A three stage water temperature switch helps monitor hot water heaters

A three stage water temperature switch works well for appliances like water heaters. It has regulator contacts on the one and two areas of the switch, which is where the operating thermostat and safety thermostat is connected to the three stage water temperature switch.

The three stage switch is designed to maintain a normal operating temperature. Its job is to connect and disconnect an electric circuit by switching the contacts in the one and two areas of the switch if temperatures get too high.

Switch activation factors

The water temperature switch may be programmed to disconnect the electric circuit at different temperature settings. It is important to have the temperature threshold set correctly. If it is set too high it can cause damage, and if it is set too low it could effect the way the appliance performs.

The typical temperature switch is designed handles two situations: Over temperature protection and temperature control. Protection against over temperature guards against extremely high temperatures. The switch is isolated before temperatures reach the critical point.

The three stage water temperature switch in action

If the thermostat of the water heater exceeds the critical temperature, the safety thermostat snaps away from its position and takes on an upside down position. This opens the contacts and disconnects the heating element of the hot water heater. The three stage water temperature switch has a rest button that restores the safety thermostat to its right-side up working position which in turn closes the contacts.

Temperature monitoring when the hot water heater is in use

The water temperature switch immediately response to changes in temperature. In a hot water heater the switch disconnects the electric circuit when the water temperature reaches 95 degrees Celsius. This is when the safety thermostat snaps down into the inverted position. When hot water is being used, the temperature in the hot water heater goes below the critical temperature and the normal operating temperature. During this time the safety thermostat will not be repositioned by the snap action like before.

If it is found that the heating element of the hot water heater has been disconnected by the safety thermostat, the electrical circuit can easily be reconnected by pressing the rest button. This causes the safety thermostat to immediately return to its upright, operating position.

If the switch is unable to open the contacts

In the three stage water temperature switch all of the circuit members that monitor and maintain the operating temperature in the hot water heater will open and close the operating contact in order to maintain the correct temperature range. If for any reason the operating contact becomes stuck together and cannot be opened for some reason by the water temperature switch, the temperature in the hot water heater will increase to a critical temperature. This will activate the earlier mentioned snap-action to open those contacts and disconnect the circuit to the heat source. The water temperature switch provides thermal monitoring and protection for your hot water heater.