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.

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 control signals 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 signals.

An electric heater device includes: a plurality of pipes stacked with each other through a predetermined clearance, a fluid flowing inside the plurality of pipes; a heating element that emits heat by being energized; and an electronic component module including an electronic component different from the heating element. The heating element and the electronic component module are disposed in the clearance between the plurality of pipes.

A temperature controller for a heater for a container for use in hazardous areas and a method of programming such a temperature controller. The method of programming such a temperature controller comprises the steps of writing identification data and parameter data to a memory of a portable token in an area remote from the hazardous area; transporting the token to a position in proximity to the temperature controller in the hazardous area; transmitting, by means of near field communication, the identification data and parameter data stored in the memory of the portable token to a receiver in the temperature controller; comparing the identification data received by the temperature controller with identification data stored in a memory of the temperature controller; and if said comparison of identification data is positive, and updating parameter data stored in the memory of the temperature controller with the parameter data received by the receiver.

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.

The wireless carbon monoxide furnace shutoff system is a safety device that monitors the interior of a space for unsafe concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2). The wireless carbon monoxide furnace shutoff system will shut off the furnace should an unsafe concentration of either CO or CO2 be detected within the interior space. The wireless carbon monoxide furnace shutoff system comprises a remote module and a furnace module. The remote module and the furnace module are connected with a wireless communication link. The remote module monitors the concentration of CO and the concentration of CO2 within the interior space. The remote module sends a plurality of messages to the furnace module that enables and disables the operation of the furnace based on the concentration of CO and the concentration of CO2 measured within the interior space.

An ohmic heater for heating a conductive fluid has a plurality of electrodes mounted to a structure with spaces between the electrodes. The electrodes (14) are selectively connect to poles (38, 40) of a power supply, so that some electrodes are connected to the poles and others remain isolated from the poles. Shunting switches are provided for connecting two or more of the isolated electrodes to one another. The shunting switches allow formation of a large number of different connection schemes having a variety of different electrical conduction paths through fluid in the spaces and a variety of resistances between the poles with relatively few electrodes and spaces.

A vent proving system is described for use with a gas fired appliance. The gas fired appliance includes a gas burner, a vent damper for selectively opening or closing an exhaust vent from the gas fired appliance and a relay control for operatively controlling the vent damper and the gas burner to open the damper if the gas burner is on. The vent proving system comprises a sensor for sensing a variable in the vent representing air flow direction in the vent. An electrical switch is connected in series between the relay control and the vent damper. A controller is operatively connected to the sensor, the electrical switch and to the relay control.

A system having a fluid leak detector, an audio detection circuit, and a processor. The fluid leak detector may have an audio alarm. The audio detection circuit may have a sound sensor and an audio-to-electrical signal converter. The processor may have an electrical signal-to-status of fluid presence. The fluid leak detector, the audio detection circuit and the processor may use very little power when in a standby detection mode.