Hey I'm a NOOB trying to complete a DIY project of hooking up a thermostat to my garage heater. I am following this video...
I ordered the exact contactor and transformer linked in the comments.
I can't get the contactor to close. The highest voltage I have seen from the transformer is 5.5VAC. It should be outputting 24V. I am guessing that the transformer is bad. The only thing I am doing different than the video is I ran a dedicated 110 circuit for the transformer as I had a plug right next to the heater. In testing I hooked both sides of the transformer to the contactor bypassing the thermostat and it would not close. I have tested the input to the transformer and I am getting 120+ VAC. I also took everything apart and bench tested the transformer and can't get 24VAC out of it. This is not really applicable at this point but I am using a simple programable thermostat and not a WiFi thermostat.
NOOB Questions:
1. I am not sure how to test the output of the transformer with my meter. When wired in the heater with the red and green output wires connected on each side of the contactor I had my meter on VAC and the black meter lead grounded to the chassis and the red meter lead was getting 5.5V on each the red and green output. When on my bench I can't get a reading on the outputs when they are not connected to anything? What am I doing wrong or is the transformer just bad.
2. Does the contactor need to be wired a certain way? I just assumed since it is a relay the 240 VAC can be either input and the side 24VAC connections can be either side but maybe it needs to be wired correctly. The contactor is labeled L1/L2 and T1/T2. I had L1/L2 the input from the breaker panel. I figured the side 24V connections didn't matter either as they just closed the circuit?
Please see the pics as well of the components. Sorry I know this is whiffle ball for all of you but I thought this would be a pretty easy project as I have done tons of home wiring but I am quickly figuring out I am a little out of my element lol. I have done a bunch of searching on troubleshooting transformers and contactors but there are so many and it was just confusing me more...
Thanks
onesquin
I ordered the exact contactor and transformer linked in the comments.
I can't get the contactor to close. The highest voltage I have seen from the transformer is 5.5VAC. It should be outputting 24V. I am guessing that the transformer is bad. The only thing I am doing different than the video is I ran a dedicated 110 circuit for the transformer as I had a plug right next to the heater. In testing I hooked both sides of the transformer to the contactor bypassing the thermostat and it would not close. I have tested the input to the transformer and I am getting 120+ VAC. I also took everything apart and bench tested the transformer and can't get 24VAC out of it. This is not really applicable at this point but I am using a simple programable thermostat and not a WiFi thermostat.
NOOB Questions:
1. I am not sure how to test the output of the transformer with my meter. When wired in the heater with the red and green output wires connected on each side of the contactor I had my meter on VAC and the black meter lead grounded to the chassis and the red meter lead was getting 5.5V on each the red and green output. When on my bench I can't get a reading on the outputs when they are not connected to anything? What am I doing wrong or is the transformer just bad.
2. Does the contactor need to be wired a certain way? I just assumed since it is a relay the 240 VAC can be either input and the side 24VAC connections can be either side but maybe it needs to be wired correctly. The contactor is labeled L1/L2 and T1/T2. I had L1/L2 the input from the breaker panel. I figured the side 24V connections didn't matter either as they just closed the circuit?
Please see the pics as well of the components. Sorry I know this is whiffle ball for all of you but I thought this would be a pretty easy project as I have done tons of home wiring but I am quickly figuring out I am a little out of my element lol. I have done a bunch of searching on troubleshooting transformers and contactors but there are so many and it was just confusing me more...
Thanks
onesquin
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