Modular control system and method for water heaters
First Claim
1. A water heater having a modular control system, comprising:
- a tank;
a heating element coupled to the tank;
a first controller mounted on the tank, the first controller having a first communication port; and
a second controller having a second communication port communicatively coupled to the first communication port of the first controller, wherein the first controller is configured to control the heating element in accordance with a first algorithm in an absence of the second controller, and wherein the second controller is configured to control the heating element in accordance with a second algorithm.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A water heater has a modular control system. The water heater comprises a tank, a heating element, a first controller, and a second controller. The heating element is coupled to the tank. The first controller is mounted on the tank and has a first communication port. The second controller has a second communication port communicatively coupled to the first communication port of the first controller. The first controller is configured to control the heating element in accordance with a first algorithm in an absence of the second controller, and the second controller is configured to control the heating element in accordance with a second algorithm.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A water heater having a modular control system, comprising:
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a tank;
a heating element coupled to the tank;
a first controller mounted on the tank, the first controller having a first communication port; and
a second controller having a second communication port communicatively coupled to the first communication port of the first controller, wherein the first controller is configured to control the heating element in accordance with a first algorithm in an absence of the second controller, and wherein the second controller is configured to control the heating element in accordance with a second algorithm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A water heater having a modular control system, comprising:
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a tank;
a heating element coupled to the tank;
a first controller having a first base, first control logic, and a first communication port, the first control logic and the first communication port mounted on the first base; and
a second controller mounted on the tank and having a second base, second control logic, and a second communication port, the second control logic and the second communication port mounted on the second base, the second port communicatively coupled to the first communication port of the first controller, wherein the first control logic is configured to control the heating element in accordance with a first algorithm, wherein the second control logic is configured to control the heating element in accordance with a second algorithm, and wherein the first controller disables the second control logic from controlling the heating element in accordance with the second algorithm when the first control logic is controlling the heating element in accordance with the first algorithm. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method for providing modular control of water heaters, comprising the steps of:
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providing a water heater, the water heater having a water tank, a heating element, and a first controller mounted on the tank;
controlling the heating element via the first controller in accordance with a first algorithm;
interfacing a second controller with the first controller after the controlling step; and
controlling the heating element via the second controller in accordance with a second algorithm. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification