Multiple HAI Thermostats
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USING MULTIPLE HAI THERMOSTATS
When using 4 or more HAI thermostats, Use a HAI RC-202 RS232 Booster.
When using 2 thermostats with longer wire runs and/or less than optimal conditions, Use a HAI RC-202 RS232 Booster.
When your thermostat communications wire is 500 feet or more of total combined communications wire runs - add up the length of ALL SYSTEMS COMMUNICATION wire*
used to connect ALL thermostats to Cortexa and each other (*NOT the wire used to connect the thermostats to the HVAC units), Use a HAI RC-202 RS232 Booster.
If you are having problems with erratic thermostat communications; erroneous readings; slow or inconsistent updates and you have exhausted all of the attached set up and troubleshooting tips, Try using a HAI RC-202 RS232 Booster and SMART/COMMONSENSE WIRING PRACTICES.
RC-202 DESCRIPTION
The RC-202 is a signal booster designed for use with the HAI family of electronic communicating thermostats. The RC-202
connects to an RS-232 serial port on your PC or other system using a standard modem cable. It also connects to a network of
communicating thermostats. The RC-202 extends the number of thermostats that can be driven by an RS-232 port from 4 to
127, and the total distance of wire connecting the thermostats from 500 to 10,000 feet.
The RC-202 features surge protection and indicator lights for power, receive signal, and transmit signal. The thermostat
network is a low speed, low impedance network with very high noise immunity and optical isolation at each thermostat. In
most cases, low cost, unshielded 22 or 24 gauge stranded 4 conductor wire can be used.
THE FOLLOWING IS PROVIDED AS A AID FOR YOUR INSTALLATION
EXCERPT FROM HAI - APPENDIX B – Direct Connect Cables
A typical RS-232 port on a personal computer can drive 4 thermostats directly on up to 500 feet of wire. HAI makes a 10 foot cable, p/n RC-201, with a DB-9F on one end and the thermostat connector on the other. You can make this cable easily as described below. For more than 4 thermostats or wiring lengths greater than 500 feet, HAI recommends the RC-202 signal booster to increase the drive capacity of the RS-232 port and to provide additional surge protection for the serial port. An RC-202 can drive up to 127 thermostats over 10,000 feet of wire.
THE FOLLOWING IS FOR THE OLDER RC-SERIES THERMOSTATS
Direct Connect Cables
Serial ports on most (older) computers have two connector types: DB-9M and DB-25M. To make a cable to connect one or more thermostats to this port, you will need:- One DB-9F or DB-25F connector, depending on whether your computer has a DB-9M or DB-25M connector for its serial port. (F stands for female, M stands for male.)
- Four (4) conductor wire. Use 22 to 24 gauge shielded or unshielded, stranded or solid, twisted or untwisted, the wire type is not critical(?). Use shielded wire if your environment calls for running the communications wire along with power wires, and connect the shield to a good ground at the computer (and yes here it is stated that it is critical after all). Do not connect the shield at the thermostat.
- One or more HAI communications plugs. Each HAI thermostat is supplied with one HAI communications plug. You need one for each thermostat.
READ THE MANUALS!
Before installing this thermostat:
Read all of the Installation Instructions carefully.
Read the Owner's Manual carefully.
Disconnect power to the control transformer to prevent electrical shock and damage to equipment.
Excerpts from the RC-2000 Thermostat Installation Instructions
Setup and Configuration
NOTE: For proper operation of the features of this thermostat, the Time and Date must be set.
Even when connected to an HAI controller which sets the time and day, the Date must be manually set in the thermostat under the “Settings” menu.
Installation Settings
This section describes the items that the installer must setup as part of the thermostat installation. The Installation Settings menu is used to configure the operating parameters of the thermostat.To access the Installation Settings mode:
- From the Home Page, press the Scroll Wheel.
- Turn the Scroll Wheel until “Setup” is highlighted.
- Press the Scroll Wheel or [Select] to select “Setup”.
- Turn the Scroll Wheel until “Installation Settings” is highlighted.
- Press the Scroll Wheel or [Select] to select “Installation Settings”.
- Read the warning and then press [Continue] to proceed.
- To exit Setup mode, press [Back] several times until the Home Page is displayed.
- The thermostat will automatically default to Home Page after 3 minutes of no key activity.
- The word "default" indicates the initial setting when the thermostat is delivered from the factory.
- Unless otherwise noted, an asterisk (*) next to a setup item indicates the default setting.
EXCERPTS FROM RC-2000 INSTALLATION SETTINGS
Thermostat Address
If you are using remote communications and you are installing more than one thermostat, each must be set to a unique address. The default address setting is 1.
An address from 1-127 may be selected.
Communications Mode
The thermostat can communicate with remote systems in different modes. These modes are:Communications
- Serial: RS-232 mode for use with personal computers and automation systems.
Day/Night: The thermostat remotely communicates with a remote setback switch.
System Baud *100 300 1200 2400 9600
Expansion Baud 100 *300 1200 2400 9600
Program Options
This thermostat has been preprogrammed with energy saving program schedules in accordance with the ENERGY STAR® program.
When used with a remote system, HAI recommends that the Program Mode
be configured as “None” or “Occupancy”. This will disable the internal program schedules.
The program options setting sets the method for scheduling temperature change commands.
Program Mode
- Schedule: Program setpoints are based on time of day and day of week.
None: The internal program schedule is disabled. Use this when connected to
a remote system for temperature change commands.
Occupancy: Program setpoints are based on the occupancy status of a remote system.
Status options are Day, Night, Away, and Vacation. This mode is also used
with a remote setback switch. Note: A remote system or switch is required.
TROUBLE SHOOTING
Control By Remote System Not Working
- Check wires and connections to the section marked “Comm”
- Check thermostat address setting
- Check communications mode setting
- Check setup of the remote system
Ensure that all setup items for the thermostat and the remote system are set to the proper configurations for communication
Make this cable for a 9 pin serial port. This is the same as HAI’s Part Number RC-201
(without the small plastic connector shown on the end which is used for OLD RC-Series Thermostat).
This cable pin out is used with a DB-9 male serial connector on a PC.

If using a DB-9F connector:
- On the DB-9F connector: Connect pins 7 and 8 together. (RTS and CTS)
- On the DB-9F connector: Connect pins 1, 6 and 4 together. (DCD, DTR and DSR)
- Connect pin 4 of the DB-9F to the YELLOW wire on the thermostat plug (DTR)
- Connect pin 3 of the DB-9F to the GREEN wire on the thermostat plug (TXD)
- Connect pin 2 of the DB-9F to the RED wire on the thermostat plug (RXD)
- Connect pin 5 of the DB-9F to the BLACK wire on the thermostat plug. (GND)
Please note that the connections on the “Omnistat2 (1000 & 2000) RS232 connections with RC-201 “ drawing below are not labeled. This should help.
RC-201 pin 5 (GND) BLACK wire Omnistat2 connecting block labeled Comm. N/C
RC-201 pin 2 (RXD) RED wire Omnistat2 connecting block labeled Comm. Black
RC-201 pin 3 (TXD) GREEN wire Omnistat2 connecting block labeled Comm. Green
RC-201 pin 4 (DTR) YELLOW wire Omnistat2 connecting block labeled Comm. Yellow
DO NOT FORGET TO REMOVE THE JUMPER BETWEEN TERMINALS N/C & BLACK!

NOTE THE RED AND BLACK WIRE CONNECTIONS ON THE THERMOSTAT CONNECTOR
BLOCK ON THE DIAGRAMS ABOVE AND BELOW.

The two diagrams above are For Omnistat2 (1000 & 2000)
HAI
