Global temperature variations in the past two decades have become more frequent than at any other time in human history. The summer months are getting hotter, and winters are becoming colder. People have become more dependent on HVAC systems to keep up with these extreme temperature changes.
HVAC systems maintain indoor comfort and promote a healthy environment at the same time. They are typically composed of different parts, and the thermostat is the most critical of them all.
What Is a Thermostat?
The thermostat is a regulating device that monitors and controls the air temperature in a specific environment. It is a crucial component of refrigeration units, car cooling networks, and HVAC systems.
A standard thermostat is highly programmable and can initiate action if a given temperature falls below or above the pre-programmed requirements. With the HVAC system, for example, the thermostat can generate electrical signals to instruct the air conditioning unit to produce cold air when the room temperature rises beyond a predetermined level.
How Does a Thermostat Work?
Two metal strips are bolted together to form the typical thermostat. Each strip is made of a different metal (steel, copper, steel, and brass), which expands or contracts depending on how hot or cold an environment becomes.
As the strips expand and contract, they create a bridge in the electrical circuit to signal the HVAC system to produce cool or hot air. An electrical circuit will control the heating and cooling processes, turning on or off depending on the expansion and contraction of the strips.
Thermostat History
In 1620, the first thermostat was produced in its most basic form by Cornelius Drebbel. The invention used an oven with an attached mercury thermostat and an air intake that expands and contracts, allowing more hot air to enter the oven.
A few other thermostat models were introduced after the Drebbel invention. The most significant of these was the damper flapper invented by Albert Butz, who patented his creation in 1883 and was used to regulate the airflow into coal furnaces. Then, Mark Honeywell used Butz’s invention to produce the first programmable thermostat, for which he was granted the patent in 1906.
Sometime in the 1950s, the first dialable thermostat was introduced, some of which are still operating today. Three decades later, the first digital display thermostat changed how the device is produced.
Types of Thermostats
According to Dunrite HVAC in San Jose, thermostats are defined based on their components, voltage, and function.
1. By Component
Under this category, thermostats are classified based on the absence or presence of either mechanical or digital components.
- Mechanical – This type of thermostat usually has bimetallic strips but can also use gas-filled bulbs and air tubes.
- Digital – This is a thermostat made up of electronic sensors that help control and measure the temperature of a given area. This can be programmed and does not require manual operation.
2. By Voltage
Thermostats can also be categorized by using voltage as the determining factor. There are two types of thermostats under this category, namely low voltage, and line voltage.
- Low Voltage – These are thermostats that can be incorporated into the HVAC and central heating systems. Low voltage thermostats are more flexible and allow for easier program control. They often work at a low 24 volts and a high 50 volts.
- Line Voltage – These are electrically regulated thermostats that flow through the heater. They are usually used in single heating systems and work on 240 volts.
3. By Function
Classifying thermostats by their function and device is also common.
- Water Heater – A water heater thermostat is a device that monitors and controls water temperature. It achieves this by switching between the lower and the upper elements, turning these on or off depending on the amount of heated water needed.
- Central Heater – The central heating thermostat heats a building from one source, monitoring the building’s temperature and signaling the cooling or heating system to make the proper adjustment if it reaches or falls below a predetermined temperature level.
Key Takeaway
The thermostat is an integral part of many HVAC systems that monitor a given area’s coldness or hotness. In doing this, a thermostat will usually send an electrical signal to the HVAC system to make all needed adjustments to ensure that the required heat or cold is met as programmed.
Thermostats are not entirely new inventions since they have been around for centuries. In the past few decades, however, thermostats have acquired greater importance following man’s growing dependency on air conditioning systems because of a world that appears to be continuously heating up.