Modular control system and method for water heaters
First Claim
1. A water heating system having a modular control system, comprising:
- a tank;
a heating element supported by the tank;
a first controller supported by the tank, the first controller coupled to the heating element, the first controller including logic to activate and deactivate the heating element according to a first threshold value; and
a second controller selectively coupled to the first controller and configured tocommunicate the first threshold value to the first controller, andperform an additional function related to the operation of the water heater; and
wherein the first controller is configured to control the heating element mounted on the water heating system in an absence of the second controller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A water heating system includes a tank, one or more heating elements mounted on the water heating system, and a first controller mounted on the tank. The first controller is coupled to the one or more heating elements and includes logic to activate and deactivate the heating elements according to a first threshold value. The water heater also includes a second controller that is selectively coupled to the first controller and configured to communicate the first threshold value to the first controller, and perform an additional function related to the operation of the water heater. The first controller is configured to receive the first threshold value from the second controller and control the one or more heating elements based on the received threshold value, and to control the one or more heating elements mounted on the water heating system in a physical absence of the second controller.
93 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A water heating system having a modular control system, comprising:
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a tank; a heating element supported by the tank; a first controller supported by the tank, the first controller coupled to the heating element, the first controller including logic to activate and deactivate the heating element according to a first threshold value; and a second controller selectively coupled to the first controller and configured to communicate the first threshold value to the first controller, and perform an additional function related to the operation of the water heater; and wherein the first controller is configured to control the heating element mounted on the water heating system in an absence of the second controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A water heating system having a modular control system, comprising:
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a tank; one or more heating elements mounted on the water heating system; a first controller mounted on the tank and having a first communication port, the first communication port having a first wireless transceiver, and the first controller including logic for activating and deactivating all of the one or more heating elements mounted on the water heating system based on a first threshold; and a second controller selectively coupled to the first controller via the first communication port, the second controller configured to wirelessly send information regarding the first threshold to the first controller, wherein the first controller is configured to wirelessly communicate information regarding the activation and deactivation of the one or more heating elements to the second controller, and wherein the first controller is configured to control the activation and deactivation of all the one or more heating elements in the absence of the second controller. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification