How a thermostat for controlling household heating systems works?
The modern thermostat on my home wall is digital and contains a microprocessor. It uses thermocouples or thermistors to measure the temperatures and the computer programs watches the rate at which the temps are changing and turns on the furnace and changes the speed of the blower to try to keep the temperature at the setting. Mine has a sensor on the the outside wall. It also senses humidity and will run the AC to drain humidity if needed. Old style thermostats used bimetallic strips that bend with the heat to open and close switches and uses a small heater (anticipator) to fudge the setting to turn on the heat just a bit earlier so it doesn’t let the house get too cool.
