User error

So an HVAC tech came by today, examined everything and declared that all the wiring was normal. We switched out one more part and everything just worked like it was supposed to. The part is the backplate for the Ecobee, which is basically just a small terminal block for the thermostat wiring. The unit itself mates to the plate via two rows of pins. At first we thought the backplate could somehow be bad, but after he left I checked continuity across all the terminals and it seems fine. This is good news and bad news. The good news it’s fine and returning it is probably pointless.

The bad news (which is actually good news) is that this whole thing was likely just an error on my part: a wire, probably G, wasn’t seating correctly, set deeply enough in the block, or something like that. I’ll take a run at installing it for the upstairs system later tonight. In the meantime, the downstairs is very intelligently air-conditioned.

Spent most of the day doing a garden cleanup, then planted all the winter annuals: pansies and mums. We’re all set, if we could just get a bit more rain.

I’ve also enabled cross-posting to Threads again, so: hello Threads!