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This teardown is not a repair guide. To repair your Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation, use our service manual.

  1. Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown, Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 1, image 1 of 2 Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown, Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 1, image 2 of 2
    • Some impressive tech specs are nested in this learning thermostat, or learn-o-stat, as we lovingly call it:

    • 24 bit color LCD Screen with 320 x 320 pixel resolution

    • Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery

    • Various sensors (temperature, humidity, far-field activity, near-field activity, ambient light)

    • 802.11b/g/n and 802.15.4 Wi-Fi support (both at 2.4 Ghz)

    • Compatible with 95% of 24V heating and cooling systems, including gas, electric, forced air, heat pump, radiant, oil, hot water, solar, and geothermal

  2. Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 2, image 1 of 2 Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 2, image 2 of 2
    • As we open up the box, we find a Nest thermostat, an installation guide, a welcome guide, a concierge card, a screwdriver, screws, and trim kit.

    • The Nest is made up of two primary components: a wall-mounted base that connects to the signal lines from your HVAC system(s), and the snap-on display unit that houses the LCD and controls.

    • Nest advertises ease of installation for its thermostat. According to Nest, "three out of four customers install Nest in 30 minutes or less."

    • If you happen to be the one out of four experiencing difficulties during the install, don't despair. Simply purchase Nest Concierge Service.

  3. Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 3, image 1 of 3 Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 3, image 2 of 3 Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 3, image 3 of 3
    • The base unit is home to ten spring-loaded connectors that let you easily route signal lines from all of your heating and cooling systems into the Nest:

    • Rc, Rh, W1, W2/AUX, Y1, Y2, G, O/B, Common “C”, Nest star

    • Responsible for both the wiring and the mounting of the Nest, this component is fitted with two oblong screw holes and a built-in bubble level to aid in a neat and tidy installation.

    • A few screws stand between us and the base motherboard—a quick turn of the screwdriver, and we see the green.

  4. Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 4, image 1 of 3 Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 4, image 2 of 3 Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 4, image 3 of 3
    • With only light adhesive holding the base motherboard to its case, it doesn't take us long to pull it out for a closer look.

    • We rarely see circular circuit boards. It's quite refreshing and alliterates nicely.

    • The base motherboard is equipped with a surprising amount of hardware for an auxiliary board:

    • ST Microelectronics STM32L151VB ultra-low-power 32 MHz ARM Cortex-M3 MCU

    • Sensirion SHT20 humidity and temperature sensor

    • Texas Instruments LW051A 8-channel CMOS analog multiplexer/demultiplexer

  5. Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 5, image 1 of 2 Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 5, image 2 of 2
    • The back of the Nest display has two ports: a micro USB port that can be used for charging (and possibly hacking the Nest's software), and a proprietary 20-pin connector that fits onto the base unit's matching plug.

    • Removing a few screws allows us to separate the Nest display's rear panel from the rest of the unit and continue our exploration.

    • We'd like to point out that these screws can in fact be removed with the included driver. Way to make your product's internals accessible, Nest!

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    • Nothing makes us happier than a device with an easily replaceable battery. We feel the engineers at Nest Labs must have been thinking of us when they added these numbered flags showing three easy steps for battery removal.

    • We dutifully follow the steps to remove the battery:

    • Step 1: Disconnect the base connection ribbon cable.

    • Step 2: Pull the battery.

    • Step 3: Unplug the battery connector.

    • Step 3.5: Profit???

  7. Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 7, image 1 of 2 Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 7, image 2 of 2
    • The lithium-ion rechargeable battery in the Nest is rated at 3.7 volts, 2.1 Wh (568 mAh).

    • The Nest receives a constant source of power from your home's thermostat lines, a low-power connection that can't provide enough juice for big operations like Wi-Fi broadcasts and powering the LCD. Keeping this battery topped off means the Nest always has reserve power to spare.

  8. Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 8, image 1 of 2 Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 8, image 2 of 2
    • At the other end of the rear panel's 'Pull' tab, we have a push option.

    • This ribbon cable-mounted button turns the whole display assembly into the menu navigator, allowing users to scroll with the exterior ring and select with a press of the display.

    • The cable is very securely adhered to the rear panel, but can be safely peeled off with a little patience and a lot of spudger.

