Water heater and method of operating the same

A method for operating a storage-type water heater including

• a first heating bank including a first heating element with a first heating surface disposed within a tank,
• a first relay connected to the first heating bank,
• a second heating bank including a second heating element with a second heating surface disposed within the tank,
• a second relay connected to the second heating bank, and
• a controller for selectively operating the first relay and the second relay, the method comprising:
• selecting a mode from at least,
• a no-sequencing mode, wherein the first relay and the second relay are operated concurrently, and
• a sequencing mode, wherein the first relay and the second relay are operated sequentially, and
• operating the first relay to supply power to the first heating bank, and operating the second relay to supply power to the second heating bank, basing the operation on the selected mode.

A storage-type water heater comprising:

• a tank for supporting water to be heated;
• a first heating bank including a first heating element with a first heating surface and a second heating element with a second heating surface;
• a first relay connected to the first heating bank;
• a second heating bank including a third heating element with a third heating surface and a fourth heating element with a fourth heating surface;
• a second relay connected to the second heating bank;
• and
• a controller for selectively operating the first relay and the second relay, the controller including instructions for,
• selecting a mode from at least,
• a no-sequencing mode, wherein the first and second relays are operated to supply power to the first and second heating banks concurrently,
• a linear sequencing mode, wherein in one heating cycle, the first relay is operated to supply power to the first heating bank, while operating the first relay the second relay is operated to supply power to the second heating bank, then while supplying power to the second heating bank operating the first relay to stop supply power to the first heating bank while power is still supplied to the second heating bank, and
• a progressive sequencing mode, wherein in one heating cycle, the first relay is operated to supply power to the first heating bank, while operating the first relay the second relay is operated to supply power to the second heating bank, then while supplying power to the first heating bank operating the second relay to stop supply power to the second heating bank while power is still supplied to the first heating bank;
• and
• operating the first relay to supply power to the first heating bank, and operating the second relay to supply power to the second heating bank, basing the operation on the selected mode.

A storage-type water heater comprising:

• a tank for supporting water to be heated;
• a first heating bank including a first heating element with a first heating surface and a second heating element with a second heating surface;
• a first relay connected to the first heating bank;
• a second heating bank including a third heating element with a third heating surface and a fourth heating element with a fourth heating surface;
• a second relay connected to the second heating bank;
• a temperature probe disposed within the tank for generating a signal having a relation to the temperature of the water in the tank;
• and
• a controller for selectively operating the first contactor and the second contactor based on the signal, the controller including instructions for
• selecting an operation based on at least the following modes,
• a no-sequencing mode, wherein the first and second relays are operated to supply power to the first and second heating banks concurrently,
• a linear sequencing mode, wherein, in one heating cycle,
• the first relay to supply power to the first heating bank as a result of the value of the signal being less than a first threshold value,
• the second relay to supply power to the second heating bank as a result of the value of the signal being less than a second threshold value, the first threshold value being greater than the second threshold value,
• the first relay stopping supply power to the first heating bank as a result of the value of the signal being greater than a third threshold value, and
• the second relay stopping supply power to the second heating bank as a result of the value of the signal being greater than a fourth threshold value, the fourth threshold value being greater than the third threshold value, and
• a progressive sequencing mode, wherein, in one heating cycle,
• the first relay to supply power to the first heating bank as a result of the value of the signal being less than a first threshold value,
• the second relay to supply power to the second heating bank as a result of the value of the signal being less than a second threshold value, the first threshold value being greater than the second threshold value,
• the second relay stopping supply power to the second heating bank as a result of the value of the signal being greater than a third threshold value, and
• the first relay stopping supply power to the first heating bank as a result of the value of the signal being greater than a fourth threshold value, the fourth threshold value being greater than the third threshold value, and
• operating the first relay to supply power to the first heating bank, and operating the second relay to supply power to the second heating bank, basing the operation on the selected mode.