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The thermostat is a very important part of your geyser as it controls the temperature of the water and prevents the geyser from overheating.
The thermostat connects to the power which provides electricity to the element which then heats up the water. As the water heats up it rises to the top of the geyser, heating up the geyser from the top. As the hot water increases it will start warming up the lower parts of the geyser until the desired temperature is reached.
In South Africa, most geysers have a single thermostat located at the bottom of the geyser where the temperature is the lowest. There can be a 15°C to 20°C difference from the bottom of the geyser to the top of the geyser. This means that the bottom of the geyser is the last place to get warm, at which time, the water at the top is significantly hotter.
Setting the thermostat is obviously important, however, it is more important to make sure that the thermostat is:
- In working order
- Calibrated correctly
- Set accordingly
Below are two videos that explain how to test and to calibrate your thermostat.
While the above video includes a thermostat that is slightly different from the thermostats in South Africa it is still very informative and explains how the thermostat works and how to test, calibrate and set the thermostat.
The video covers:
- How a thermostat works 0 – 2m35s
- How to check the thermostat 2m38s
- Testing continuity 2m54s
- Testing switching operation @ low temp 3m30s
- Testing switching operation @ high temp 4m12s – 5m15s
- Testing continuous and switch lines 5m16s – 6m14s
- Live and Neutral connections 6m14s – 6m40s
- Thermostat mechanics 6m40s – 7m15s
- Internal switching mechanism 7m15s
- Adjusting the thermostat 8m23s
- Calibrating the thermostat 9m34s
- Setting temperature control dial 10m16s
- Setting temperature for hot water requirement 11m23s
In the video above we take a closer look at the Kwikot thermostat and how to check that it is working as well as the calibration and setting of the thermostat.
- Thermostat components 0 – 33s
- Testing – equipment needed 35s
- Definition – continuity 50s – 1m30s
- Testing – continuity 1m31s – 2m29s
- Temperature control 2m29s – 3m39s
- Thermostat description and mechanics 4m
- Principles of thermostat operation 5m10s – 6m.39s
- Internal inspection of thermostat components 7m50s – 9m04s
- Electrical connections (solid and switch) 10m – 10m55s
Once you are sure that the thermostat is operating correctly and that is has been calibrated, it is then time to set the temperature. Every household uses water differently, so it is important to set the thermostat correctly. If it is too high, you are wasting energy and if it is too low you will not have sufficient hot water.
Below is a link to an article on setting the thermostat
https://xtendelements.co.za/efficient-geysers-save-money/
With XTEND elements, we recommend that you drop your thermostat setting by around 10°C as our thermostat is located even lower in the geyser, compared to standard elements. If the water is still too hot, you can drop the temperature further. If you are many in the house using hot water, you may also need to increase the temperature.
Fortunately, once you watch the above videos, you will be very capably of adjusting your thermostat according to your specific requirements.
The thermostat is a very important part of your geyser as it controls the temperature of the water and prevents the geyser from overheating.
The thermostat connects to the power which provides electricity to the element which then heats up the water. As the water heats up it rises to the top of the geyser, heating up the geyser from the top. As the hot water increases it will start warming up the lower parts of the geyser until the desired temperature is reached.
In South Africa, most geysers have a single thermostat located at the bottom of the geyser where the temperature is the lowest. There can be a 15°C to 20°C difference from the bottom of the geyser to the top of the geyser. This means that the bottom of the geyser is the last place to get warm, at which time, the water at the top is significantly hotter.
Setting the thermostat is obviously important, however, it is more important to make sure that the thermostat is:
-
In working order
-
Calibrated correctly
-
Set accordingly
Below are two videos that explain how to test and to calibrate your thermostat.
While the above video includes a thermostat that is slightly different from the thermostats in South Africa it is still very informative and explains how the thermostat works and how to test, calibrate and set the thermostat.
The video covers:
- How a thermostat works 0 – 2m35s
- How to check the thermostat 2m38s
- Testing continuity 2m54s
- Testing switching operation @ low temp 3m30s
- Testing switching operation @ high temp 4m12s – 5m15s
- Testing continuous and switch lines 5m16s – 6m14s
- Live and Neutral connections 6m14s – 6m40s
- Thermostat mechanics 6m40s – 7m15s
- Internal switching mechanism 7m15s
- Adjusting the thermostat 8m23s
- Calibrating the thermostat 9m34s
- Setting temperature control dial 10m16s
- Setting temperature for hot water requirement 11m23s
In the video above we take a closer look at the Kwikot thermostat and how to check that it is working as well as the calibration and setting of the thermostat.
