Spa control system

• US 6,253,227 B1
• Filed: 03/20/1997
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dymas Funding Company Llc
• Original Assignee: Balboa Instruments Incorporated (Helios Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Green, Michael J., Tompkins, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Application Number:
  US08/822,179
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 364/138, 364/505, 709/201
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/0095 Arrangements for varying the temperature of the liquid
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1931 to control the temperature of one space
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/20 with sensing elements having variation of electric or magnetic properties with change of temperature G05D23/13 takes precedence

Abstract

An improved spa control system is disclosed. The invention describes a spa control system which calculates the time required to heat the water in the spa system to a desired temperature. From that information, the heating rate of the spa system can be determined, and the heating element of the spa system can be activated at the proper time to raise the temperature of the water to a selected temperature by a desired time. The spa system also monitors information which might show errors in the operation of the spa system such as a blockage in the flow of water over the heating element in the spa system.

Claims

1. A spa control system for controlling operation of a spa, the spa control system comprising:

an interconnection panel connected to a spa heater and a pump;

a spa-side control panel connected to said interconnection panel, said control panel including a keypad for receiving instructions from a user regarding spa operation and maintenance, and said control panel capable of providing output signals to the user in the form of a visual display;

a first sensor capable of measuring spa water temperature connected to said interconnection panel;

a second sensor connected to said interconnection panel that is capable of measuring water temperature in the vicinity of the heater;

a third sensor connected to said interconnection panel capable of measuring another spa parameter; and

a microcomputer coupled to said interconnection panel for receiving input signals from the first, second and third sensors regarding spa operation, and to said keypad for receiving instructions from the user, said microcomputer functioning to activate and deactivate the heater and pump in response to the input signals from the sensors and the user, and wherein said microcomputer also processes the input signals from the sensors to determine whether the spa is operating within predetermined safety parameters.

2. A spa control system as in claim 1, wherein the third sensor is a pH sensor.

3. A spa control system as in claim 1, wherein the third sensor is a flow rate sensor.

4. A spa control system as in claim 1, wherein the microcomputer generates an output signal on the visual display when the spa is not operating properly, and also provides an indication of the failure.

5. A spa control system as in claim 1, wherein the microcomputer is located in the control panel.

6. A spa control system as in claim 1, wherein the interconnection panel couples to both a low speed pump and a high speed pump, both of which are controlled by signals from the microcomputer.

7. A spa control system as in claim 1, wherein the interconnection panel also couples to a blower and spa light, both of which are controlled by the microcomputer.

8. A spa control system as in claim 7, wherein the interconnection panel includes a triac to switch on and off at least one of the heater, pump, blower or spa light.

9. A spa control system as in claim 8, wherein the triac has an associated optical isolation device.