In a sort of indirect follow up to the crossposted article about electric stoves with constant temperature, I wonder if anyone has a good basic explanation of how the mechanical stove controls actually work. I have taken them apart and looking at the internals they have a little coil of wire and a bi-metal spring contact which rides on a cam on the control shaft. So, I assume it just sets up a on/off cycle based on the spring being heated while the switch is on and shutting off until it cools enough to make contact again. The cam changes the spring tension, and thus the duty cycle. Is there any sort of feedback from the heating element itself?
I searched the web for an explanation, but found nothing at the detail level.
Bill Ranck Blacksburg, Va.