Because I’d just relocated, the Thermostat in my new home was an old one that depended on pneumatics. So I decided to give it a little facelift by adding a Smart Thermostat to the mix. So, I chose the Nest Smart Thermostat since I wanted to do as little rewiring as possible, and I wanted a lot of features.
Everything worked well, and I appreciated being able to manage my Thermostat from my phone. Several weeks later, my air conditioning has stopped working, and my Thermostat has shown the phrase “Delayed.” After realizing that this would not do, I went online to find out precisely what was going on. All of the information I gained was compiled into one detailed essay.
The long and the short of it is that you need to purchase an Ohmkat C-Wire converter and connect it to your Nest Thermostat in order to resolve the Delayed Message issue. This will prevent your Thermostat from becoming underpowered, which is the underlying reason for the “Delayed” Message.
Why Does Nest Thermostat Display The Message “Delayed”?
Overall, the “Delayed” notice is triggered by a power shortfall or an underpowered thermostat, to summarize. To be clear, the Nest Thermostat does not rely on electricity to function, contrary to popular belief. A rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery is housed inside the device, which receives its power from the HVAC system.
When the Thermostat is plugged into a power source, some of the power is used to charge the battery. Occasionally, the power drain from the Thermostat surpasses the amount of power taken, resulting in a shortfall in the Thermostat’s performance.
The Thermostat’s numerous functionalities, such as Wi-Fi, motion detection, display, and others, generate an excessive amount of power consumption. Power is distributed to the other systems, such as the furnace, air conditioner, heat pump, and fans, that are linked to the main power supply.
It isn’t easy to maintain power distribution when the power input is minimal. Insufficient power will be provided to the Nest thermostat’s battery and other components of the HVAC system. As a result, the HVAC system will behave sporadically, switching on and off at random intervals and incorrectly controlling temperatures. Damage to the HVAC system as a result of such anomalies may be very expensive to fix.
Use a C-Wire Adapter to fix the Nest Thermostat “Delayed” Message
Using a C-Wire Transformer is a simple and affordable gadget that may be used to deliver steady power to a thermostat system. This device receives its electricity from the mains, which helps to reduce the load on the HVAC system. The installation procedure is really straightforward.
There are two wires that are connected to the transformer. Connections for the wires should be made to the Thermostat’s Power(RH) and C-terminal terminals. Then, using a wall socket, connect the transformer unit to the main power. Keep in mind that there should be a power outlet nearby where your Thermostat is located.
The only downside of this approach is that the adapter wires may come out of the Thermostat, which would spoil the neat appearance of the device. I’ve used a lot of other C-wire adapters over the years and can recommend Ohmkat’s C-Wire Adapter without reservation.
They provide a lifetime warranty, which means that if it ever stops functioning, they will replace it at no cost to you. I’ve been using it for more than a year and have had no problems with it.
What’s a C-Wire?
The C-Cable, also known as the Common Wire, is often the blue wire that is attached to the ‘C’ port on your Nest thermostat’s control panel. His or her responsibility is to ensure that the Thermostat receives a continuous 24V input regardless of whether or not the HVAC system is turned on.
In this case, the C-wire connects the C-terminal of the HVAC control panel to the C-terminal of the Thermostat. I didn’t utilize a C-Wire when I installed my Nest Thermostat because I didn’t want to have to go through a lot of rewiring when I was installing my Nest Thermostat.
What happens when you do not have a C-Wire?
Unless your Thermostat is equipped with a C-Wire, it may struggle to maintain a consistent power supply, impairing its most fundamental functions. Furthermore, it has the ability to impair the operation of the HVAC system as well as cause harm to its numerous components. In the absence of a C-Wire, there are many difficulties that must be addressed:
Reduced Battery Life
The internal battery may be harmed if the charging signal is erratic since Lithium-Ion batteries are susceptible to degradation. However, although replacing the battery is a more cost-effective approach, these batteries can cause major environmental damage and pose a danger to human safety.
Motion Sensing Disabled
Nest thermostats are equipped with a function that activates the HVAC system when it detects that someone is passing by the Thermostat. Whenever the battery level falls below a certain threshold, this function is automatically turned off.
Disconnecting from Wi-Fi
Additionally, insufficient power to the battery causes frequent disconnections from the Thermostat’s Wi-Fi, preventing it from functioning remotely.
Damage to the HVAC system caused by irregular power cycling
As soon as the HVAC system is turned off, the Thermostat sends a signal to the control panel, instructing it to start the battery charging process. Although this signal is not harmful to most systems, some are very sensitive to it and switch on at random as a result.
In fact, your fans will not function properly. The temperature in your home will fluctuate since your HVAC system won’t be able to convert from heating to cooling. Because of this, your Thermostat may make noise and perhaps shorten its life.
Some HVAC systems, particularly those with older components and connections, aren’t meant to function properly when connected through a C-Wire, despite the fact that the Nest Thermostat is one of the Best Smart Thermostats Without a C-Wire.
As much as I’d wanted to avoid knowing too much about thermostat wiring initially, to the point where I purchased a Smart Thermostat, I eventually changed my mind and performed some study. To demystify thermostat wiring colors, I compiled what I’d learned into a detailed post, which you may see here.
-our editorial board has reviewed this article and has been approved for publication according to our editorial policy.
