Gas water heater control alternate power source
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorBrett Alan Farris
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems, circuits, and methods for providing operating power to a gas control circuit board are disclosed. A first power source for a gas control circuit board is derived from a utility supplied AC source while a backup supply is provided based on current flowing through an anode rod associated with the water heater as defined by Faraday's Law of Electrolysis. The backup supply based on anode current flow provided operating power for the gas control circuit in case of loss of power from the utility supplied AC source.
Claims20
A water heater system, comprising:
- a tank configured to contain water to be heated;
- an anode rod positioned within said tank;
- a gas heater;
- a gas control board;
- a first power supply configured to receive AC power from a utility line;
- and
- a second power supply configured to receive power from galvanic corrosion of said anode rod,
- wherein said first power supply provides operating power for said gas control board when AC power is available and said second power supply provides operating power for said gas control board when AC power is not available.
A method of operating a gas water heater gas control board, comprising:
- supplying a first source of operating power for the gas control board from an AC power source;
- supplying a second source of operating power for the gas control board from a current flow through an anode rod associated with the water heater;
- and
- operating the gas control board from power from the second source when power from the first source is not available.
A power supply system for a gas water heater gas control system, comprising:
- a first power supply configured to receive AC power from a utility and to provide operating power the gas control circuit;
- and
- a second power supply configured to provide operating power to the gas control circuit based on current flowing through an anode rod associated with the water heater.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.