The RTH7500D and the RTH7600D are two popular models of programmable thermostat made by Honeywell International. They are both 7 day thermostats that have got an Energy Star approval and come with a 1 year warranty. This post will look at the differences between these two thermostats.
The Honeywell RTH7500D Conventional 7 Day Programmable Thermostat costs $66 on Amazon.com. The Honeywell RTH7600D 7 Day Touchscreen Programmable Thermostat is the next model up in the range and costs $75.
Both thermostats are compatible with heating only, cooling only, central air, gas, electric, 750 Millivolt systems and up to 2 stages of heating and 2 stages of cooling. They both can manage single and multi-stage heat pumps. Moreover, both thermostats can draw their power from the HVAC or batteries.
The Honeywell RTH7500D and the Honeywell RTH7600D have the same programming capacity – namely they are 7 day devices that give the user 4 periods of heating/cooling to set up for each day of the week.
The main difference between the two thermostats is programming style. The Honeywell RTH7600D display is 6 5/8 square inches and features touchscreen technology. The thermostat has an intuitive menu style system for programming that makes it easy to input the set points for the week. The Honeywell RTH7500D has a smaller screen – 4 square inches – and uses buttons for programming. Although the buttons are soft and the interface is easy to understand, consumer testing has shown that the Honeywell RTH7600D is more user-friendly. That is the reason for the price difference.
In terms of functions the two Honeywell digital thermostats are identical. They both have smart response technology, auto change over and temporary hold. They also both have a timer that makes automatic allowances for daylight saving hours. Both also maintain program settings after a black out.
So if you think touchscreen technology is worth the extra $10 then you should buy the Honeywell RTH7600D rather than the Honeywell RTH7500D. Whichever you choose you will get a thermostat that will make your home comfortable and save you money.