Water heater control module
AssigneeBattelle Memorial Institute
InventorDonald J. Hammerstrom
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An advanced electric water heater control system that interfaces with a high temperature cut-off thermostat and an upper regulating thermostat. The system includes a control module that is electrically connected to the high-temperature cut-off thermostat and the upper regulating thermostat. The control module includes a switch to open or close the high-temperature cut-off thermostat and the upper regulating thermostat. The control module further includes circuitry configured to control said switch in response to a signal selected from the group of an autonomous signal, a communicated signal, and combinations thereof.
Claims11
An advanced electric water heater control system comprising:
- a. a high temperature cut-off thermostat having a first and a second AC power input and a first and a second AC power output and an upper regulating thermostat having an AC power output controlling the current to at least one resistive element in an electric water heater,
- b. a control module electrically connected to the first AC power output of said high-temperature cut-off thermostat, the second AC power output of said high temperature cut-off thermostat, and the AC power input of the upper regulating thermostat,
- c. said control module including a switch to open or close the electrical connection between the first AC power output of said high-temperature cut-off thermostat and the AC power input of the upper regulating thermostat,
- d. circuitry configured to control said switch in response to a signal selected from the group of an autonomous signal, a communicated signal, and combinations thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.