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 fluid sensing system and approach having a leak sensor. The leak sensor may output a signal when a fluid is detected. The signal may go to an alarm circuit which can sound a warning or alert. The signal may also go to a control interface of a piece of equipment, such as a water heater, to shut off the piece equipment in an event that it is causing a leak of fluid. Also, the sensing system may have a low battery sensor and indicator in case a battery supplying power for the sensing system is running low. The sensing system may be made of analog circuitry and discrete components.

A method of operating a water heater in a load shed mode can include detecting that an upper water heater thermostat control module in a water heater is calling for heat to be provided via an upper heating element of the water heater while the water heater is in a load shed mode of operation wherein a first leg of power to the water heater is decoupled from an input to the upper water heater thermostat control module and responsive to the upper water heater thermostat control module calling for heat, transmitting a signal to end the load shed mode of operation at the water heater so that the first leg of power to the water heater is coupled to the input of the upper water heater thermostat control module so that the upper heating element of the water heater is enabled to heat water responsive to the upper water heater thermostat control module calling for heat.

A water heater that includes a cylindrical storage tank and at least one heating element, is modeled using a one-dimensional model that includes: a vertical stack of disks representing the water volume in the cylindrical storage tank, and a stack of annular segments surrounding the vertical stack of disks. Various temperature measurements are determined via resistance calculations of the at least one heating element. The stack of annular segments represents the cylindrical wall of the cylindrical storage tank. The one-dimensional model may be used by a condition-based maintenance system comprising an electronic data processing device configured to detect a failure mode present in the water heater based on an output of the water heating model component. Some illustrative failure modes include insulation disturbance, heating element failure, excessive sediment buildup, or a drip tube rupture.

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 system for controlling a combustion appliance based on one or more localized environmental factors and an inlet/exhaust system enclosed within a single enclosure. The control system includes an electrically controlled fuel valve, coupled to a source of combustion appliance fuel, and responsive to a fuel valve control signal, for controlling the flow of fuel to the appliance. An air pressure detector is disposed in an area proximate the combustion appliance and configured for detecting negative air pressure in the proximate area and in response for providing a negative air pressure detection signal to a relay which will deactivate the fuel valve until negative air pressure is not present thereby preventing operation of the combustion appliance. Further, if negative air pressure is detected, the relay energizers a makeup air device to bring an outside air into the area near the combustion appliance.

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.

A tankless hot water heater has a molded body having an inlet and an outlet. The water heater has a clamshell design such that upper and lower portions are removably attached to one another. A channel extends from the inlet to the outlet. Heating elements extend through at least a portion of the channel and are configured to heat water flowing through the channel. Sensors are configured to measure temperature of water flowing through the channel prior to coming into contact with the heating element. Sensors measure flow rates, temperatures, presence of air, and/or other factors. A controller adjusts power supplied to heating elements using data from sensors. The controller can be on a printed circuit board that has a current transformer formed from one or more printed coils adjacent to a trace.

A heater system includes a heater bundle. The heater bundle includes at least one heater assembly, where the heater assembly includes a plurality of heater units, and more than one of the heater units defines at least one independently controlled heating zone. The heater bundle includes a plurality of power conductors electrically connected to the independently controlled heating zone. The heater system includes means for determining temperature and at least one power switch, the power switch disposed proximate the heater bundle. The heater system includes at least one controller configured to modulate power to the independently controlled heating zones through the power conductors based on the determined temperature to provide a desired power output along a length of the heater assembly. The controller is configured to provide power to the power switch.

A processor for a controller of a water heater is configured to receive water heater control parameters and an output from a sensor indicating a measured temperature of water in the water heater. The processor is also configured to determine whether to enter an anti-stacking control mode or to enter a demand anticipation control mode. In the anti-stacking control mode the processor is configured to initiate a call for heat when the measured temperature reaches a trigger temperature, calculate a burner on delay value and set a second timer with the calculated value, and calculate a reduced activation time. In the demand anticipation control mode the processor is configured to increase the variable offset based on a frequency of the demand anticipation control mode being activated, initiate a call for heat, and control, based on the reduced activation time or the increased offset value, the burner.