Ovens give thermostats the hardest duty in the kitchen: the highest temperatures, the longest continuous runs and, in electric models, some of the heaviest switching loads. Range, current and pole count all have to be right at once — a thermostat that is perfect for a fryer can be wrong for a deck oven on any one of the three. This guide works through the selection in the order we work through it with oven manufacturers.
Match the range to the oven
Convection and bakery ovens work well inside the AG16-K control’s 50–400°C range. High-heat deck and pizza ovens run beyond it: the AG32-1K reaches 50–450°C, and the ARB 33A is built for 50–500°C duty. Do not oversize the range out of habit — a 500°C control on a 250°C oven wastes dial resolution across the whole working band and costs accuracy where the chef actually cooks. Match the top of the range to the oven’s real maximum, with modest headroom.
| Model | Rating | Range | Reset |
|---|---|---|---|
| AG16-K | 16A / 20A · 110V / 250V | 50–400°C | Automatic |
| AG32-1K | 16A / 20A / 32A · 110V / 250V / 380V | 50–450°C | Automatic |
| ARB 33A | 33A · 110V / 250V | 50–500°C | Automatic |
| AG32-3K | 16A / 32A / 50A · 110V / 250V / 400V | 50–350°C, three-pole | Automatic |
Technical data is a catalogue reference. Confirm final ratings, dimensions and approvals for the selected model before ordering.
Single-phase or three-phase switching
Most oven elements are too heavy for light contacts, and many commercial ovens run on three-phase supplies. The AG32 family answers both problems: ratings up to 32A on the single-pole AG32-1K and 33A on the ARB 33A for heavy single-phase loads, and the three-pole AG32-3K (16A / 32A / 50A, up to 400V) switching all three phases together for three-phase ovens. Switching phases through separate devices invites imbalance and fault confusion; one three-pole control keeps the circuit honest. The matching safety limiters follow the same logic — three-pole AG32-3S and double-pole AG32-2S, manual reset, tripping at up to 400°C.
Gas ovens: millivolt control
Gas ovens have no mains power at the control point. The thermostat switches the millivolt circuit generated by the thermocouple or thermopile, which is a specialist duty: the GAS series is built for it at 0.67A · DC 5V across 125–300°C, with SPST / SPDT contacts, auto-reset versions for temperature regulation and manual-reset versions for over-temperature protection. Never substitute a mains-rated control into a millivolt circuit — contact materials and sensitivity are different, and the valve will misbehave.
Bulb placement decides accuracy
In an oven, the bulb belongs in the cooking chamber’s air stream, clear of the elements and out of the fan’s direct wash, fully inserted in its well or clamped in firm contact. A bulb touching the chamber wall reads the wall; a bulb in the element’s radiant line reads the element. Either way the dial will lie, the oven will hunt or overshoot, and the thermostat will be blamed for a placement error. Our installation guide covers seating, routing and bend rules in detail.
The safety limiter
Every commercial oven needs an independent limiter above its control: the AG16-S with fixed trip points at 380 / 400 / 430°C for single-phase duties, or the multi-pole AG32-3S / AG32-2S where the supply demands them. Set the trip above the oven’s maximum working temperature and below the point where insulation, wiring or the chamber itself is damaged. How to make that call is the whole subject of our safety limiter guide.
Certifications
Our thermostats are produced under a TÜV-certified quality system — certificate R50309054 (EN 60730-1 / EN IEC 60730-2-9), verifiable on Certipedia. Confirm the approvals carried by the specific models you select.
FAQ
Which thermostat suits a pizza oven that runs near 500°C?
The ARB 33A, rated 33A with a 50–500°C range. For deck ovens that stay below 450°C, the AG32-1K (50–450°C, up to 32A) is the closer match — pick the range that fits the oven's real maximum rather than the largest available.
How do I switch a three-phase oven?
With a three-pole control such as the AG32-3K (16A / 32A / 50A, up to 400V, 50–350°C), which breaks all three phases together, paired with a matching multi-pole manual-reset limiter — the AG32-3S or AG32-2S.
Where should the sensing bulb go in the chamber?
In the cooking chamber's air stream, fully inserted or firmly clamped, clear of direct contact with the elements and out of the fan's direct wash — so it reads the air the food cooks in, not the wall or the element.
High-Current Control Thermostats · Manual Reset Safety Limit Thermostats · Gas Thermostats and Limiters