Control System Components 207

output pressure would be 9 psig and at 69°F the branch output

would be 15 psig.

Dead Band Thermostat

A dead band thermostat is a two-pipe controller that oper-
ates in the same manner as a single pressure, single temperature
thermostat. It’s used for energy conservation when a temperature
span or “dead band” is required between the heating and cooling
setpoints. The dead band pressure is the output pressure at which
neither heating nor cooling takes place. This type of thermostat
uses two bimetal strips. One bimetal strip for heating and one for
cooling. The heating bimetal modulates the output pressure be-
tween zero and the dead band pressure. The cooling bimetal
modulates the output pressure between the dead band pressure
and branch air pressure. For example, a dead band thermostat
allows for heating below 70°F and cooling above 76°F. The dead
band pressure is 8 degrees and the temperature span is 6 degrees.
Therefore, when the space temperature is 70°F or below the
branch output will be between 0 and 7 psig and heating will
occur. However, when the space temperature is 76°F or above the
output pressure will be between 9 and 15 psig and cooling will
occur. There will be no heating or cooling at 8 psig when the
space temperature is between 70°F and 76°F. Dead band thermo-
stats are adjustable within the limits depending on the heating
and cooling set points selected.

Dual Pressure Thermostat

The summer/winter system provides for the seasonal re-
quirements of either cooling or heating and, depending on the
season, either chilled water or hot water is supplied to the water
coil in the air handing unit. Since the valve controlling the flow of
hot water or chilled water remains the same, either normally open
or normally closed, but not both, the system must have a thermo-
stat which can be both direct acting and reverse acting. The bi-
metal strip in the thermostat is changed from direct acting to
reverse acting by a change in the main air pressure. For example,
208 HVAC Fundamentals

a dual pressure thermostat controls a normally open two-way

valve. When the system is in the winter condition the higher main
air pressure (18-25 psig) is sent to the thermostat. This makes the
thermostat direct acting. As the space temperature rises an in-
creased branch pressure is sent to the valve causing it to close,
allowing less hot water into the coil. With a reduced supply of hot
water the space will begin to cool. When the system is switched
to summer conditions the lower main air pressure (13-16 psig) is
sent to the thermostat, which changes it over to reverse acting.
Now on a rise in space temperature, a decreasing pressure is sent
to the valve causing it to open, supplying chilled water to the coil
and the space will begin to cool.
The day/night dual pressure thermostat lets you set and
control space temperature at different points for the day and
night or for varying load conditions. A day/night thermostat is
essentially the same as a summer/winter thermostat except that
the day/night thermostat has two bimetal strips and both are
either direct acting or reverse acting. The two bimetal strips
have separate setpoints. When the higher main air pressure (18-
25 psig) is sent to the thermostat, the night bimetal strip is in
control. When the lower pressure (13-16 psig) is sent the day bi-
metal is in control. For example, a direct acting day/night ther-
mostat controls a two-way, normally open heating valve. During
the day the lower main air pressure is sent to the thermostat.
The thermostat’s day setpoint is 71°F. Any temperature above
71°F will send an increasing branch pressure to the valve caus-
ing it to close. At 71°F or below the thermostat will send a de-
creasing branch pressure to the valve causing it to open
allowing more hot water into the coil. At night the main pres-
sure is switched sending the higher main air pressure to the
thermostat. The thermostat will now modulate the branch pres-
sure based on the night bimetal strip which is set for 60°F. At
60°F or below the thermostat will send a decreasing branch
pressure to the valve causing it to open allowing more hot water
into the coil. Any temperature above 60°F will send an increas-
ing branch pressure to the valve causing it to close.