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Mark Lloyd Mark Lloyd is offline
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Default Lost Electricity -2

On Tue, 22 Jan 2008 10:01:53 -0500, Elmo
wrote:

Mark Lloyd wrote:
On Tue, 22 Jan 2008 11:27:05 GMT, (Doug Miller)
wrote:

In article ,
(Charles Bishop) wrote:

I don't think that's what she said. If you want the temp to be 70, then
set the t-stat to 80. It will cycle once or twice, then set it to 70. This
is from a "cold" start where the temp is way below the setting. It takes
time to bring the furnishings, &c up to temp, so having the t-stat set at
80 helps with this. Yes?
No. A thermostat is an on-off switch. As long as the room temperature is lower
than the thermostat's setpoint, it's on. When the room temperature reaches the
setpoint, it turns off. That's all.


I've found that it does help, even if it shouldn't. At least I've seen
this with a particular gas furnace. When expected to raise the
temperature 20 degrees of so, the furnace would cut off well before
reaching the set temperature.


Most thermostats also have an "anticipator" setting. They will stop calling for heat when the room temperature gets close to the set point. The objective is to prevent the room temperature from oscillating above the set point due to residual heat being released into the room by radiators. It's not usually an issue with hot air systems because they warm the air directly. But hot water, steam, and radiant electric systems usually need it. If you have a hot air system and the anticipator is engaging as if it were a hot water system, that could account for having it cut off too soon.


It was probably the heat anticipator that caused the situation I
described (furnace shutting off too soon).

Now, If I had access to that house in the last 20 years, I might know
what needs fixing. I haven't seen it where I'm now (same type of
furnace).
--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"All your western theologies, the whole mythology of them,
are based on the concept of God as a senile delinquent."
-- Tennessee Williams