A water heater control system comprising an energy storage system electrically connected to a pilot valve operator and electrically isolated from a main valve operator. The energy storage system may be electrically connected to an ignition circuit. A thermoelectric device is in thermal communication with the pilot flame and electrically connected to a main valve operator. The water heater system may include a microcontroller configured to establish electrical communications between the device and the energy storage system, the pilot valve operator, and the main valve operator. The microcontroller may be configured to recognize a call for main burner operation, and may also be configured to check an available voltage of the energy storage system against a setpoint. The microcontroller may establish pilot flame operation with or without main burner operation, depending on whether a call for heat or recharging of the energy storage system is required.

A power electronics assembly of a domestic appliance includes a first relay controlling an electrical contact between a first current-carrying conductor and an electric consumer. The assembly further includes a semiconductor switching element that switches the electrical contact between the first current-carrying conductor and the electric consumer and is arranged in parallel with the first relay. A controller is programmed to activate the semiconductor switching element to switch on the electrical consumer before the first relay is closed.

A power electronics assembly of a domestic appliance includes a first relay controlling an electrical contact between a first current-carrying conductor and an electric consumer. The assembly further includes a semiconductor switching element that switches the electrical contact between the first current-carrying conductor and the electric consumer and is arranged in parallel with the first relay. A controller is programmed to activate the semiconductor switching element to switch on the electrical consumer before the first relay is closed.

Dispensing of hot water having an adjustable temperature by way of a water outlet fitting that can be installed on a sink. This is achieved by a continuous flow heater and a measured value sensor arranged in a water inlet of the water outlet fitting as the hot water heater. The measured value sensor detects a measurement variable with regard to water flowing through the continuous flow heater (10). The water dispensing device has a control unit, which is designed to regulate a flow rate through the continuous flow heater as a function of measured values of the measured value sensor in order to adjust the temperature of the hot water.

A hose nozzle assembly which is capable of heating water comprising an internal heating chamber with at least one heating element. The hose nozzle assembly is able to heat water from a common garden hose with the ability to control both flow rates and temperature.

A solar photovoltaic (PV) water heating system includes a tank including at least a first heating unit having at least first and second heating elements, at least one of which is switchable; a PV solar collector; an inverter adapted to convert the output from the PV collector to an alternating power supply; a modulator to modulate the alternating power supply from the inverter; a controller adapted to control the modulator and the switching of the or each switchable heating element; wherein the controller is adapted to control the modulator and the switchable heating elements to maximize the energy drawn from the PV collector.

A solar photovoltaic (PV) water heating system includes a tank (1.020) including at least a first heating unit (1.016) having at least first and second heating elements (1.016.1 . . . 1.016.x), at least one of which is switchable (1.014.1A . . . 1.014.1m); a PV solar collector (1.002); an inverter (1.004) adapted to convert the output from the PV collector to an alternating power supply; a modulator (1.060) to modulate the alternating power supply from the inverter; a controller (1.040) adapted to control the modulator and the switching of the or each switchable heating element; wherein the controller is adapted to control the modulator and the switchable heating elements to maximize the energy drawn from the PC collector.

An electric water heater has upper and lower electric resistance type heating elements respectively controlled by a single pole, double throw upper thermostat and a single pole, single throw lower thermostat. The upper and lower thermostats are operatively interconnected by a wiring harness having outer conductor end portions that are connected to a terminal block portion of an external junction box to provide the water heater with a variety of heating element operating modes without having to replace either of the thermostats, vary the wiring harness interconnections therebetween, or vary the connection between the outer conductor end portions and the terminal block. The water heater may thus be advantageously manufactured in a single variant that may be easily and quickly modified in the field to selectively alter the heating element control mode of the water heater.

A liquid heater is described including a chamber for receiving a liquid, pairs of electrodes located within the chamber for applying electric current to the liquid, input terminals for connection to a power supply, a plurality of switches for connecting the pairs of electrodes to the input terminals, and a control unit for controlling the switches. The switches have a plurality of different states for selectively connecting pairs of electrodes to the input terminals in one of a plurality of electrode configurations, the electrodes having a different total electrical resistance in each electrode configuration. When switching between a first electrode configuration and a second electrode configuration having a second lower total electrical resistance, the control unit controls the switches such that switching between the electrode configurations occurs in response to zero-crossings in a voltage of the power supply or the electrodes of the second electrode configuration are energised with a voltage having a higher duty than the electrodes of the first electrode configuration.

A liquid heater is described including a chamber for receiving a liquid, pairs of electrodes located within the chamber for applying electric current to the liquid, input terminals for connection to a power supply, a plurality of switches for connecting the pairs of electrodes to the input terminals, and a control unit for controlling the switches. The switches have a plurality of different states for selectively connecting pairs of electrodes to the input terminals in one of a plurality of electrode configurations, the electrodes having a different total electrical resistance in each electrode configuration. When switching between a first electrode configuration and a second electrode configuration having a second lower total electrical resistance, the control unit controls the switches such that switching between the electrode configurations occurs in response to zero-crossings in a voltage of the power supply or the electrodes of the second electrode configuration are energised with a voltage having a higher duty than the electrodes of the first electrode configuration.