re: Why are some thermostats powered by batteries?

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actually quality thermostats with sophisticated features that are batteries only. Maybe it's an international thing? Who knows.

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The C wire or low power wire wasn't run in older houses and even some newer houses. Batteries allow people to get decent programmable thermostats without having to run a new cable.

It's just versions of thermostats made for people who have battery only options. You can get some that do c wire or battery. The new wifi thermostats are c wire only most of the time.