  9. Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 9, image 1 of 2 Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 9, image 2 of 2
    • The Nest features an auto-away function that can detect when you've left your home and automatically switch to an "away temperature" to avoid heating or cooling an empty house.

    • This small board houses the two motion sensors (long and short range) responsible for this feature. These sensors are capable of detecting movement within a 150° field of vision.

    • Through a rather clever design, the sensor board has no cable connecting it to the motherboard. Instead, it rests on four screw posts that make up its contacts.

  10. Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 10, image 1 of 2 Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 10, image 2 of 2
    • We took a break from our headlong rush into the Nest's innards to sneak a peek under the large EMI shield that was covering the back of the motherboard. Unfortunately, there wasn't much to be seen.

    • After expelling a few more screws, we disconnect the LCD ribbon cable to free the front panel from the device.

  11. Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 11, image 1 of 2 Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 11, image 2 of 2
    • Our first foray into the front panel involves peeling off the small plastic plate adhered below the screen. Mild adhesive holds it securely in place, but is easily dispatched with a little patient spudgering.

    • The plastic plate turns out to actually be a window for infrared light, and is fitted with an array of Fresnel lenses that are used to widen the motion sensors' field of view and increase their range.

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    • The LCD is sandwiched between the front glass and a plastic frame. Adhesive secures the glass to the frame and the LCD to the glass.

    • It may look like the folks at Nest cut a couple of corners on the LCD, but in fact it's a rather remarkable round display, with only the visible portion populated with pixels.

    • By virtue of being a curved piece of glass, the front panel is a lens, capable of magnifying and focusing all of your important documents.

    • From the looks of things, we'd venture to guess that this is a plano-convex lens, designed to wrangle the light of the LCD into a focal point.

  13. Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 14, image 1 of 3 Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 14, image 2 of 3 Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 14, image 3 of 3
    • With everything else out of the ring, we're able to pull out the motherboard for its closeup.

    • A quick look at the last component hanging off the side of the motherboard reveals an Avago ADBM-A350 optical finger navigation module, responsible for detecting the position of the outer steel ring.

    • This component works similarly to an optical mouse's sensor, by snapping images of the inside of the ring and comparing sequential pictures to determine position as it spins.

  14. Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 15, image 1 of 3 Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 15, image 2 of 3 Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 15, image 3 of 3
    • With all of the I/O connections on the back, the main motherboard houses all of its important ICs on the front:

    • Texas Instruments AM3703CUS Sitara ARM Cortex A8 microprocessor

    • Texas Instruments TPS65921B power management and USB single chip

    • Samsung K4X51163PK 512 Mb mobile DRAM

    • Ember EM357 integrated ZigBee/802.15.4 system-on-chip

    • Micron MT29F2G16ABBEAH4 2 Gb NAND flash memory

    • Skyworks 2436L high power 2.4 GHz 802.15.4 front-end module

    • And under that last EMI shield: Texas Instruments WL1270B 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi solution, just like the one we found in the Kindle Fire

  15. Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 16, image 1 of 2 Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Teardown: step 16, image 2 of 2
    • Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation Repairability Score: 9 out of 10 (10 is easiest to repair)

    • Battery is clearly intended to be user-replaceable (with built-in directions) and can be removed with the included Phillips screwdriver.

    • Solid construction surrounded by a hefty steel ring makes for great durability.

    • Separation of components onto two motherboards increases modularity.

    • Light adhesive holds the front panel assembly together, slightly increasing difficulty of replacing the LCD or glass.

David Hodson

Member since: 04/13/10

150,318 Reputation

127 Guides authored

21 Comments

Have an estimate for the BOM cost to make this?

Ufixit - Reply

You are pointing out that the ring movement is detected visually. Are there any photos of the inner side of the ring that moves past the detector? Does it have a special pattern on it to make motion detection easier, or is it just a plain metal surface?

JoeMuc2014 - Reply

There are no mechanical parts used inside. The inside of the aluminum ring has what looks like an etched pattern, similar in fashion to a screen. An optic transceiver, like an optical mouse, is located to register the pattern as the ring is turned.

xtremewaianae -

Dose anyone know the supplier of this thermostat?

Hua Jason - Reply

好像是中国大陆的昌硕科技。

ROEWE1226 -

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