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Simple thermostatic switch?

D

DaveC

Jan 1, 1970
0
Just a simple bi-metallic would do. Need to keep a box full of electronics
warm during winter. Threshold spec can be anywhere from 30 deg - 70 deg.

Open when warm, closed when cold, of course. Current capability not
important; can use relay to handle load.

All the google results I find are all HVSC related, none helpful.

Thanks,
--
Please, no "Go Google this" replies. I wouldn't
ask a question here if I hadn't done that already.

DaveC
[email protected]
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J

John Fields

Jan 1, 1970
0
Just a simple bi-metallic would do. Need to keep a box full of electronics
warm during winter. Threshold spec can be anywhere from 30 deg - 70 deg.

Open when warm, closed when cold, of course. Current capability not
important; can use relay to handle load.

All the google results I find are all HVSC related, none helpful.
 
D

DaveC

Jan 1, 1970
0

Thanks for the reference, Jamie.

But that's a bit of overkill (and over-priced) for my needs.,

No adjustment needed, low voltage is fine.

I've seen switches about the size of a few dimes' thickness that bolt to
audio amplifier heat sink. These, of course, would be too high-temp for my
application, but where can I find similar switches?

Thanks,
--
Please, no "Go Google this" replies. I wouldn't
ask a question here if I hadn't done that already.

DaveC
[email protected]
This is an invalid return address
Please reply in the news group
 
S

Stan

Jan 1, 1970
0
[email protected] wrote:

}Just a simple bi-metallic would do. Need to keep a box full of electronics
}warm during winter. Threshold spec can be anywhere from 30 deg - 70 deg.
}
}Open when warm, closed when cold, of course. Current capability not
}important; can use relay to handle load.

Do you mean like a simple furnace thermostat available from any
home improvement store?

Stan.
 
J

John Fields

Jan 1, 1970
0
Just a simple bi-metallic would do. Need to keep a box full of electronics
warm during winter. Threshold spec can be anywhere from 30 deg - 70 deg.

Open when warm, closed when cold, of course. Current capability not
important; can use relay to handle load.

All the google results I find are all HVSC related, none helpful.
 
C

CJT

Jan 1, 1970
0
Stan said:
[email protected] wrote:

}Just a simple bi-metallic would do. Need to keep a box full of electronics
}warm during winter. Threshold spec can be anywhere from 30 deg - 70 deg.
}
}Open when warm, closed when cold, of course. Current capability not
}important; can use relay to handle load.

Do you mean like a simple furnace thermostat available from any
home improvement store?

Stan.

I don't know how common they are, but here in Austin, Texas we have
a couple of Habitat for Humanity stores that sell surplus/used/donated
stuff they don't need for their own construction projects. That would
probably be a great source for something like the OP is looking for.
 
J

Jonathan Kirwan

Jan 1, 1970
0
Just a simple bi-metallic would do. Need to keep a box full of electronics
warm during winter. Threshold spec can be anywhere from 30 deg - 70 deg.

A bimetallic strip is usually welded, but I've heard that rivets, screws, and
even some kinds of adhesive work. You might just build one from two different
metal sheets.

One supplier I googled:
http://www.ltv-copperweld.com/

Also, there was this interesting page area:
http://www.aspire.cs.uah.edu/aspire/gk12/work/BMS_Model.html
http://www.aspire.cs.uah.edu/aspire/gk12/work/BMS_Home.html

Coiled bimetallic strips are compact and sensitive and used in some furnace
controls. You could consider dismantling one of those. Call a furnace repair
outfit for a "broken" one? I wonder about the automotive thermal controls used
to block or pass radiator water -- those should be dirt cheap and widely
available and you may be able to mechanically arrange to use the innards.

I also read that adding a pressed dimple into the strip produces snap action
with hysteresis. Hadn't thought of that, but it sounds intriguing to play with.
The furnace controls I've looked at use a mercury switch that tips one way or
the other on the coiled bimetallic and, because of the weight shift, they have
that hysteresis.

Best of luck,
Jon
 
S

Sam Goldwasser

Jan 1, 1970
0
DaveC said:
Thanks for the reference, Jamie.

But that's a bit of overkill (and over-priced) for my needs.,

No adjustment needed, low voltage is fine.

I've seen switches about the size of a few dimes' thickness that bolt to
audio amplifier heat sink. These, of course, would be too high-temp for my
application, but where can I find similar switches?

Just about any thermostat from a furnace, A/C, oven, etc., can be recalibrated
to be wihtin the range you want.

--- sam | Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ Mirror: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/
Repair | Main Table of Contents: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/REPAIR/
+Lasers | Sam's Laser FAQ: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/sam/lasersam.htm
| Mirror Sites: http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/REPAIR/F_mirror.html

Note: These links are hopefully temporary until we can sort out the excessive
traffic on Repairfaq.org.

Important: Anything sent to the email address in the message header is ignored.
To contact me, please use the feedback form on the S.E.R FAQ Web sites.
 
J

Jim Adney

Jan 1, 1970
0
I've seen switches about the size of a few dimes' thickness that bolt to
audio amplifier heat sink. These, of course, would be too high-temp for my
application, but where can I find similar switches?

Klixon

-
 
W

Watson A.Name - \Watt Sun, the Dark Remover\

Jan 1, 1970
0
DaveC said:
Just a simple bi-metallic would do. Need to keep a box full of electronics
warm during winter. Threshold spec can be anywhere from 30 deg - 70 deg.

Open when warm, closed when cold, of course. Current capability not
important; can use relay to handle load.

All the google results I find are all HVSC related, none helpful.

Thanks,

I really have no respect for someone who says that. I've googled
extensively for some sought-after advice, and someone has then given me
a google URL that I had missed altogether. And that made me go
"ah-HAH!" and from this experience I was blessed with much wisdom. So
my advice is if you want to keep on the good side of the news group
gurus, don't belittle them for any advice you might receive, no matter
how trivial. They mean to be helpful.

Buy a thermostat from Home Depot?
 
J

Jerry G.

Jan 1, 1970
0
Why not go to the hardware store, and buy a simple thermostat? Connect
it through a heavy duty relay, and run whatever heating system you want.

--

Jerry G.
======

Just a simple bi-metallic would do. Need to keep a box full of
electronics
warm during winter. Threshold spec can be anywhere from 30 deg - 70 deg.

Open when warm, closed when cold, of course. Current capability not
important; can use relay to handle load.

All the google results I find are all HVSC related, none helpful.

Thanks,
--
Please, no "Go Google this" replies. I wouldn't
ask a question here if I hadn't done that already.

DaveC
[email protected]
This is an invalid return address
Please reply in the news group
 
J

Jacques Carrier

Jan 1, 1970
0
Watson A.Name - \"Watt Sun said:
I really have no respect for someone who says that. I've googled
extensively for some sought-after advice, and someone has then given me






a google URL that I had missed altogether. And that made me go
"ah-HAH!" and from this experience I was blessed with much wisdom. So
my advice is if you want to keep on the good side of the news group
gurus, don't belittle them for any advice you might receive, no matter
how trivial. They mean to be helpful.

Buy a thermostat from Home Depot?

Jacques
 
C

CWatters

Jan 1, 1970
0
DaveC said:
Just a simple bi-metallic would do. Need to keep a box full of electronics
warm during winter. Threshold spec can be anywhere from 30 deg - 70 deg.

Take a look at the thermostats used on hot water tanks.
 
J

Jim Babcock

Jan 1, 1970
0
Digikey sells just what you want. They are made by Cantherm. Any temperature
you want in 5 degree steps.
 
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