Control system for bathers

A heating and control system for bathers for heating water, comprising:

• a control circuit board assembly comprising at least one power switching device;
• a high voltage power supply connected to said control circuit board assembly;
• a control panel for inputting user preferences;
• a heater assembly comprising a heater housing element connected to said control circuit board assembly;
• a first water pump connected to said control circuit board assembly;
• a microprocessor coupled to said control panel and to said control circuit board assembly, said microprocessor adapted to process signals from a plurality of devices providing water parameter information and to energize said heater according to user preferences;
• a water presence sensor apparatus for detecting the presence of water in said heater housing element;
• a water temperature sensor apparatus for providing electrical temperature signals to the controller indicative of water temperature at separated first and second. locations on or within said heater housing or a combination thereof;
• and
• independent circuit apparatus connected to said water temperature sensor apparatus and to said at least one power switching device, said independent circuit apparatus for automatically causing the high voltage power to be disconnected from the heater assembly when the water temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, said independent circuit apparatus requiring a manual reset once the water temperature has dropped below a predetermined level to allow the high voltage power to be reconnected to the heater assembly.

A heating and control system for bathers, comprising:

• a control circuit board assembly comprising at least one power switching device;
• a high voltage power supply connected to control circuit board assembly;
• a heater assembly including a heater housing and heater element, said heater element connected to said control circuit board assembly;
• a microprocessor adapted to process signals from a plurality of input devices providing information regarding water parameters and to energize said heater according to user preference;
• a water temperature sensor apparatus for providing electrical temperature signals to the microprocessor indicative of water temperature at separated first and second locations on or within said heater housing or a combination thereof;
• independent circuit apparatus separate from said microprocessor and connected to the water temperature sensor apparatus and connected to at least one power switching device in the control circuit board assembly;
• said independent circuit apparatus automatically causing the high power supply to be disconnected from the heater assembly when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, said circuit apparatus requiring a manual reset once the temperature has dropped below a predetermined level.

A spa including a heating and control system for bathers, comprising:

• an outdoor vessel for holding a body of water, the vessel intended to maintain the body of water in a substantially filled condition;
• a control circuit board assembly;
• a high voltage power supply connected to the control circuit board assembly;
• a heater assembly physically connected to the control circuit board assembly;
• water presence sensor apparatus to determine the presence of water within the heater assembly and provide water presence signals indicative of the presence or absence of a body of water within the heater assembly;
• a pump for recirculating water through said heater assembly and said vessel;
• water temperature sensor apparatus providing electrical temperature signals indicative of water temperature at separated first and second locations on or within said heater assembly;
• an electronic controller comprising said control circuit board assembly for selectively activating and deactivating said pump at selected time intervals, said controller responsive to said temperature signals and said water presence signal to manage water parameters, said controller configured to disable operation of said heater in the absence of water within the heater assembly, and to automatically enable operation of the heater element upon subsequent receipt of water presence signals indicating the presence of a body of water within the heater housing.

A method for detecting the presence of water in a system including a heater element, a heater housing, and a microcomputer, the microcomputer controlling the heater, at least one temperature sensor in close proximity to the heater element, the temperature sensor feeding temperature data to the microcomputer, the method comprising:

• collecting and storing a first temperature measurement value;
• activating the heater element for a predetermined time interval;
• deactivating the heater element for a selected time interval;
• collecting and storing a second temperature measurement value;
• calculating the difference between the first temperature measurement value and the second temperature measurement value;
• comparing the resulting difference to a predetermined value to establish the presence or absence of water adjacent the heater element.

A heating and control system for bathers, comprising:

• an electronic controller;
• an electric heater assembly connected in a water flow path for heating water passing therethrough, comprising a heater housing and electric heater element, the controller arranged to control the operation of the heater element;
• water temperature sensor apparatus providing electrical temperature signals to the controller indicative of water temperature at separated first and second locations on or within said heater housing or a combination thereof;
• and
• a water presence sensor apparatus to determine the presence or absence of water within said heater housing, the water presence sensor apparatus comprising the controller, and wherein the controller collects temperature values before and after operating the heater assembly for a given time interval, and determines whether water is present as a result of the difference in the before and after temperature values.