- Thermostat components 0 – 33s
- Testing – equipment needed 35s
- Definition – continuity 50s – 1m30s
- Testing – continuity 1m31s – 2m29s
- Temperature control 2m29s – 3m39s
- Thermostat description and mechanics 4m
- Principles of thermostat operation 5m10s – 6m.39s
- Internal inspection of thermostat components 7m50s – 9m04s
- Electrical connections (solid and switch) 10m – 10m55s
Once you are sure that the thermostat is operating correctly and that is has been calibrated, it is then time to set the temperature. Every household uses water differently, so it is important to set the thermostat correctly. If it is too high, you are wasting energy and if it is too low you will not have sufficient hot water.
Below is a link to an article on setting the thermostat
https://xtendelements.co.za/efficient-geysers-save-money/
With XTEND elements, we recommend that you drop your thermostat setting by around 10°C as our thermostat is located even lower in the geyser, compared to standard elements. If the water is still too hot, you can drop the temperature further. If you are many in the house using hot water, you may also need to increase the temperature.
Fortunately, once you watch the above videos, you will be very capably of adjusting your thermostat according to your specific requirements.
The thermostat is a very important part of your geyser as it controls the temperature of the water and prevents the geyser from overheating.
The thermostat connects to the power which provides electricity to the element which then heats up the water. As the water heats up it rises to the top of the geyser, heating up the geyser from the top. As the hot water increases it will start warming up the lower parts of the geyser until the desired temperature is reached.
In South Africa, most geysers have a single thermostat located at the bottom of the geyser where the temperature is the lowest. There can be a 15°C to 20°C difference from the bottom of the geyser to the top of the geyser. This means that the bottom of the geyser is the last place to get warm, at which time, the water at the top is significantly hotter.
Setting the thermostat is obviously important, however, it is more important to make sure that the thermostat is:
- In working order
- Calibrated correctly
- Set accordingly
Below are two videos that explain how to test and to calibrate your thermostat.
While the above video includes a thermostat that is slightly different from the thermostats in South Africa it is still very informative and explains how the thermostat works and how to test, calibrate and set the thermostat.
The video covers:
- How a thermostat works 0 – 2m35s
- How to check the thermostat 2m38s
- Testing continuity 2m54s
- Testing switching operation @ low temp 3m30s
- Testing switching operation @ high temp 4m12s – 5m15s
- Testing continuous and switch lines 5m16s – 6m14s
- Live and Neutral connections 6m14s – 6m40s
- Thermostat mechanics 6m40s – 7m15s
- Internal switching mechanism 7m15s
- Adjusting the thermostat 8m23s
- Calibrating the thermostat 9m34s
- Setting temperature control dial 10m16s
- Setting temperature for hot water requirement 11m23s
In the video above we take a closer look at the Kwikot thermostat and how to check that it is working as well as the calibration and setting of the thermostat.
- Thermostat components 0 – 33s
- Testing – equipment needed 35s
- Definition – continuity 50s – 1m30s
- Testing – continuity 1m31s – 2m29s
- Temperature control 2m29s – 3m39s
- Thermostat description and mechanics 4m
- Principles of thermostat operation 5m10s – 6m.39s
- Internal inspection of thermostat components 7m50s – 9m04s
- Electrical connections (solid and switch) 10m – 10m55s
Once you are sure that the thermostat is operating correctly and that is has been calibrated, it is then time to set the temperature. Every household uses water differently, so it is important to set the thermostat correctly. If it is too high, you are wasting energy and if it is too low you will not have sufficient hot water.
Below is a link to an article on setting the thermostat
https://xtendelements.co.za/efficient-geysers-save-money/
With XTEND elements, we recommend that you drop your thermostat setting by around 10°C as our thermostat is located even lower in the geyser, compared to standard elements. If the water is still too hot, you can drop the temperature further. If you are many in the house using hot water, you may also need to increase the temperature.
Fortunately, once you watch the above videos, you will be very capably of adjusting your thermostat according to your specific requirements.
