 Mechanical and Electromechanical controls are

controls that have some driving method other than

electricity. A high-pressure switch is an example of an
electro mechanical control. The switch contacts are
the electrical part, and the bellows or diaphragm is the
mechanical part. The mechanical action of the bellows
is transferred to the switch to stop a motor when high-
pressure occur, Figure 17-1.
 Mechanical Controls
An example of an mechanical control is water pressure
regulating valve . This valve is used to maintain a preset
water pressure in a boiler circuit and has no electrical
contacts or connection. Figure 14-61. It acts
independently from any other controls, yet the system
depends on its part of the team of controls that makes
the system function trouble free. The technician must be
able to recognize and understand the function of each
mechanical controls. Doing this is more difficult the for
electrical controls because the control diagram does not
always describe mechanical controls as well as it does
electrical controls.
Water Pressure-Regulator Valve
Electromechanical controls
 Convert a mechanical movement into some type of electrical
activity. A high-pressure switch is an example of an
electromechanical control. The switch contacts are the
electrical part, and the bellows or diaphragm is the
mechanical part. The mechanical action of the bellows is
transferred to the switch to stop a motor when high pressure
occur. Figure 14-65. Electro mechanical controls normally
appear on the electrical print with a symbol adjacent to the
electrical contact describing what the controls does, figure
14-66. These symbols are supposed to be standard; however,
old equipment installed long before standardization was
considered, is still in service . In some instances you need
imagination and experience to understand the intent of
manufacturer.
High Pressure Control

 Figure 16-45
Maintenance of Mechanical
Controls
 Mechanical controls are used to control the flow of
fluids such as water, refrigerant liquids and vapors, or
natural gas. These fluids flowing trough the controls
must be contained within the system. The controls
typically are designed with diaphragms, bellows,
gaskets that are subject to leakage after heating for al
long time.
 Water is the most difficult substances to contain and is
likely to contain and is likely to leak through the smallest
opening. All water regulating valve should be inspected for
leaks by looking for wet spots or rust streaks. Water
circulating in a system will also leave mineral deposits in
the piping and valve sets or mechanisms. For example, a
water-regulating valve for a hot water system. Figure 14-61,
is subject to problems that may cause water leaks or control
set point drift. Some of these valve are made of from brass
to prevent corrosion and some are made of cast iron. The
cast iron ones are less expensive but may rust and bind the
moving parts. The valve are also has a flexible diaphragm
that moves every time the valve functions. The diaphragm
is subject to deterioration from flexing and age.
 If the diaphragm leaks, water will escape to the outside and drip
off the floor. Mineral deposits or rust inside a valve can prevent
the valve from moving up and down to feed water. This might
overfeed or underfeed the system.
 Pressure relief valves on boilers are constructed of material that
will not corrode because this control is a safety control. These
valves must be set free to ensure that they will not stick shut and
not function. An explosion may occur because of a valve that is
stuck shut. Many technicians pull the lever on the top of safety
relief valves from time to time and let them relieve small amount
of steam or hot water. This may be considered a good practice
because it ensures that the valve port is free from deposits that
may stop it from functioning. On some occasions, the valve may
not seat back when the lever is released and the valve may sweep.
Usually pulling the lever again will clear this up by blowing out
any trash in the valve seat. If it cannot be stopped from leaking,
the valve must be replaced. The fact that this is procedure may
start a leak is the reason many technicians do not “test relive”
valves.
Maintenance of Electromechanical
controls
 Electromechanical controls have both a mechanical and
electrical action. Many of the same procedures used in the
maintenance of the mechanical controls should be
followed when water is involved. Inspect for leaks.
Electromechanical pressure controls often are connected to
the system with small tubing similar to capillary tubes used
as metering devices. This tube is usually copper and is the
cause of many leaks in refrigeration systems because of
misapplication or poor installation practices. For example,
a low-or -high-pressure control may be mounted close to a
compressor and the small control tube routed to a
compressor to sense low or high pressure.