Don't be afraid to call me a dummy, but how do you know when your heat pupm kisks in to the 2nd or even third stages. I have an Econar 8 ton unit.

Rick

Most units will give no indication of first or second stage operation. Some thermostats will indicate third stage operation by indicating "Aux Heat".

Bergy

This is exactly why I installed 24v LED lights inline with the wires to the each valve controlling 1st and 2nd stage, for both units. The LEDs protrude through drilled holes in the plastic junction box where I made my connections between valve wires and 18 gauge t-stat wires running back to the geothermal unit. They come in almost any color, but I chose green for on. I think I paid $7 for a lot of 10 of them, prewired with 12" pigtails.

Very easy to see if 1st or both stages are on this way, although maybe you're looking for a way to tell in the living area without having to go to the units. I've found I can tell just by sticking my hand at the vent, 2nd stage is perceptibly warmer air.

My T-stat, and I would guess most used for geothermal, can be set to instantly go to 2nd stage if the set-to temperature is X degrees above the current temp, and it can also be set to turn on the 2nd stage after XX minutes if the set temp hasn't been reached in 1st stage. I don't have a 3rd stage (electrical resistance coil) but my T-stat does have a setting to show an indicator for that.

My new WF Envisions came with a WF thermostat (looks like a Honeywell unit  ;) and it shows Stage1  or Stage1+Stage2 2when in cool or heat mode.

To get on emergency Heat I have to press the on/cool/heat/emergency heat/off button

CH

I have hourmeters (Redington ~$32) on each stage. decimal point on meter blinks when stage is active

8 tons?
Second stage should also have discernably higher blower speed.
Is there a reason besides curiosity you are trying to tell?
joe