Spa electric heater system using multiple spa heaters

• US 6,670,584 B1
• Filed: 04/10/2002
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kareem I. Azizeh
• Original Assignee: Kareem I. Azizeh
• Inventors: Azizeh, Kareem I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jeffery, John A.
• Application Number:
  US10/119,108
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 219/485, 219/483, 219/501, 219/497, 219/486, 449/3, 392/441, 392/449, 307/39, 307/41
• US Class Current: 219/485
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/005 Electrical circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/0087 Therapeutic baths with agitated or circulated water
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/0095 Arrangements for varying the temperature of the liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 33/6005 Special constructive structural details of the bathtub, e.g. of the walls or supporting structure

Abstract

A process of electrically heating a spa having electrically operated devices connected to the spa, such as one or more water pumps, lights, and at least two heaters, in an environment in which there is not enough current to operate all spa devices simultaneously. The process includes the steps of providing a control system with data as to which devices are connected to the spa and how much current each device requires, and how much current is available to the spa. Next, the amount of current that is being used by the devices currently operating, other than the two heaters, is calculated. This provides the amount of the residual current available. If the spa water temperature is below a desired temperature, a determination is made as to whether there is enough current to operate one or both spa heaters and either one heater or both heaters are turned on based upon this calculation.

Claims

1. A process for electrically heating a spa having electrically operated devices connected thereto such as one or more water pumps, lights and at least two heaters, in an environment in which there is insufficient current to operate all spa devices simultaneously comprising:

providing a microprocessor with data as to which devices are connected to the spa and how much current each device requires and how much current is available to the spa;

calculating the amount of current that is being used by devices other than said at least two heaters and determining a value of residual current;

if the spa water is below a set desired temperature, determining if there is enough current to operate one or both heaters and activating one or both heaters based upon the residual current.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein a user manually inputs the amperage used by said devices.

3. The process for electrically heating a spa of claim 2 wherein heater number two uses 3 KW.

4. The process for electrically heating a spa of claim 1 wherein heater number one uses 6 KW.

5. A process for electrically heating a spa having electrically operated devices connected thereto, such as one or more water pumps, lights, a heater, in an environment in which there is insufficient current to operate all spa devices simultaneously comprising:

providing at least two individually controllable electrical heaters to said spa comprising at least a heater number one and a heater number two;

determining the individual devices attached to said spa including said at least two electrical heaters;

determining the amount of current available to the spa;

determining the amount of current utilized by each of said individual devices and storing information regarding each device and the amount of current used by each device, and the amount of current available to the spa in the memory of a microprocessor;

initially deactivating all spa heaters;

ascertaining if spa water is below a desired set temperature and if so;

determining which devices are activated and calculating the amount of current being used;

subtracting the amount of current being used from the current available to the spa to arrive at a residual current available;

determining if the residual current available is greater than the current used by heater number one;

if the residual current available is greater than the current used by heater number one, activating heater number one;

subtracting the amount of current used by heater number one from the residual current to arrive at a first reduced residual current;

determining if the first reduced residual current is greater than the current used by heater number two;

if the first reduced residual current is greater than the current used by heater number two, activating heater number two and returning to said ascertaining step;

if the first reduced residual current is not greater than the current used by heater number two, return to said ascertaining step; and

if the residual current available is not greater than the current used by heater number one, determining if the residual current available is greater than the current used by heater number two and, if so, activating heater number two and if not, return to said ascertaining step.