溫控(kong)器一般由溫度檢測及溫度控(kong)制兩部分組成(cheng)，大多(duo)溫控(kong)器還帶(dai)有報警(jing)及保護功能。

溫(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)控(kong)(kong)(kong)(kong)(kong)器（Thermostat），根據工作環境的溫(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)度(du)(du)變化，在(zai)(zai)開(kai)關(guan)內部(bu)發生(sheng)物理形變，從(cong)而產生(sheng)某些特(te)殊效應(ying)，產生(sheng)導(dao)通或者斷開(kai)動(dong)(dong)作的一(yi)系列自動(dong)(dong)控(kong)(kong)(kong)(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)元件，或者電(dian)子原件在(zai)(zai)不同(tong)溫(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)度(du)(du)下，工作狀(zhuang)態的不同(tong)原理來給電(dian)路(lu)提(ti)供溫(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)度(du)(du)數據，以(yi)供電(dian)路(lu)采(cai)集(ji)溫(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)度(du)(du)數據。通過溫(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)度(du)(du)傳感器對被測(ce)溫(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)度(du)(du)自動(dong)(dong)進行(xing)采(cai)樣(yang)、即時(shi)(shi)監(jian)控(kong)(kong)(kong)(kong)(kong)，當采(cai)集(ji)溫(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)度(du)(du)高于控(kong)(kong)(kong)(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)設(she)(she)定值時(shi)(shi)控(kong)(kong)(kong)(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)電(dian)路(lu)啟動(dong)(dong)，可(ke)以(yi)設(she)(she)置控(kong)(kong)(kong)(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)回差。如溫(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)度(du)(du)還在(zai)(zai)升，當升到設(she)(she)定的超限報警溫(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)度(du)(du)點時(shi)(shi)，啟動(dong)(dong)超限報警功能(neng)。當被控(kong)(kong)(kong)(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)的溫(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)度(du)(du)不能(neng)得到有效的控(kong)(kong)(kong)(kong)(kong)制(zhi)(zhi)時(shi)(shi)，為了防止設(she)(she)備的毀壞還可(ke)以(yi)通過跳閘的功能(neng)來停止設(she)(she)備繼(ji)續運行(xing)。主要應(ying)用于各行(xing)業使用的各種配電(dian)柜及家用冰箱、空(kong)調等其他相關(guan)的溫(wen)(wen)(wen)(wen)度(du)(du)使用領(ling)域。

機械(xie)式的(de)采用兩層熱膨(peng)脹(zhang)系數不同金屬壓在(zai)一起(qi)，溫度改變時，他的(de)彎(wan)曲度會(hui)發生改變，當彎(wan)曲到某個程度時，接(jie)通（或(huo)斷(duan)開）回路，使得制冷（或(huo)加(jia)熱）設備工作。

電(dian)(dian)(dian)子式的通(tong)過熱電(dian)(dian)(dian)偶、鉑電(dian)(dian)(dian)阻等溫(wen)(wen)度(du)傳感裝置，把溫(wen)(wen)度(du)信號變(bian)換成電(dian)(dian)(dian)信號，通(tong)過單片(pian)機、PLC等電(dian)(dian)(dian)路控制繼(ji)電(dian)(dian)(dian)器使(shi)得加(jia)熱（或制冷）設備工作（或停止）。