What should the heat anticipator setting for a thermostat in a gas heating system match?

The heat anticipator setting for a thermostat in a gas heating system should match the amperage of the gas valve. The heat anticipator serves to control the operation of the heating system by preemptively turning off the heating source before the thermostat reaches the desired temperature. This helps to prevent overshooting the set temperature and maintains a consistent comfort level.

For gas heating systems, the anticipator must be appropriately calibrated to match the current drawn by the gas valve. If the anticipator is set too low, it may turn off the system too soon, causing inadequate heating. If set too high, it may result in overshooting the temperature setting. Thus, accurately matching the anticipator to the gas valve's amperage ensures efficient operation of the system, leading to better energy use and comfort.

In contrast, while ampacity is relevant for electric heaters, voltage does not directly influence the operation of the heat anticipator in a gas system. Furthermore, the thermostat temperature setting dictates the desired room temperature but does not influence how the anticipator interacts with the gas valve itself.