A continuous-flow heater for heating a liquid includes a fluid-accessible channel arrangement with at least one heating channel configured for heating the liquid with at least one electric heating element arranged therein, an electronic control system configured to control electronic circuit breakers in order to electrically operate the heating element and to control the heat output of the heating element, a flow measuring device electrically connected to the electronic control system and configured to detect the volume flow rate of the liquid flowing through the channel arrangement and to provide a pulsed measurement signal, and a safety circuit connected on the input side to the flow measuring device and on the output side to the electronic control system in order to provide a supply voltage for controlling the electronic circuit breakers depending on whether the volume flow rate is greater than a minimum volume flow rate specification.

A liquid heating appliance for making a beverage, the liquid heating appliance comprising: a plurality of heating components for heating a liquid, where at least a first of the plurality of heating components is powered using mains power, a power management system, wherein the power management system comprises: a controller, and an energy storage device, wherein the controller is arranged to control an amount of the mains power applied to the first of the plurality of heating components, and further arranged to control an amount of stored power from the energy storage device to be applied to at least a second of the plurality of heating components.

A heater system includes a heater bundle. The heater bundle includes a plurality of heater assemblies. Each heater assembly includes a plurality of heater units and an insulating material, and each heater unit defines at least one independently controlled heating zone. The heater bundle includes power conductors electrically connected to each of the independently controlled heating zones in each of the heater units. The heater bundle includes a power supply device configured to modulate power to each of the independently controlled heater zones of the heater units through the power conductors. A voltage is selectively supplied to each of the independently controlled heating zones such that a reduced number of independently controlled heating zones receives the voltage at a time or at least a subset of the independently controlled heating zones receive a reduced voltage at all times.

An on-demand heater includes a plurality of heater banks disposed in series with one another between a heater fluid inlet and heater fluid outlet. Power to one or more of the heater banks is adjusted when a sensed exit fluid temperature from a heater bank differs from the partial fluid temperature increase assigned to that heater bank, such that the total desired fluid temperature increase is achieved at the heater fluid outlet in a controlled manner.

A method of controlling a heating system is provided that includes having at least one heater assembly, the heater assembly comprising a plurality of heater units, each heater unit defining at least one independently controlled heating zone, supplying power to each of the heater units through power conductors electrically connected to each of the independently controlled heating zones in each of the heater units, and modulating power supplied to each of the independently controlled heating zones. A voltage is selectively supplied to each of the independently controlled heating zones such that a reduced number of independently controlled heating zones receives the voltage at a time, or at least a subset of the independently controlled heating zones receive a reduced voltage at all times.

A hot water storage arrangement having an electronic control unit, by means of which various modes of operation of the storage arrangement can be set. Those modes of operation can represent a normal mode of operation (at a setpoint temperature of between 30 C. and 100 C.), a frost protection mode of operation (at a temperature <10 C. and >1 C.), a time switch mode of operation (in which it is possible to set times of different setpoint temperatures with an adjustable time switch), an ECO mode of operation (in which an electronic temperature limit of between 30 C. and 55 C. is set), a hygiene mode of operation (in which a periodic increase in temperature of 55 C. is set) and/or and run-dry detection mode of operation (in which a temperature difference between a first temperature and a second temperature after heating of the hot water storage arrangement is ascertained).

A low water cutoff switch controller features a dual inline package (DIP) in combination with low water cutoff switch processor. The dual inline package (DIP) has DIP switches, each DIP switch configured to set in a respective application type or mode corresponding to a particular water heater model for the low water cutoff switch controller to control, and also configured to provide DIP switch signaling containing information about a respective DIP switch set. The low water cutoff switch processor is configured to respond to the DIP switch signaling, and also configured to respond to corresponding signaling containing information about a sensed water level contained in the particular water heater model being controlled by the low water cutoff switch controller, and provide control signaling containing information to control the operation of the particular water heater model. The low water cutoff switch controller is a single controller that can be used for controlling any one of a plurality of different water heater models and have different voltage applications by setting a respective one of the DIP switches.

A circulating bath (10) including a heater (18) configured to heat a fluid (34) in a reservoir (22). The heater (18) is configured to be operatively connected to a source of power (50) by a control circuit (39) operatively coupled to the heater (18). First and second fluid level sensors (14) (16) are operatively coupled to the control circuit (39), and provide signals indicative of a low fluid condition in the reservoir (22). The control circuit (39) is configured to receive the signals from the fluid level sensors (14) (16), and disconnect the heater (18) from the source of power (50) in response to receiving a signal from either of the first and second fluid level sensors (14), (16) indicative of a low fluid condition.

An on-demand hot water dispenser includes a housing, a water heating system received in the housing, and a faucet connected to the water heating system through the housing for dispensing hot water into a container. A drip tray is positioned below the faucet and a screen covers the drip tray to support the container during dispensing of the hot water.

In an electric water heater having adjustable set point and differential temperatures, upper and lower heating elements, and associated temperature sensors respectively operative to sense upper and lower tank water temperatures, a specially designed control system is provided for controlling the heating elements. The control system is operative to prevent dry firing of the heating elements by measuring temperatures over time with the temperature sensors.