US 2014/0175183 A1 · MODULAR CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WATER HEATERS

Abstract

A water heating system includes a tank, one or more heating elements mounted on the water heating system, and a first controller mounted on the tank. The first controller is coupled to the one or more heating elements and includes logic to activate and deactivate the heating elements according to a first threshold value. The water heater also includes a second controller that is selectively coupled to the first controller and configured to communicate the first threshold value to the first controller, and perform an additional function related to the operation of the water heater. The first controller is configured to receive the first threshold value from the second controller and control the one or more heating elements based on the received threshold value, and to control the one or more heating elements mounted on the water heating system in a physical absence of the second controller.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A water heating system having a modular control system, comprising:

a tank;
a heating element supported by the tank;
a first controller supported by the tank, the first controller coupled to the heating element, the first controller including logic to activate and deactivate the heating element according to a first threshold value;
and
a second controller selectively coupled to the first controller and configured to
communicate the first threshold value to the first controller, and
perform an additional function related to the operation of the water heater;
and
wherein the first controller is configured to control the heating element mounted on the water heating system in an absence of the second controller.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Modular control system and method for water heaters

Life of this patent

Modular control system and method for water heaters

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20