First time I've heard of this.

[hbiss]

A relative just told me that when they walked up to their new Honeywell (from HD) thermostat and touched it to change the temperature, there was a small static zap from their finger. Wood floors with throw rugs. Ever since then they had to replace the batteries about every two weeks. You would think that these things would be more resistant to static discharge. Never thought you would have to wear a wrist strap to change the temperature.

So, now I see they bought a WiFi version to replace it so they don't have to touch it.

Let's see how long that's gonna last.

-Hal

 

[infinity]

I have 5 Honeywell WiFi stats and never had an issue with carpeting, wood floors and throw rugs. Even though a few of them are only a year or two old they are an older model. Is this something shiny and new for Honeywell?

 

[curt swartz]

I don't see how a static discharge would cause battery drain. Maybe a wiring issue could if its designed to get it primary power from the HVAC equipment,

You are probably only getting part of the information.

 

[hbiss]

I have 5 Honeywell WiFi stats and never had an issue

No. This was a standard non-programmable non-WiFi that crapped out.

I don't see how a static discharge would cause battery drain

I can see it screwing up the microcontroller making the thermostat draw power from the batteries continuously instead of "power robbing". Though I have had thermostats run only on its batteries like during the summer months when the heating system was shut down and they never said they required replacement. Matter of fact I have a new one for somebody (not like that one) sitting on my desk that I put batteries into so I could program it. Been sitting for about a month and it is still working.

But, yes, I can see the electronics getting messed up. Kinda like lightning, you can never predict what it will do. Have a close strike and watch what doesn't work anymore.

You are probably only getting part of the information.

I'm the first one to say that but I really doubt it. Isn't much to this.

-Hal

 

[kwired]

Maybe they never told you about the Van de Graaff generator they have sitting nearby?

 

[winnie]

Microcontrollers and the like have ESD protection diodes on the IO pins. These are supposed to shunt zaps away from the delicate IO circuitry to the power rails.

I could imagine a protection diode getting zapped just a touch too and becoming conductive when it shouldn't be, or gate oxide on an IO transistor getting damaged, or something similar that leads to increased parasitic current flow. So that the over-all function remains the same, but with increased power consumption

 

[hbiss]

Not even sure that the thermostat even functions properly, these people wouldn't notice except for the batteries. Looks like the cheapest HO special that Home Depot had. Postage stamp size display. Seems silly to replace it with a WiFi thermostat just so they don't have to touch it. They have kids and an elderly mother who is going to push the buttons. I would have replaced it with the pro line that I use. Cheaper than a WiFi. Besides, I don't understand people who have to play with their thermostats anyway. Set it and leave it alone. They think they are saving money.

-Hal

 

[tortuga]

No. This was a standard non-programmable non-WiFi that crapped out.

I can see it screwing up the microcontroller making the thermostat draw power from the batteries continuously instead of "power robbing".

Yeah I here your frustration, I love a simple 24V control system. Anything that says this battery will last x years change years to months.
I cant say anything good about cheap smart thermostats these days, the old "power robbing thru the relay coil" definitely does not work anymore, that was for a new stat on a old boiler. Newer boiler control boards have little tiny relays or even just electronics your not hitting a contactor coil anymore so there is no load to leak thru. Then the batteries just die.
Sometimes I go out of my way to hook up a common and 24V lead so the stat gets 24 VAC to power the electronics in 24V smart thermostats..
Thankfully around here they usually ran a 18/4 at minimum so there is usually a unused blue wire so its not often I need to run a new cable. The worst is these new heatpump-boilers that have wifi or wireless only thermostats, or a very expensive kit to integrate into a 24V system.