What is another name for a two-position control mode?

A two-position control mode, commonly referred to as on-off control, is characterized by its ability to only switch the output to either fully on or fully off, without any intermediate states. This type of control is often utilized in simple systems where the goal is to maintain a specific setpoint by activating or deactivating a device, such as a heater or a valve.

On-off control is widely used in applications that do not require fine adjustments or proportional modulation; instead, it responds quickly to maintain conditions, such as temperature or pressure. This makes it suitable for systems where the process variable needs to be either above or below a certain threshold.

The other terms listed describe different types of control strategies. Proportional control involves adjusting the output based on the error (the difference between the setpoint and the process variable), while continuous control allows for a range of output values, enabling more precise control. Pulsating control refers to a method of operation where signals are sent in pulses, which is not synonymous with the simplified on-off nature of two-position control.

This distinction reinforces why on-off control is a fitting alternate term for two-position control, emphasizing its characteristic binary operation.