Thermostat
Thermostat
A thermostat (/θɛrmoʊˌstæt/; from the Greek thermo meaning heat and stat meaning standing still) is a device that regulates the temperature of a system to maintain it at a desired setpoint.
Function
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 heater or air conditioner, or it can be part of a more complex HVAC system.
Types
There are many different types of thermostats, including:
- Mechanical or bi-metallic thermostats: These use the mechanical deformation of a bimetallic strip in response to temperature changes to switch an electrical circuit on or off.
- Electronic thermostats: These use electronic components to sense temperature changes and switch an electrical circuit on or off.
- Smart thermostats: These are a more advanced type of electronic thermostat that can be programmed to adjust the temperature at different times of day or in response to other factors.
History
The first thermostat was invented in 1883 by Warren S. Johnson. It was a simple, mechanical device that used a bi-metallic strip to break an electrical circuit when the temperature got too high.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Thermostat
- Wikipedia's article - Thermostat
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