How does the Thermostat control of an electric heater work?

Can I set the temp and it will automatically set it self to that? Anyone with experience? Thanks a lotHow does the Thermostat control of an electric heater work?It is important to understand the relationship between the thermostat and the heater. If you turn up a thermostat, the heater will run until that thermostat reaches the temperature you asked for.



Example: I inspect buildings for their energy consumption and people call me and ask me why their heating costs are so high? I will go and see a heater 30 feet away from the thermostat. The heater never shuts off because the thermostat is calling for heat that never reaches the thermostat.



Heat rises so moving the air around with ceiling fans helps as well. Go to http://www.thermoguy.com/globalwarming-h to see what heat loss really looks like and go to http://www.thermoguy.com/globalwarming-hHow does the Thermostat control of an electric heater work?Depends on what kind you have.



An electronic thermostat has a temperature sensing component (usually a thermocouple) that changes its electrical characteristics (resistance to electric current) with changes in temperature. If the temperature changes to where the voltage across the thermocouple reaches a certain level, the thermostat sends a signal to turn on or off your furnace, depending on where the temperature control is set.



An electromechanical thermostat (with a knob you set to the desired temperature) has a rotary spring attached to the temperature control knob. At the end of the spring is a mercury switch (little glass bulb with two electrodes and a blob of mercury). As the temperature decreases, the metal in the spring contracts, causing it to coil up a bit. This causes the mercury bulb to tip until the mercury contacts the electrodes. This sends a signal to the furnace to come on.



When the temperature increases, the metal in the spring expands, causing the rotary spring to uncoil. This eventually causes the mercury bulb to tip the other way and the mercury flows away from the electrodes. This cuts off the signal to the furnace and it shuts off.



When you adjust the temperature control knob, it turns the base holding the spring one way or the other, such that the on-off action of the mercury bulb occurs at different temperatures.



So, set the thermostat to a comfortable setting and it will automatically keep your house in a comfortable temperature range. Also, sometimes the electromechanical thermostats aren't accurate. That is, it might be set to 80 degrees and it's actually coming on at 72 degrees. Most come with a spring-loaded thermometer (same principle as the thermostat) to verify what temperature it is in the house.How does the Thermostat control of an electric heater work?I believe that the temp control of a WATER HEATER works by millivolt electricity created by 2 dissimilar metal with an inert gas in between the layers. This will cause the gas valve control to open when it reaches temperature, and close when it cool down.



Sorry did not see the electric part of your question.



Snap disc is usually the type and yes they will shut off at a desiresd setting