Integrated appliance control system

An appliance controller for controlling an associated gas appliance having a gas-fired burner means, the appliance controller comprising:

• processing means for controlling operation of the appliance controller;
• first monitoring means for determining an igniter current associated with a hot surface igniter for igniting gas in the burner means, wherein said first monitoring means communicates a first value indicative of the igniter current to said processing means for evaluation thereby;
• and
• second monitoring means for detecting the presence of a flame associated with the burner means, by obtaining a second value indicative of a current associated with the flame, wherein said second monitoring means communicates the second value to said processing means for evaluation thereby.

An appliance controller for controlling an associated gas appliance having a gas-fired burner means, a water tank having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, and an indirect water tank for storing water from said water tank, the appliance controller comprising:

• a first temperature sensing device located at one of said at least one outlets of said water tank;
• a second temperature sensing device located at one of said at least one inlets of said water tank;
• a third temperature sensing device for sensing the temperature of the water in said indirect water tank at a first location, said processing means responsive to said third temperature sensing device;
• a fourth temperature sensing device for sensing the temperature of water in said indirect water tank at a second location;
• and
• processing means for controlling operation of the appliance controller, said processing means responsive to said fourth temperature sensing device to determine a ratio of temperatures sensed by said third and fourth temperature sensing devices.