Thermal Switches: Applications and Benefits

Thermal switches, also called temperature switches, are typically electromechanical devices, used in a wide range of industrial and manufactured products and responsible for the monitoring and controlling of temperature. The switch turns on or off when a certain temperature is reached depending on the application.

It sounds like a simple thing, but many common questions arise about thermal switches, including the following ones where answers are provided:

How Do Thermal Switches Work?

Switches can be programmed for a certain temperature. When the sensing probe of the switch detects an increase of temperature, it opens the electric contacts. When the temperature decreases, the electrical contacts close.

Where Are they Used?

Switches are widely used, but are especially important in the HVAC, food and beverage and many other industries. Typically temperature switches are found in heating systems, air heaters, water boilers, circulation pumps amongst others.

What Are The Different Types?

There are a few ways to classify thermal switches by different properties:
NO (normally opened ) or NC (normally closed)
Auto function or manual function
Standard / room / duct types

What are NO And NC Switches?

NO (Normally Open) means that when the switch is actuated the contacts are normally open at minimum temperature. NC (Normally Closed) means that the contacts are normally closed at minimal temperature.

Common Applications:

Thermal switches can be used as devices to prevent damage from over-heating of electrical circuits, although they are most often used as a temperature control device. They prevent overheating in a variety of consumer, industrial, and commercial products. Temperature control applications include operation of hot water heaters, air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, electronic cooling fans, low voltage relays amongst many others.

The switches are ultimately safety features for products. Since they are utilized to monitor temperatures, they can help avoid gas leaks and the potential for explosions, fires or overheated machinery and operation systems by switching off when the set temperature is reached.

Probes specializes in designing and assembling custom thermal switches to meet specific customer and application requirements. Please contact us for assistance with thermal switches or any other temperature probes.