A system and a method for controlling an electrical water heater as per a load shedding request signal are disclosed. A temperature sensor is positioned so as to measure a water temperature in a lower area of a tank of the water heater to be controlled. A controller continuously determines a salubrity index of the water heater as a function of the temperature measured by the sensor and a time measurement, and decides to interrupt an electrical power supply of the water heater through a switch so as to interrupt or not interrupt an operation of the water heater upon the load shedding request signal and only if the salubrity index meets a preestablished criterion.

A controller for an electric booster element in a water heater is described. The electric booster element is powered from mains power and the controller comprises a control module and a capacitive module adapted to store power and supply stored power to the control module. The control module produces a control signal for controlling a relay to supply or restrict mains power supply to said booster element, said control signal depending at least in part on time of use data.

A method of operating a water heater receiving electrical power from an electrical grid. The method includes providing a water heater in a locked state. A digital key module may be communicatively coupled (for example, via wired or wireless communication) to the water heater and used to unlock the water heater placing the water heater into an unlocked state. Such unlocking of the water heater must only be done for such water heaters that are enrolled in a utility demand response program.

A safety system and method to prevent water within a top portion of a tank of an electric water heater to drop below a safe temperature during a load shedding period, other than a full emergency grid failure, by a power provider whereby to prevent the propagation of harmful bacteria in a top portion the tank. A control device monitors the water temperature in the top portion of the tank by the use of a temperature sensor. If the control device detects a temperature of the water in the top portion of the tank inferior to 140 degrees F., it will by-pass the instructions of the power provider and connect power to one or more of the resistive heating elements of the tank until a predetermined temperature above 140 degrees F. is attained before switching off the resistive heating elements.

A controller for an electric booster element in a water heater is described. The electric booster element is powered from mains power and the controller comprises a control module and a capacitive module adapted to store power and supply stored power to the control module. The control module produces a control signal for controlling a relay to supply or restrict mains power supply to said booster element, said control signal depending at least in part on time of use data.

A settings data storage stores unique serial numbers and information regarding a plurality of patterns for alternately switching between normal operation for operating at high capacity and suppressed operation for operating at low capacity each unit time. A pattern specifier determines information for a pattern set in accordance with even and odd serial numbers. A water-heating heat amount determiner determines a heat amount necessary for water heating. A water heating scheduler establishes a water heating plan based on information regarding the pattern determined by the pattern determiner and the water-heating heat amount as determined by the water-heating heat amount determiner. A water heating controller alternately switches between normal operating and suppressed operation to heat water in accordance with the water heating plan established by the water heating scheduler.

A safety system and method to prevent water within a top portion of a tank of an electric water heater to drop below a safe temperature during a load shedding period, other than a full emergency grid failure, by a power provider whereby to prevent the propagation of harmful bacteria in a top portion the tank. A control device monitors the water temperature in the top portion of the tank by the use of a temperature sensor. If the control device detects a temperature of the water in the top portion of the tank inferior to 140 degrees F., it will by-pass the instructions of the power provider and connect power to one or more of the resistive heating elements of the tank until a predetermined temperature above 140 degrees F. is attained before switching off the resistive heating elements.

A water heater appliance, including methods of operation, is provided herein. The water heater appliance may include a casing, a tank, an inlet conduit, an electric heating system, and a controller coupled to an auxiliary power generator. The tank may be disposed within the casing and define an inlet and an outlet. The inlet conduit may be mounted to the tank at the inlet of the tank. The controller may be operably coupled to the electric heating system and configured to initiate a heating cycle. The heating cycle may include identifying a daily peak auxiliary power period, determining a contemporary voltage reading at the water heater appliance, predicting an occurrence of the daily peak auxiliary power period from the auxiliary power generator, and heating water within the water heater at the predicted occurrence of the daily peak auxiliary power period.

System and methods of operating a water heater receiving power from an electrical grid. The water heater includes a heating element, a controller, and a first control circuit. The first control circuit including an energizing terminal and a microprocessor. The method includes connecting an energizing terminal of the first control circuit between a power output terminal of the controller and the heating element, receiving driving power from the controller based on a temperature signal. The method also includes receiving a control signal from the controller based on electrical grid information, and selectively energizing the heating element, by the microprocessor of the first control circuit and through the energizing terminal of the first control circuit based on the control signal.

The present disclosure provides a computer-implemented method of modulating energy consumption by a water provision system installed in a building, the water provision system comprising a heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy from outside the building to a thermal energy storage medium inside the building and a control module configured to control operation of the water provision system, the water provision system being configured to provide water heated by the thermal energy storage medium to one or more water outlets and further configured to supply heated water to a central heating system configured to raise an indoor temperature of the building, the method being performed by the control module and comprising: determining a level of energy demands of a geographical region comprising the building; and upon determining that the level of energy demands is low, operating the heat pump to store thermal energy in the thermal energy storage medium, and operating the water provision system to supply heated water to the central heating system using thermal energy stored in the thermal energy storage medium.