What is the difference between level switch and float valve?

Answer 1

The operation is similar but what they control are two very different things. A level switch, just like the word switch implies, either completes or breaks an electrical circuit when a certain condition is reached. This is similar to the Mercury switch in most thermostats. When the ambient temperature reaches a certain point, the bimetal spring of the switch tilts one way and the mercury contained inside the glass tube moves toward one end or the other completing the appropriate electrical circuit to trigger the HVAC system to activate. When another point is reached, the mercury switch tips the other way and breaks the connection because the mercury is not at the opposite end of that tube.

As for a float valve, it functions similarly but rather than making or breaking an electrical connection, it turns on or shuts off a valve that controls the flow of some substance. An example of this is the float valve that controls the filling of the water tank on the back of a toilet. When you hit the switch to flush the toilet, the flapper valve opens and stays open due to the pressure to keep it aloft by the water rushing by it to go out the hole that it usually seals. Once the water has decreased to a certain level at which there is not enough water to keep the flap up, it flops down and seals the breach. At this point, the float inside the tank is at its lowest point, so the water inlet from your Plumbing is allowing the water to flow at its maximum rate. As the water level in the take rises, the float also rises which slowly closes the valve until such time the float is at its maximum level and completely shuts off the flow of water.

I hope this helps. If you have any other questions, feel free to drop me a line.