The concept of a thermocouple is simple - two different metals are laminated together, as the temp fluctuates the metals expand and contract differently which moves the mercury switch one way or the other - 'level or not'. It is simply an off on switch, I believe the concept here is to somhow extract energy from heat thus- "Thermoelectricity can be generated in all conductive materials. When a temperature gradient is applied across a sample, electrons diffuse from the hot to the cold part due to the larger thermal speed of the electrons in the hot region. Consequently, a charge difference builds up between the hot and cold region, creating a voltage and producing an electric current." THI...

The concept of a thermocouple is simple - two different metals are laminated together, as the temp fluctuates the metals expand and contract differently which moves the mercury switch one way or the other - 'level or not'. It is simply an off on switch, I believe the concept here is to somhow extract energy from heat thus- "Thermoelectricity can be generated in all conductive materials. When a temperature gradient is applied across a sample, electrons diffuse from the hot to the cold part due to the larger thermal speed of the electrons in the hot region. Consequently, a charge difference builds up between the hot and cold region, creating a voltage and producing an electric current." THIS IS AN IMPORTANT NEW CONCEPT! I'm with Napster as far as interest in the efficiency of this concept.