In order to discover which is the best programmable thermostat for you, it is necessary to understand some of the functions available on programmable thermostats. By comparing the Honeywell RTH8500D 7-Day Programmable Thermostat and the Lux Products TX1500E Smart Temp Programmable Thermostat it is hoped that the reader will be in a better position to make an informed purchase.

The first thing to consider is endorsement and warranty. Both the Honeywell RTH8500D and the Lux TX1500E are recommended by the Energy Star program and both come with warranties.

The next thing to consider is compatibility. Both the Lux TX1500E and the Honeywell RTH8500D can be installed on a wide variety of heating and cooling systems including heat pumps, gas fire places and air-con units. The Honeywell RTH8500D is compatible with 2 stage heating and 2 stage cooling systems. The Lux TX1500E is compatible with 1 stage heat and 1 stage cool. Be sure to check that a programmable thermostat is compatible with your HVAC before you buy.

And then there is price. The Honeywell RTH8500D is about $130 and the Lux TX1500E is about $40.

The reason for the big price difference is that the Honeywell RTH8500D is a 7-Day programmable thermostat. In other words it allows you to program in your desired temperature settings for each day of the week. In comparison, the Lux TX1500E is a 5-1-1 programmable thermostat that only allows you 3 program slots – weekdays, Saturday and Sunday. For people with complicated and changing weekday schedules the extra money for the Honeywell RTH8500D is well spent. And for those with a traditional ‘nine-to-five’ job the extra money for a 7-day programmable thermostat might be unnecessary. With both thermostats you can program in 4 different heating/cooling periods for each program slot. It is this ability that helps you to make big savings on your energy bills.

The Honeywell RTH8500D also has the ability to switch automatically between heating and cooling and it can be powered from either the mains or batteries.

On the plus side for the Lux Products TX1500E it has swing control and a lock out function. Swing control allows you to set up a parameter within which the thermostat does not cycle the heating/cooling systems. This is useful for people who live in extreme climates. The lock out function allows you to set up a code that stops children and unauthorized people changing your programmed settings.

These are the major differences between the Lux TX1500E and the Honeywell RTH8500D. It is hoped that this review helps you to choose a programmable thermostat that is right for you.

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It’s not a very good practice to just go out and purchase something without knowing anything about it so before I decide to make a purchase for anything that is going to cost me over a couple of bucks I like to research the products first.

There are several ways that you can do this that will give you a better understanding of the product or services that you plan to purchase and one of the best ways that I have found to do this type of research is to "read product reviews from someone who has either bought or used the product or service or has at least done some research to find out what others like or dislike about the product or service.

You can find this type of information by using your search engine or by visiting review websites, No matter what method you use you should always review before you buy.