Smart thermostat power control apparatus

A smart thermostat power and control apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

• a thermostat element (424) and a first switch element (426a);
• the thermostat element (424) comprising a first diode (501) wherein the first diode (501) is configured to electrically connect to a second diode (502) in the first switch element (426a), wherein the first diode (501) is further configured to conduct at least one rectified 24 VAC control voltage signal from a smart thermostat (400) to the second diode (502) in the first switch element (426a);
• and
• the first switch element (426a) comprises:
• the second diode (502) configured to electrically connect to at least one first switch device, the first diode (501), and a COM B terminal (411) of the smart thermostat (400), wherein the second diode is configured to conduct at least one signal selected from the group consisting of:
• the at least one rectified 24 VAC control voltage signal from the first diode (501) to energize the at least one first switch device, and a first rectified current signal (651) to charge a battery (404) of the smart thermostat (400);
• a third diode (503) configured to electrically connect to the COM B terminal (411) of the smart thermostat (400) and further configured to conduct a second rectified current signal (652) to charge the battery (404) of the smart thermostat (400);
• and
• the at least one first switch device configured to conduct at least one output control voltage signal selected from the group consisting of:
• a millivolt signal (554) from a thermopile (537) of a 2-wire millivolt gas fireplace (538a) or a 2-wire millivolt gas heating system (538), and at least one 24 VAC control voltage signal from a hot R terminal (418a) of a 24 VAC system (420a) or a hot R terminal (523) of a 120/24 VAC transformer (422).

A smart thermostat power and control apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

• a first integrated smart thermostat (400a) and a first switch element (426a);
• the first integrated smart thermostat (400a) including a first diode (501a) and at least one switch (816) connected to at least one terminal wherein the first diode (501a) is configured to electrically connect to a second diode (502) in the first switch element (426a), and the first diode (501a) is further configured to conduct at least one rectified 24 VAC control voltage signal from the first integrated smart thermostat (400a) to the second diode (502) in the first switch element (426a);
• and
• the first switch element (426a) comprising:
• the second diode (502) configured to electrically connect to at least one first switch device, the first diode (501a), and a COM B terminal (411a) of the first integrated smart thermostat (400a), wherein the second diode is configured to conduct at least one signal selected from the group consisting of:
• the at least one rectified 24 VAC control voltage signal from the first diode (501a) to energize the at least one first switch device, and a first rectified current signal (651) to charge a battery (404) of the first integrated smart thermostat (400a);
• a third diode (503) configured to electrically connect to the COM B terminal (411a) of the first integrated smart thermostat (400a) and further configured to conduct a second rectified current signal (652) to charge the battery (404) of the first integrated smart thermostat (400a);
• the at least one first switch device configured to conduct at least one output control voltage signal selected from the group consisting of:
• a millivolt signal (554) from a thermopile (537) of a 2-wire millivolt gas fireplace (538a) or a 2-wire millivolt gas heating system (538), and at least one 24 VAC control voltage signal from a hot R terminal (418a) of a 24 VAC system (420a) or a hot R terminal (523) of a 120/24 VAC transformer (422);
• wherein the first integrated smart thermostat (400a) is configured to detect a hot R wire (409) is connected to the hot R terminal (410) of a back plate (806), and at least one control voltage wire is connected to at least one control voltage terminal of the back plate (806), and no wire is connected to a COM B terminal (411a) of the back plate (806);
• and
• wherein the first integrated smart thermostat (400a) is further configured to perform at least one action selected from the group consisting of:
• energize the at least one switch (816) to connect the at least one control voltage terminal through the first diode (501a) to the COM B terminal (411a) to repurpose the at least one control voltage wire as a common/control wire (407), and
• provide at least one software graphical display, message, or instructional step for an installer to move and reconnect the least one control voltage wire to the COM B terminal (411a) and energize the at least one switch (816) to connect the at least one 24 VAC control voltage signal through the first diode (501a) and the at least one switch (816) to the COM B terminal (411a).