Method and apparatus for cyclically controlling the energization of home water heaters

In a hot water system having a relay arrangement for selectively inhibiting the energization thereof, a method of controlling the energization of water heaters on a daily and seasonal demand cycle basis comprising the steps of

• continuously energizing at least one clock timer,
• selectively spacing a first plurality of relay actuators with respect to one another, each of said spacings corresponding to predetermined periods of time,
• continuously and cyclically moving said first relay actuators at a uniform rate in response to said clock times, said actuators cyclically engaging a first relay with alternate ones of said actuators closing said first relay to permit energization of said water heater, said actuators being spaced to permit energization of said water heater during periods of high electricity demand during a summer load demand cycle,
• selectively spacing a second plurality of relay actuators with respect to one another, each of said spacings corresponding to predetermined periods of time,
• continuously and cyclically moving said second relay actuators at a uniform rate in response to said clock timer, said second actuators cyclically engaging a second relay with alternate ones of said actuators closing said second relay to permit energization of said water heater, said second actuators being spaced to permit energization of said water heater during periods of high electrical demand during a winter load demand cycle,
• detecting whether a summer or winter load demand cycle exists, and
• connecting at least one of said first and second relays to said hot water heating depending on whether a summer or winter load demand cycle exists.