Water heater control using external temperature sensor
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a water heater that operates according to a voltage supply, the method comprising:
- mounting a temperature sensor on at least one of a temperature and pressure (T&
P) valve of the water heater and a hot water line of the water heater;
generating a temperature signal corresponding to a first temperature of the at least one of the T&
P valve and the hot water line;
mounting a control module on the water heater, the control module including a switching module that receives the voltage supply and outputs the voltage supply to the water heater, wherein the voltage supply passes at least one of through and adjacent to the control module; and
using the control module,determining, using the first temperature indicated by the temperature signal, a second temperature, wherein the second temperature is an actual temperature of water within the water heater, and wherein the first temperature and the second temperature are different, andselectively actuating the switching module to turn on and turn off the voltage supply to the water heater based on the second temperature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for controlling a water heater that operates according to a voltage supply includes a temperature sensor, mounted on at least one of a temperature and pressure (T&P) valve of the water heater and a hot water line of the water heater, that generates a temperature signal corresponding to a first temperature of the at least one of the T&P valve and the hot water line. A control module mounted on the water heater includes a switching module that receives the voltage supply and outputs the voltage supply to the water heater. The voltage supply passes at least one of through and adjacent to the control module. The control module determines a second temperature of water within the water heater based on the temperature signal and selectively actuates the switching module to turn on and turn off the voltage supply to the water heater based on the second temperature.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a water heater that operates according to a voltage supply, the method comprising:
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mounting a temperature sensor on at least one of a temperature and pressure (T&
P) valve of the water heater and a hot water line of the water heater;generating a temperature signal corresponding to a first temperature of the at least one of the T&
P valve and the hot water line;mounting a control module on the water heater, the control module including a switching module that receives the voltage supply and outputs the voltage supply to the water heater, wherein the voltage supply passes at least one of through and adjacent to the control module; and using the control module, determining, using the first temperature indicated by the temperature signal, a second temperature, wherein the second temperature is an actual temperature of water within the water heater, and wherein the first temperature and the second temperature are different, and selectively actuating the switching module to turn on and turn off the voltage supply to the water heater based on the second temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification