manufacturer.
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10 years agolast modified: 10 years agoWe had a 950 installed with a new system two years ago, and it took several visits, almost a year, three thermostat units, and (finally) an external sensor to get it working properly. I had no idea it was a widespread problem.
We moved and are having the same system put in, but going with the 850 this time. Our Honeywells won't work because the Trane is a communicating system. Though now I wish we had read more reviews. There was nothing about it when we first got it, because it had just come out. We thought our experience at the previous house was an anomoly.
ETA: Before getting the external sensor (a little bigger than a quarter, attached to wall maybe 12 inches from the tstat), we ran a fan pointed at the 950 all the time. The external sensor was the better fix, but still not a choice I'd knowingly make. We're using the same HVAC company as last time, and if the 850 has the same problem, I will have them switch out the system for a non-communicating one. We will not dance around the issue a second time!
lite1 thanked pippieplite1
Original Author10 years agoThank you all. @mike_home, yes I agree it certainly seems like XL950 has a design problem, and that it fails (often) to do the basic and most critical thing ... accurately read ambient temp. @pipiep Keep us posted please on exp. with XL850, which I have read less about, but it seems like it is basically same design with a smaller (less heat producing) screen; nonetheless, not sure it will be much better. Do you recall approximate cost of the remote temp sensor? Have you inquired whether the Trane equipment you are getting will work with a non-Trane Tstat such as Ecobee, or Honeywell - that is something I am going to explore.
I don't want to rule out Trane, as many (but not all) of the pros on this forum seem to favor Trane (Carrier) over Lennox. I have good feeling from long face-to-face meeting with Trane and Lennox dealer/designer, but less so for Carrier.
@Air and energy Appreciate your comment which really is not completely on topic of the thermostat, yet still of some help. Surprised at your concern about the replacement part costs as for 10 years these would be covered by Trane parts warranty, right? Of course one is on the hook for labor unless you buy the extended labor warranty which is by a 3rd party insurer and most on this forum have serious concern about whether that company would really be there when you need them to pay.lite1
Original Author10 years agofrom OP and what I have learned speaking with Trane installer:
1) Only Trane XL950 or 850 will be fully communicating with heat pump and air handler. One can use a Trane relay and use any 3rd party 24v Tstat, but will loose the fully communicating functionality.
2) Remote temp sensor for 950 or 850 equipment cost is about $45 and very little to run the small wire a foot or two from the unit. If I end up doing Trane, and given some of the reported horror stories on forums about the 950/850 doing very poor job of reading ambient temperature, personally I will run the wire in the wall during construction, so if remote temp sensor should prove to be necessary, then I am prepared. Seems like relatively cheap insurance policy.
- 8 years ago
Can you provide any more information about the Trane relay? For instance, a part number or how the installation works? I have the XL850 and am having the same temperature control problems. Thank you!
- 8 years ago
When the contractor put in our Trane XL16i and TEM6 air handler in late 2016, he was supposed to install an 824 thermostat but instead put in an 850. The 850 was terrible. When it was in heat mode, it would display the same temperature for a long time while the room became uncomfortably hot and then the temperature in the display would quickly jump up about 3 degrees and then turn off the air handler. Another problem was when we lost power. We had to manually reset the unit to get it working again each time we lost power. That could be a real problem when you are away for an extended period during the winter and the power goes out. You could be left with no heat while away on vacation. I do think there is a design problem in the 850 and likely 950 if it is the same form.
We eventually put in an 803, as I feared the 824 would have the same problems. Even though the 803 does not have dehumidify on demand, it does keep the temperature very comfortable and the temperature in the display is very accurate. Also, with its battery backup, we do not have a problem when power comes back on after power loss.
As a side note, as Air and Energy Soutions mentioned, a Trane unit can be very loud. I was able to reduce the noise in our XL161 to acceptable levels by first loosening the bolts holding the compressor to the cabinet floor by one full turn (suggested by someone at Trane phone help) and then installing a Brinmar sound blanket.
Air and Energy Soutions