Thermostat Definition
The smart home coup d’état is here, and it is here to stay. And why is that so? That’s because, with the evolution in thermostat technology, experts at the U.S. Department of Energy are of the view that you can reduce heating and cooling costs by as much as 10 percent by resetting your thermostat by 7°F to 10°F.
Nature has blessed us with amazing self-regulating mechanism, whereby our body tends to adjust to keep their temperature within the parameters of 37C. So if you are feeling too hot, you will have natural inclination to make yourself cool. And if you are feeling too cold, you will want to immediately bring yourself to warmer self.
A thermostat on the other hand is that smart home device that plays a vital role in keeping your homes heating and cooling in check. This article basically gives an all-round introduction to thermostats that we feel is never appreciated much. By now we know that our lives rely on clever gadgets called thermostats to do the job for us. What are they and how do they work? Let’s take a closer look on what thermostat definition says and how it is explained in theory.
Definition Of Thermostat:
According to encyclopedia.com, the thermostat definition is,
Thermostatis an automatic device that regulates temperature in an enclosed area by controlling heating or refrigerating systems. It is commonly connected to one of these systems, turning it on or off in order to maintain a predetermined temperature.
A modern word based on two ancient Greek ones: thermo (meaning heat) and stats (which means standing and is related to words like status quo, and static which basically means to stay the same).
The Greek meaning We can tell just from its name that a thermostat is something that “keeps heat the same” when our home is too cold, the thermostat switches on the heating so things quickly warm up; once the temperature reaches the level we’ve set, the thermostat switches the heating off so it doesn’t feel like we are sitting in a desert.
Significance of Thermostats:
Cold weather is just around the corner, bringing higher energy costs for many homeowners, especially if fuel prices skyrocket the way they did last year. A smart thermostat is one of the best ways to keep these costs in check.
More and more technology is making its place into our homes each day, and that trend is not going to turn around anytime soon.Over the years the thermostat technology has transformed beyond all recognition from simple Manuel units to sophisticated programmable units to advance Smart/Wi-Fi Thermostats to make our lives easier.
Types of Thermostats:
You might be tempted to think that a thermostat is a thermostat. That’s not true. Whether it’s a basic manual thermostat or a programmable one, different stats have different benefits and features as well as mode of operation.Let’s get to know few facts and benefit about thermostats and how they play significant role as smart home devices in our lives.Over the years, the thermostats home device has taken leaps and bounds, and has been bifurcated into three types on the basis of features and functions.
- Manuel
- Programmable
- Smart
Manuel Thermostat:
Manuel thermostat is also known as mechanical or non-programmable. They come in two types. The non-programmable mechanical type and digital thermostat.The Manuel thermostat definition is
Thermostats operate based on one of several technologies. They generally use thermal expansion of a gas or metal to operate switch contacts.Itmakes use of a bimetallic strip to detect and adjust the temperature.
The Digital Thermostat definition
Have no moving parts and are comprised of dedicated sensing elements such as thermistors, resistance temperature detectors (RTD), or a thermocouples and discrete outputs or variable control signals.
Specifications of Manuel Thermostats:
Limited energy savings and comfort, but can work efficiently if you’re diligent about changing settings as the temperature changes. Thermostats in this category are also called setback thermostats, allowing the user to set the temperature based on the day of the week and the time of the day.
1. Manual Switch System:
This type of thermostat is the most basic one you can get.Non-programmable thermostats require human intervention to adjust the temperature settings.Much like a traditional light switch,it needs manual switching aid from heating to cooling n vice versa.
2. Easy-to-Read Display:
The digital mechanical thermostat comes with a digital readout (like a hand-held calculator). It is highly suitable for people that would rather have a manually controlled device with aconveniently readable display.
Programmable Thermostat:
It has been witnessed recently that programmable thermostats have become more standard in homes. And guess why? It’s because many homeowners are finding that making a simple change from a manual thermostat to a programmable one offers many benefits to your wallet, your home and your comfort. The programmable thermostat by definition is
Programmable thermostats adjust the temperatures automatically based on preset preferences e.g.without any manual adjustment
Features:
Set Schedule For Each Day:
The programmable thermostat allows you to manually set them to follow a particular schedule which can in return save you a lot of bucks.We have for your understanding list down few programming settings.
- 7 day programming: freedom to configure different setting each day.
- 5-1-1 programming: allows you to configure different for 5 weekdays and different for each Saturday and Sunday.
- 5-2 programming: This option allows up to four programmable periods with separate program settings for the weekdays and weekends.
- 1 week programming: Simplest of the programmable thermostat category, letting you set one program for the entire week.
Benefits:
With programmable adjustment, one can ease up on energy usage and reap cost saving along the way.- Instead of cranking up on air conditioners in hot waves, consumers can enjoy a constant temperature throughout the day with the aid of programmable
- Home owners are able to spend less time adjusting their thermostat with a programmable version
- Home efficiency is increased manifold and less wear and tear is witnessed in major appliances.
- The programmable thermostat allows you to take advantage of the different times of day and the temperature variations depending on the position of the sun and the season.
- Advanced models can switch back and forth between heating and air conditioning during seasonal transitions
Smart Thermostat
From upgrades in thermostat technology to smart controls that learn your temperature preferences, we’ve witnessed an array of changes over the last one decade that are reshaping the way we use and preserve energy in our homes.
Smart thermostats are the next generation of home technology. Not only are they sleek and smart, but they also provide a wealth of information about your home’s power use that can help you improve your overall energy efficiency.
The smart Thermostat definition says
Smart thermostats are devices that can be used with home automation and are responsible for controlling a home’s heating and/or air conditioning.
Features/Benefits:
- The advantage of a smart thermostat is its ability to learn a household’s patterns and adjust heating and cooling with least amount of programming.
- The biggest part of how smart thermostat works is the smart phone app. The app allow you to check the thermostat anywhere you have a data/Wi-Fi connection, and change the temperature if needed
- The smart thermostat promotes energy-saving options by awarding “Leaf” badges and typically is bundled with tips on how to adjust temperatures to save money as well.
- It buzzes you when it is time to change the furnace filter and grant an emailed home report summarizing your home’s energy use
Conclusion:
One of the leading technologies making its way into modern homes is smart thermostats. Rather than having to walk over to your thermostat to make adjustments when your home is too hot or too cold, you can automate the job with the help of technology.
