Thermostats

Managing temperature is an essential consideration for multiple industrial and domestic environments, from machinery in wholesale food production to home heating systems - and thermostats make this possible. While most households are equipped with a digital thermostat to make life easier for families, thermostats and heating controls come in a range of different physical formats.

With such varied functionality, you can combine a commercial or a domestic thermostat with other components to create and customize heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. With models available from the best manufacturers in the world, our selection includes thermostats of various outputs, body styles, and sensing modes. We stock line voltage, bimetal, bulb, and capillary thermostats, and more.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us today.

What are thermostats?

Thermostats are temperature sensors. They help to regulate and maintain temperatures across a range of applications, with most being purpose-built for heating systems. However, they're also readily found in household appliances, vehicles, and many different electronic circuits.

Each thermostat system is pre-set to a temperature known as the set point. In a circuit, the thermostat opens or closes in response to temperature changes, turning the heating on or off as appropriate. Any device, commercial equipment, or industrial system that heats up or cools at set point requires thermostats.

Which thermostats are available?

Bimetal thermostats

Bimetal thermostats control the temperature in any case where applications require regulation for lower temperatures. The majority of the models featured in our selection are bimetal thermostats.

They work using two different types of metal. As the temperature changes, one of the metals expands at a faster rate than the other. This creates a round, arc-like shape and, as the metals continue to react independently, the contact opener is triggered. As it opens or closes, the electricity is turned on or off as required.

Miniature bimetal thermostats like the Selco 802L-120 can be used across a range of applications including with computers, test equipment, and indicator lights. With gold-plated silver contacts, this model conforms to the Y220/TO220 package. Each 802 Series thermostat comes with a temperature rating of one fixed set point in the range of 40°C-120°C.

Disc thermostats

Snap-action bimetal disc thermostat units are isolated from a switch. Using a sensitive disc mechanism, their contact points open or close in response to an increase in temperature, once the ambient or surface temperature reaches the pre-calibrated 'snap' point of the disc. These models can be seamlessly integrated as a heat pump thermostat.

Our product range includes 1/2-inch and 1/4-inch disc thermostats. Both function in a similar way but it's important that you find the right size and function for your desired application. Available models include those by White Rodgers and also those in the Selco CA and OA series, which indicate their opening or closing temperature per model number.

For example, the Selco CA-225 closes at 225°F, which is its pre-calibrated point. Each of the CA- and OA-Series thermostats by Selco can be used in a wide variety of applications, safely produced in an ISO 9000-certified environment to provide effective and reliable operation.

Air thermometers

We have a limited selection of thermistor-based NTC (Negative Temperature Coefficient) devices, which offer greater flexibility when it comes to maintaining and adjusting temperatures. These Honeywell thermostats are suitable for boilers and water heaters, industrial ovens and range cookers, and compressors in HVAC systems.

Our selected 6655 Series thermostats are designed to offer enhanced accuracy, measuring temperatures on flat surfaces and non-condensing pipes. With a variety of mounting brackets and wide operating temperature ranges, air thermostats are a low-cost, robust option for air and surface temperature sensing.

Line-voltage thermostats

Also known as a line-voltage thermostat, a 220-volt thermostat works by disconnecting the power supply after a set temperature is reached. Wired directly into the unit, this type of thermostat is often used to control electric skirting heaters. This technology is distinct from air conditioning and heating systems that power their thermostats using a separate low-voltage circuit.

What are the applications of thermostats?

Thermostats facilitate thermoregulation on a wide variety of applications, including:

• Boilers and furnaces
• Heaters, including electric and space heaters
• Air-conditioning units
• Household appliances, including ovens, refrigerators, and stoves

How to choose a thermostat

When you're choosing a thermostat, it's crucial to make sure that it will be compatible with the type of system into which you'll be installing it. If you're browsing our extensive selection online, using our handy search filter will make it easier to find the right one - whether you're looking for a radiator thermostat or a pre-set water heater thermostat.

You can toggle your search according to the manufacturer, body style, output sensing mode, and configured open and close temperatures. Additionally, if you're looking for a specific model and need advanced criteria, you can also filter results by supply voltage, termination, mounting type, and series.

Why buy thermostats from RS?

Our variety of high-quality thermostats ensures that you can take care of each heating system appropriately and safely. As one of North America's biggest suppliers of top-quality sensors and heating products, you can rely on us to provide a seamless shopping experience, no matter your specific requirements or budget.

Furthermore, we aim to offer a level of customer support that matches our selection of products. If you have any questions regarding our service or a specific item from our thermostat range, please don't hesitate to get in touch with a member of our friendly team. You can also head over to our expert hub to discover a useful selection of industry know-how and resources.