A system and a method is described for remotely controlling gas consumption by a power vented gas-fired water heater to reduce consumption of gas by a consumer connected to a gas distribution bank network of a gas provider during overload periods where gas demand is at a peak. The system comprises a consumer controller in communication with the gas provider whereby the controller can operate a modulating gas control valve either directly or through the control of the fan speed of a power vented blower to reduce the supply of gas to the burner of the gas-fired water heater when asked by the provider to do so. Temperature sensors are associated with the water holding tank of the gas-fired water heater to feed water temperature signals to a computer of the controller whereby to enable the controller to execute informed corrective action for the reduction in gas consumption by regulating the gas control valve to reduce the supply of gas to the burner of the water heater.

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.

Disclosed herein is a water heating system including a water heater having a tank, and a first temperature sensor disposed toward a top end of the tank to measure a first temperature and a second temperature sensor disposed toward a bottom end of the tank to measure a second temperature. The water heating system can further include a controller communicably coupled to the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, where the controller determines an amount of heated water in the tank based on one or more algorithms and measurements made by the first and second temperature sensors.

A temperature sensor securing system and method is described for securing two or more temperature sensors against an outer surface of a side wall of a tank of an electric water heater. The temperature sensors are secured spaced apart on an elongated support such as a circuit board which is held in position against the tank outer surface by support means. An expandable liquid foam causes the temperature sensors to be biased against the outer surface of the tank side wall to sense the temperature of the side wall at the location of the sensors and to generate actual temperature signals to a controller which is programmed to communicate with a subscriber and/or energy provider to control the water temperature inside the tank.

A temperature sensor securing system and method is described for securing two or more temperature sensors against an outer surface of a side wall of a tank of an electric water heater. The temperature sensors are secured spaced apart on an elongated support such as a circuit board which is held in position against the tank outer surface by support means. An expandable liquid foam causes the temperature sensors to be biased against the outer surface of the tank side wall to sense the temperature of the side wall at the location of the sensors and to generate actual temperature signals to a controller which is programmed to communicate with a subscriber and/or energy provider to control the water temperature inside the tank.

This disclosure is related to devices, systems, and techniques for controlling a temperature of water contained by a water tank. A controller includes a user interface configured to receive one or more user inputs indicative of a request to set a control parameter of the controller and communication circuitry configured to receive, from a user device, an electronic signal. Additionally, the controller includes processing circuitry configured to identify, from the electronic signal, one or more first data packets that include a request to disable an ability to change, based on the one or more user inputs received by the user interface, the control parameter of the controller and in response to receiving the one or more first data packets, disable the ability to change the control parameter of the controller.

A water heater system includes a water heater and a thermal mixing valve. The water heater includes a tank and a cap that each define interior volumes. The interior volume of the tank includes a heating element is the location where fluid is heated, whereas the cap includes a volume within which the thermal mixing valve may be disposed. The thermal mixing valve pulls cool and warm water from the volume of the tank, and then discharges a mixed stream of fluid at a user desired temperature via an outlet.

Disclosed herein is a water heating system including a water heater having a tank, and a first temperature sensor disposed toward a top end of the tank to measure a first temperature and a second temperature sensor disposed toward a bottom end of the tank to measure a second temperature. The water heating system can further include a controller communicably coupled to the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, where the controller determines an amount of heated water in the tank based on one or more algorithms and measurements made by the first and second temperature sensors.

Disclosed herein is a water heating system including a water heater having a tank, and a first temperature sensor disposed toward a top end of the tank to measure a first temperature and a second temperature sensor disposed toward a bottom end of the tank to measure a second temperature. The water heating system can further include a controller communicably coupled to the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, where the controller determines an amount of heated water in the tank based on one or more algorithms and measurements made by the first and second temperature sensors.

This disclosure is related to devices, systems, and techniques for controlling a temperature of water contained by a water tank. A controller includes a user interface configured to receive one or more user inputs indicative of a request to set a control parameter of the controller and communication circuitry configured to receive, from a user device, an electronic signal. Additionally, the controller includes processing circuitry configured to identify, from the electronic signal, one or more first data packets that include a request to disable an ability to change, based on the one or more user inputs received by the user interface, the control parameter of the controller and in response to receiving the one or more first data packets, disable the ability to change the control parameter of the controller.