Thermostat

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Thermostat

A thermostat is a device that regulates the temperature of a system so that the system's temperature is maintained near a desired setpoint. The name is derived from the Greek words thermo meaning heat and statos which means standing, stationary, or fixed.

Function[edit]

The thermostat does this by switching heating or cooling devices on or off, or regulating the flow of a heat transfer fluid as needed, to maintain the correct temperature. A thermostat can be used to control a simple heating device such as a baseboard heater or portable space heater, or it can be used to control complex, multi-zone, multi-stage HVAC systems.

Types of Thermostats[edit]

There are several types of thermostats used in various applications:

  • Mechanical/Non-Digital Thermostats: These are the most basic type of thermostat and they use bimetallic strips or gas-filled bellows to control the switching of the heating or cooling system.
  • Electronic Thermostats: These thermostats use electronic components to sense temperature changes and switch the heating or cooling system on or off.
  • Smart Thermostats: These are a modern type of thermostat that can be controlled remotely using a smartphone or computer. They can also learn from a homeowner's behaviors and adjust settings to provide comfort and efficiency.
  • Programmable Thermostats: These thermostats allow the user to set specific temperature setpoints for different times of the day and different days of the week.

History[edit]

The first thermostat was invented in 1883 by Warren S. Johnson. It was a simple device that used a bi-metallic strip to break an electric circuit when the temperature rose above a certain point.

See Also[edit]

References[edit]