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RadBadTad t1_iy9rf7a wrote

This is how most/all thermostats worked before the recent digital ones. It's always neat to me, looking back and seeing purely mechanical solutions to problems that we solve digitally now.

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Kurotan t1_iya833x wrote

What do the digital ones use then? I didn't know they stopped mercury.

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RadBadTad t1_iya8s9i wrote

Modern thermometers use a variety of different methods and sensors to determine the temperature, but some of them include, thermocouples, Resistance Temperature Detectors (RTDs), thermistors, and Solid State sensors. These all use the ideas of voltage, resistance, and current to determine what the ambient temperature is.

The technology is a lot more complex than something like a bimetallic spring and some mercury, but if you're interested there is good reading about it!

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nayhem_jr t1_iya9bjk wrote

Thermocouples measure voltage across a material that is sensitive to temperature, same thing that digital thermometers use. This allows for much more precision and faster response than that old bimetallic switch.

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BoringCrow3742 t1_iya5zz1 wrote

analog is still better, digital fucks up all the time.

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RadBadTad t1_iya6k1b wrote

Digital thermostats are WAY more accurate, and react a lot faster than analog thermostats. Old analog thermostats also need to be calibrated semi-regularly, as even bumping against it wrong can throw off the metal pieces inside that are used to react to the temperature in the room.

I don't know what you're referring to when you say that they "fuck up" all the time, but there isn't really any widespread issue with the accuracy or reliability of a digital thermostat, and certainly nothing related to the mechanics of actually reading the temperature of your home. Hell, they can even account for being in direct sunlight by subtracting the warmth they gain from the light. Analog thermostats can not.

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Fartingonyoursocks t1_iyap6dh wrote

What do you mean when you say analog? Mine doesn’t look like this but looks like an analog clock. It’s connected to a gas furnace in the floor. Is this the same thing? I’m just curious.

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leannerae t1_iyblwh0 wrote

I'm on your side, I've come home twice to a cold house because the batteries died. Another fancy programmable one just quit working and again, house was cold. I bought one of those old fashioned round analog ones and I love it.

Before anyone mentions it: I am capable of remembering when to turn it up or down to save energy and I don't want one that will email me when it's time for new batteries

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BoringCrow3742 t1_iybvcl2 wrote

up and down? nah just needs to be 72 F all year all day. set it and forget it =D

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