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DISCLAIMER - IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ


This article is provided for information purposes only. You should only attempt any procedures explained here if you are competent to perform the task and have the appropriate tools and materials, including any relevant safety equipment.

Readers acting upon this article do so at their own risk and no responsibility is accepted by the author or publisher for any loss or damage incurred by following the article or failing to follow it.

If in doubt always consult a properly qualified tradesperson or other competent person.

WHAT IS A CYLINDER THERMOSTAT?


A cylinder thermostat is a safety device to regulate the temperature of water stored in a hot water cylinder.

Cylinder thermostats are usually fitted on hot water storage cylinders (particularly unvented hot water cylinders) to prevent the temperature of the water inside becoming higher than the householder's requirement or exceeding safe levels for storage.

Cylinder thermostats are also used to control the fuel efficiency of a storage cylinder, turning off the heat source when the desired temperature is reached in the cylinder so that fuel is not wasted on heating the water when this is not required.		 cylinder thermostat

EXAMPLE OF A
CYLINDER THERMOSTAT


HOW DOES A CYLINDER THERMOSTAT WORK?


Usually cylinder thermostats control the supply of electricity to the water heater (e.g. a boiler).

The thermostat is wired into the power supply circuit for the water heater but the circuit is only complete (therefore powering the heater) when the thermostat senses that the water is not hot enough.

The thermostat typically senses the water temperature through a strip of metal clamped to the side of the hot water cylinder.

The strip is made from two types of metal pressed together. The two metals have different reactions when heated by contact with the cylinder and these differing reactions cause the strip to either bend or straighten.

This movement of the metal strip either completes the electrical circuit to the water heater, which turns the water heater on, or breaks the circuit, which turns the water heater off.
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