About Low-Voltage Thermostats

A thermostat is a common appliance in households that have gas, oil, electric, and even coal heaters. One great type of thermostat is the low voltage thermostat. Low-voltage thermostats operate at voltages of around 24 VAC. Also known as single stage thermostats, these thermostats are commonly used. But there are various other kinds of thermostats to choose from. How do consumers know if a low-voltage thermostat is right for them? Does this Spark an idea?

History

Albert Butz invented a furnace regulator and alarm in 1886. The regulator was designed to close a circuit and energize an armature. This caused cranks and gears to pull a chain that lifts a flap. This allows cool air in, which cools the furnace. This was an automatic feature. Then in 1904, while developing a hot water heater, Mark Honeybell developed technology that would eventually lead to the distribution of thermostats in 1912.

Considerations

The benefit of the low-voltage thermostat is that the many switching devices operate various applications at a safe low voltage. Despite this, many thermostat vendors warn that thermostats can damage property and/or cause personal injury to the owner. For instance, one owner's manual of a White-Rodgers thermostat recommended that the installer touch the side of the thermostat to remove static buildup. The thermostat also recommends that owners not operate the cooling feature of the thermostat below 50 degrees.

Effects

Low voltage thermostats work with a variety of heating sources. The thermostat will operate gas heaters by starting a fan to allow gas to flow into the gas burner or oil heaters by injecting oil into the burner. The thermostat can also operate the heating elements in an electric heater and even operate the screw that pushes coal into a coal furnace.

Features

Low-voltage thermostats often have anticipators. These anticipators cause heating appliances to operate at a gradual level by anticipating when the temperature will change. For instance, cooling generators release heat in order to stimulate sensors that slowly energize the cooling equipment. By preventing these heating and cooling appliances from operating quickly, these appliances are less likely to become damaged.

Warning

When installing a thermostat, the installer must disconnect all electrical power. The installer should also be aware that many thermostats contain mercury and that these products should not be disposed of in the trash. Instead, these thermostats must be placed in sealed containers and sent to a proper mercury disposal location.