Like other smart devices, the Ecobee thermostat and other Ecobee devices can occasionally develop faults. Not coming on when you plug them in is one of the faults these smart home devices can develop.
Several reasons your Ecobee thermostat screen is blank despite being plugged into power. We will discuss these reasons and other things about the Ecobee thermostat below.
Causes Of Ecobee Black Screen
Several things can make your Ecobee thermostat screen go blank. Here is a list of those things below.
1. The power wire
This is one of the reasons why your Ecobee thermostat screen keeps going black. If you have a terrible wired connection, there is a high probability that your Ecobee won’t come on. You have to take your time to check the power wires and confirm if they are appropriately connected.
If the wires are wrongly connected to the ports at the backplate, your Ecobee thermostat will not come on. People often make the mistake of assigning the R, G, W, and Y wires to the wrong ports. Also, if there is no c-wire, your Ecobee might not come on whenever you try to turn it on.
2. Voltage
Another reason your Ecobee might not be powered on whenever you try to is the voltage. Sometimes, the voltage sent to the RC and C wires could be lower than the expected capacity. If the voltage is lower than expected, your Ecobee will not power on.
Different things can cause a voltage problem from your Ecobee. These things range from a circuit breaker to the safety or adjustments of your furnace and a lot more. These things can make your voltage less than 24VAC, which cannot power your thermostat.
3. Bad Placement on the Backplate
Another thing that is more than capable of causing your Ecobee thermostat not to function correctly is the wrong placement of the thermostat on your backplate. If the thermostat is not placed perfectly on the backplate, there is no chance the thermostat will come on. You should also know that your Ecobee thermostat will not come on if the pins at the back are not inserted correctly.
Sometimes, the wires connected to the backplate can hinder the Ecobee from correctly connecting to the backplate. You can quickly know if there is a bad placement by checking for space between the backplate and your thermostat.
4. A Bad Installation of the Power Extender Kit
If your power extender kit isn’t correctly installed, there is a good chance that your Ecobee will not come on whenever you try to turn it on. Some people use the power extender kit to compensate for the lack or absence of a C-wire.
Although these kits are a great alternative, many people often need help with the proper installation and connection of the kit to the furnace and the thermostat. If you wrongly connect the R or the G and W wires, power will not reach the thermostat.
5. A Blown Fuse
The furnace board is the hub for your Ecobee thermostat and other home automated devices. If a fuse is blown in the furnace, your Ecobee thermostat might not power on.
Different things can cause a blown fuse, from power or high voltage to many other things. When these things happen, the fuse in your furnace might blow for safety reasons. Once it blows, power will not get to the thermostat and other relevant smart devices, causing them to remain off.
Possible Solutions to Ecobee Screen being Black
There are different things you can do to fix the problem of your Ecobee screen being black or off despite attempts to turn them on. Here is a list of solutions you can try below.
1. Check and Fix the Power Wire
Once you notice your Ecobee thermostat isn’t coming on, you must check your power wires to confirm if there are appropriately connected. You must check the R, W, G, and W wires to confirm if they are connected to their respective ports. If they are not, connect them to the appropriate ports.
You should also check if there is a C wire. The absence of a C wire can stop your thermostat from functioning. If there is no C wire, you can use a power extender kit, which is an ideal alternative.
2. Voltage
If the wires are correctly connected, check the power voltage to know if it meets the minimum voltage needed for your Ecobee thermostat to work. Checking the voltage is easy. All you need is a voltmeter.
If the voltage is less than 24VAC, you have to check for the cause of the low voltage. A circuit breaker in the furnace can cause low voltage. Once you fix this, your thermostat should come on immediately.
3. Properly Insert your Thermostat in the Backplate
Inserting your backplate is another method you can use to fix the problem of your thermostat not working. You should check if there is space between the thermostat and the backplate. If there is any space, it means the thermostat is ot adequately connected.
You must take your time to adjust the wires on the backplate, as the placement might be why your thermostat isn’t working. Ensure your thermostat is connected correctly. The pins in the thermostat must key into the backplate. Once you do this, try powering your thermostat. It should come on immediately.
4. Properly Install the Power Extender Kit
Many people often need proper installation when using the power extender kit. You must ensure the power extender kits are adequately installed if you want your thermostat to come on.
Installing the power extender kit is easy. Link the five wires on the extender kit to the five terminals on the furnace. Connect the 4 wires from your thermostat to the four ports on the power extender kit. If the connections and installation are made properly, your thermostat should come on when you turn on the power switch.
5. Replace the Blown Fuse
Since something as little as a blown fuse is more than capable of affecting your Ecobee thermostat, the next thing you must do, if the previous suggestions don’t work, is check the fuse panel in the furnace.
If there are any signs that the fuse is blown, you should take your time to change the fuse. Once you do this, your thermostat should come on.
If the above suggestions don’t work, you can contact Ecobee support or call an expert to help you fix the problem.
How Long Do Ecobee Batteries Last?
Ecobee batteries are among the longest-lasting batteries you can find among home automation devices. The Ecobee Batteries last 18 to 24 months, depending on usage.
If you turn off your sensor or thermostat from time to time, the batteries will last much longer. There is a good chance the batteries can last for as long as five years.
You should know that it isn’t possible to charge the batteries. Once the batteries are flat, you must dispose of them and get a new set.
Does Ecobee Reset After Going Blank?
You do not need to worry about losing your settings whenever the screen goes blank. As long as you didn’t request a reset, you must know that your Ecobee will not reset just because the screen went blank.
Your temperature and other settings remain safe until you do a manual reset.
Conclusion
There are different reasons why your Ecobee screen goes blank. These reasons range from bad wiring to wrong placement; a lot more has been discussed in this article. We have also discussed the possible solutions to these causes.
Read through to get everything you need, including how long Ecobee batteries last and more.
Source
https://www.justanswer.com/computer/eooau-thermostat-screen-completely-blank-no.html