Thermostat

[rossco1418]

Any recommendations for thermostat that will kick on my heater in extreme cold weather? Just purchased a honeywell digital and it doesn't kick on the furnace until its about 40 degrees inside. I had to jump the wires to get it up to temp and don't want to do that every time especially after this last weekend when it was -20.

[Mid-Lake Rock]

My Suburban thermostat broke while fishing at Mille Lacs.  I went to the local hardware store and purchased a cheap Honeywell that cannot be programed.  (Model: Ct30a 1005 Standard Manual Economy).  The employee of the hardware store told me he has fishermen come in several times per year with broken thermostats and the cheap Honeywell is what they recommend.  I think I paid $15.  Four years later it still works well and is fine in extreme cold.  It was very easy to install.   

[mysnopro]

I use the cheap one too. the one you slide the lever to the tempt comes 

[rossco1418]

Does anybody have any luck with a digital model? I like the idea of digital, just don't like that mine has to warm up before it works properly

[Gus]

Pro1 T771 is what I put in my ice cabin. I did so after finding other recommendations on this page.

It has always started my furnace no matter the temp. Heats more even as well.

I couldn't find it locally so had to buy online.

[rickwalley]

+1 what Gus said

Pro1 T771

[rossco1418]

Sounds good. Thanks! I have the pro1 t771 on its way!

[snagfinder]

I think fish house heaters are very low voltage so only millivolt stats will work. Regular house ones are different. I think.  I could be wrong.

[Moon Lake Refuge]

Just out of curiosity as we'll be putting one in soon, why go digital?

 

[rossco1418]

I think they keep a more even temperature. Manual ones tend run the furnace too long and get too hot and not kick on the furnace until its too cold. Digital thermostats are able to more accurately register and respond to temperature changes.

[fishingstar]

You should be able to adjust your anticipator for that. 

[Bryce]

Pro of digital is more positive temp control. Bump up or down by one degree easier to control with a button push than guessing how far to push the slide.

[bigwalleye30]

I was looking at Pro1 T771 and it shows 24v needed.  I'm no electrician so is there anything special needed to be done to get this to work?  Would be replacing the standard one in an ice castle.  

[rossco1418]

Nothing special needed. 2 wires to hook up. If hooked to 24v you could hardwire the thermostat so you don't need batteries. So use in the fish house will require batteries. 

[snagfinder]

I tried hooking a 24v stat to the girlfriends gas fireplace which is a millivolt system and it would not work. Maybe its possible i just know i wasnt smart enough to figure it out. Used a cheap old low volt mercury stat and it worked.

[Gus]

The T7771 will run off either a 24V hardwire OR 2 AA batteries.

Batteries seem to last about a  year for me. Using Lithium for the cold. Replace in the fall before hunting season, good all year.

 

[Tom7227]

I have a digital in the garage.  It won't allow the furnace to start if it is below 32 degrees and that's because if the chance that water has built up and frozen in the furnace vent system.  I have to use a hair dryer to warm the Tstat up to allow the furnace to turn on.  The lowest temp it can be set at is 40 degrees.  I don't know if the standard ice house furnace if high efficiency and need that check on water/ice buildup or not.  But that's something to check out. 

[rossco1418]

If you look through the manual for the Pro1 T771 it shows it would work with a millivolt system. Some thermostats may not. There will be no problems using this in a fish house heater system.

[Hawg]

Do what Fishingstar said, adjust your anticipator. If you have the older style many times its just not level. Any cheap thermostat will work. You sure you have the gas valve that uses a millivolt thermometer? If not digitals won't work either.

Edited January 20, 2016 by Hawg

[rossco1418]

Got the Pro1 T771 installed and it works flawless! Thanks for the recommendations.

[FishinFools]

I'll take your "spare"!  :-)