Controlling the temperature is essential in a range of businesses from science and technology, manufacturing, and food service. Getting accurate temperature readings and maintaining the desired temperature ensures that your business can continue to deliver the services expected of you while meeting various regulatory requirements. Different thermocouple sensors and temperature calibrators offer a range of solutions to suit your business needs.

Digital thermostats are great for several applications. With 240v, 110v, and 12/24v options, you are sure to find the right digital temperature controller for you. You’ll find relay, SSR output, RTD, and thermocouple input controllers above, with prices starting from just over £26 for the high-quality electronic thermostat your business needs.

PID temperature controllers offer accurate results, making them a popular choice for any business. One of the standout features is that these controllers will measure temperature, identify errors, and then self-correct to ensure that the problem doesn’t happen again. This makes it vital for any businesses needing to keep products at a specific temperature.

Choosing the right digital thermostat controller

A temperature controller is the most effective way to calculate the difference between a setpoint and the measured temperature. The reading from thermostats and temperature sensors is then output to a control element to change the temperature. This control element could be a fan or a heater, depending on your business needs.

Some temperature controllers require user input in order to get the right temperature. A PID controller for temperature can self-regulate, making adjustments as required to save you valuable time and money. Items such as temperature data loggers will give you valuable feedback on the temperature in a set area, showing fluctuations so that you can adjust as necessary.

At Under Control, we provide free technical support to all of our customers to ensure that the equipment you have is right for you. With a price guarantee for any like-for-like quote, you know that you are in safe hands with us. Order by 1 pm for same-day dispatch and get free shipping! Got questions about the right controller for your business? Contact the Under Control team now for our professional advice.

FAQs
What is a digital temperature controller?
A digital temperature controller is an important tool for measuring and managing temperatures in the areas of science and technology, instrumentation, and control automation. It can be utilised in both domestic and industrial settings.

Temperature control is a crucial component of successful product manufacturing. If the temperature falls outside of the ideal range for a particular stage in a manufacturing process, the results can be dangerous, so it’s extremely important for the manufacturer to determine the proper temperature for each stage and to monitor the temperature inside the machine to receive appropriate feedback.

Temperature controllers in manufacturing processes do precisely this function: they monitor the temperature of a machine at various stages of the process and compare the data to the programmed temperature specifications. As a result, manufacturers can detect and treat temperature-related equipment faults promptly and easily.

There are many different types of analogue and digital temperature controls on the market, so it’s essential to know what your constraints are before making a purchase. If you have any queries, feel free to contact us and our team of specialists will assist you.

What are the different types of temperature controllers?
There are three types of temperature controllers used to monitor temperature throughout manufacturing processes: On-off, proportional, and PID control.

On/Off Temperature Controls

This is the most affordable option as well as the most straightforward in terms of operation. The control is either on or off, and if the temperature falls below a specified threshold, the controller instructs the machine to raise the temperature. Similarly, if the temperature exceeds a specified threshold, the control is triggered, instructing the machine to reduce the temperature.

A domestic thermostat is an example of an on/off system. When the temperature falls below a set point, the controller activates the heater, which raises the temperature to the set point. On/off controls are frequently employed in operations where temperature changes are relatively slow and precise temperature control is not required.

Proportional Control

Proportional controls are designed to react to temperature change before it slips out of the appropriate range. They increase or reduce the power supply when the temperature approaches its higher or lower limit, slowing or speeding the heater and assisting in temperature stabilisation.

The “proportional band” refers to the temperature range in which proportional controls reduce or increase the power supply to delay or hasten heating. If the temperature reaches the setpoints, the control becomes an on/off switch. When the temperature is within the proportional band and the power supply is reduced or increased, the heat is increased or decreased in proportion to the distance from the setpoint.

PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) Control

A PID system, like a proportional control, operates within a proportional band, but it has two additional properties that improve total temperature regulation.

The proportional functionality enables the control to react to the present situation and make adjustments as necessary. The integral value considers the sum of recent events (previous proportional control rhythms), whereas the derivative value determines the appropriate reaction depending on the rate at which prior rhythms have changed. The three work together to create a case-specific algorithm that controls the temperature by combining current data, historical data, and the rate at which data changes.

A stable temperature can be maintained by accounting for temperature error between the process variable and the setpoint.

What are the common uses of temperature control in the industry?
Temperature controllers are used to manage production processes and operations in a wide range of sectors. Plastic extrusion and injection moulding machines, thermoforming machines, packaging machines, food processing, food storage, and blood banks are all common uses for temperature controllers in the industry. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the most prevalent temperature control applications in the industry:

• Food & Beverage: Brewing, mixing, sterilising, and cooking and baking ovens are all common food processing applications that use temperature controllers. Temperature and/or process duration are controlled to ensure optimal performance.

• Healthcare: In the healthcare industry, temperature controllers are employed to enhance temperature control accuracy. Temperature controllers are commonly used in laboratory and test equipment, as well as autoclaves, incubators, refrigeration equipment, crystallisation growing chambers, and test chambers where specimens must be stored or tests must be performed within certain temperature constraints.

• Heat Treat/Oven: Temperature controls are employed in furnaces, ceramic kilns, boilers, and heat exchangers, as well as in ovens and heat-treating applications.

• Packaging: Machinery with seal bars, glue applicators, hot melt functions, shrink wrap tunnels, or label applicators must work at specific temperatures and process times. Temperature controllers control these processes precisely to provide high-quality final output.

• Plastics: Temperature control is widespread on portable chillers, hoppers, and dryers, as well as moulding and extrusion equipment. They are also used in extruding equipment to precisely monitor and control temperatures at various key moments during the fabrication of plastic.

How do I choose a temperature controller?
The precision of control required and the difficulty of controlling the process are the two most important factors to consider when selecting a temperature controller. The controller that will deliver the necessary outcomes should be chosen considering ease of adjusting and cheap starting cost.

A temperature control system depends on a controller that uses a sensor such as a thermocouple or RTD as input to provide accurate process temperature control without requiring considerable user engagement. It compares the current temperature and the intended temperature, or setpoint, and sends a signal to a control device.

On-off temperature controllers can be used in simple operations with a well-matched heater (neither over nor undersized) and no rapid cycling. A proportional controller is required for systems that are subject to cycling or have a mismatched heater (either over or undersized).