Upgrading to a new nSpire Series floor heating thermostat

Hi there. Today we're going to talk about replacing your old thermostat with the new Inspiration Series Thermostat. To begin the installation, the first step is to turn off the circuit breaker. Once the circuit breaker is off, loosen the screw on the faceplate of the unit and remove it. This will allow us to access the screws that are securing the base to the wall.

Next, we need to take out the base and mark the location of the wires, as we will be transferring them from the old unit to the new one. Disconnect the connections and prepare them for the new thermostat. Looking at the back of the thermostat, you will see four wires. The wires coming out of the thermostat are labeled with the word "floor" on the stickers. If your thermostat does not have these stickers, check the base; the two wires in the middle, represented by a line drawing, indicate the load going to the floor. Therefore, "floor" corresponds to "load."

You will also notice labels L1 and L2, which refer to the line. To keep track of everything, I’ve marked the wires with tape labeled "line" and "load" to ensure they are transferred to the correct spots on the back of the new thermostat. I will first mark the load wires coming from the floor and then loosen the screws without removing them completely. They will stop turning naturally, and at that point, do not force them, as this will allow you to guide the wire beneath the metal bracket under the screw.

Now that we have removed the unit, we can flip it upside down to take off the plastic piece, revealing where the load and line wires will be attached. With the unit right side up, I want the line wires to come in correctly, snugly fitting underneath the metal bracket. Next, we will connect the floor wires to the load. These wires should be run through the designated area so that they exit in the same direction.

It’s important to note the barrier that prevents these wires from touching any exposed wire. As we straighten out the wires from the previous connection, we will attach the floor wires under the load, marking them accordingly. The mat has no polarity, meaning it does not matter which wire connects to which terminal; however, for consistency, we will connect them in a uniform manner. It’s crucial to ensure that the metal bracket does not press down on the plastic insulation of the wires. A small amount of wire should be visible as you tighten the connection to avoid any issues with connectivity.

The ground wire will connect to a ground screw inside the box, which should already have been connected previously. Once all connections are secure, we can place the plastic cap over the back of the unit until it snaps into place. The final step before mounting the thermostat is to connect the sensor wire, which we removed from the old unit. There are four connection spots labeled A, B, C, and D. For the sensor, it does not matter which wire goes into C or D, as there is no polarity; just ensure that the wires are inserted into these terminals.

After feeding the cable through the base of the unit, check to make sure the wires are tight. Screw down the terminal and pull on the wires to confirm they are secure. Then, feed the cable out through the hole for a snug fit. Now, we can proceed to install the base into the wall, ensuring it is squared up and plumb. We will insert the screws and make any final adjustments before tightening them completely. Once satisfied with the alignment, we can secure the base, allowing us to attach the faceplate.

Regardless of the specific model of thermostat from the Inspiration line, the same base is applicable to each unit. Therefore, even though we are using a touch unit for this demonstration, the same process applies to the other models as well. As we install the faceplate, be cautious of the GFI test button; ensure it is not knocked off during installation. Center the faceplate over the switch and push it in, then tighten the screw down. At this point, we are ready to turn the circuit breaker back on.

Now that the thermostat is hooked up, all that remains is to turn the circuit breaker on, which will power the thermostat and complete the installation process.