There are a wide variety of thermostats, generally used for different purposes throughout the home. Some, like digital programmable thermostats, are generic and can be used to satisfy a myriad of appliance maintenance needs. A programmable line voltage thermostat is specialized for high power maintenance, such as is required for devices like baseboard heaters and electric wall heaters. They are typically powered by 120 or 240 volt ACs, and come in two types, two-wire and four-wire. Four-wire programmable line voltage thermostats are the more common of the two brands.
Programmable line voltage thermostats are very useful for maintaining appliances which utilize a large amount of voltage. Generic thermostat models aren’t effective enough and can result in unnecessary energy use, which will cost you more money on your energy bills. Although they are limited in their capability to high powered appliances, it is far better to be safe than sorry when dealing with electrical heating regulation. Using an uncertified thermostat for an appliance it is not equipped to deal with can result in power failures or inconsistent energy output – both of which will generally cost more money for the consumer, in the long run. Using an obsolete thermostat, such as a low voltage thermostat, can also damage the device itself, which may possibly cost you for replacement of both the thermostat and the device it was maintaining. If you are running a company or operating a building structure which depends on high powered appliances, a line voltage programmable thermostat is a must because they are the only models with the capability to insure proper maintenance. Low voltage thermostats could possibly fail, making the appliances unusable for some time, and putting a business or building complex in jeopardy.
Programmable line voltage thermostats have two varieties, but as a rule buying a four-wire model is a safer option for first time customers. This is because four-wire thermostats have an “off” switch – two-wire thermostats do not come with the ability to cut their power altogether, the power can only be reduced to its lowest setting. This can result in unwanted heating and cooling procedures for those who do not constantly want to use heat regulation. Some devices are also not suited to constant power – an electric heater with power constantly being fed to the machine could possibly endanger the home and cause a fire due to large amounts of misdirected heat built up from the unused electrical feed.
There are several companies which manufacture and sell line voltage programmable thermostats. Among these, Lux Products and White-Rodgers are rated most favorably by Energy Star for energy efficiency and safety protocols. Energy efficiency is highly important with these thermostats as they use much more electricity than their standard low voltage competitors, and there is much more of a chance to unnecessarily raise a heating bill through unsupervised electrical output. However, the aforementioned companies prevent this problem, and also offer their line voltage programmable thermostats at affordable prices.
While a programmable line voltage thermostat generally costs more than low voltage thermostats, a good brand can be purchased for around $70-$100. This will come with all the necessary safety protocols and advanced technological controls, such as touch screen operation and keyboard hotkeys for scheduling demands. For anyone who needs high powered appliance maintenance, be sure to purchase a programmable line voltage thermostat – powerful and reliable high end functionality doesn’t need to be uneconomical.