[john_t]

I installed a thermostat C-wire on my gas furnace, and may have overtightened and stripped the connector but the wires still seemed secure (thermostat C wire, and a/c condenser control wire). Working fine now, but what would happen if the wires came loose? Would it just stop powering the thermostat and starting the a/c condenser? Or could this cause damage? I prefer not to re-check or modify the connection because the furnace is very difficult to access.

 

[Bitters]

Stat would stop working and AC won't run.

 

[john_t]

Thank you - so stat and a/c would stop working, but would not cause damage to the stat, a/c or furnace? I thought this might be an open neutral situation (where the voltage might go above 24 volts and damage something)? Would it actually just be like a switch turned off?

 

[yuri]

It is NOT a good idea to have a loose C wire or any wire. On modern furnaces C is grounded and these electronic thermostats are very finicky and sensitive to wiring and poor connections.

In theory it could damage the thermostat. Could also cause the AC contactor to chatter and damage the compressor from short cycling. You never know. I would fix it. If it is a screw and you can remove it and put a bigger one in then do so.