A system and approach for developing a periodic water usage profile and demand for controlling a water heater. A mode may be selected for demand for a certain amount of water of a particular temperature range to be available for use from the water heater. Data on hot water usage may be collected and the usage profile and demand may be calculated from the data. The water heater may be programmed to operate in a certain fashion based on the usage profile and demand. A control knob may be on the water heater control to select a particular demand. Control of the water heater may be operated from a remote device connected in a wireless or wired fashion. An optimization program may be implemented in the control of the water heater for achieving one or more beneficial goals related to water heater performance and hot water production.

A system and approach for developing a periodic water usage profile and demand for controlling a water heater. A mode may be selected for demand for a certain amount of water of a particular temperature range to be available for use from the water heater. Data on hot water usage may be collected and the usage profile and demand may be calculated from the data. The water heater may be programmed to operate in a certain fashion based on the usage profile and demand. A control knob may be on the water heater control to select a particular demand. Control of the water heater may be operated from a remote device connected in a wireless or wired fashion. An optimization program may be implemented in the control of the water heater for achieving one or more beneficial goals related to water heater performance and hot water production.

A heating system includes at least one electric heater disposed within a fluid flow system and a control device that is configured to determine a temperature of the at least one electric heater based on a model, at least one fluid flow system input, and at least one heater input. The at least one heater input includes at least one physical characteristic of the heating system, the at least one physical characteristic includes at least one of a resistance wire diameter, a heater insulation thickness, a heater sheath thickness, a conductivity, a specific heat and density of the material of the heater, an emissivity of the heater and the fluid flow pathway, and combinations thereof. The control device is configured to provide power to the at least one electric heater based on the temperature of the at least one electric heater.

A heating system includes at least one electric heater disposed within a fluid flow system and a control device that is configured to determine a temperature of the at least one electric heater based on a model, at least one fluid flow system input, and at least one heater input. The at least one heater input includes at least one physical characteristic of the heating system, the at least one physical characteristic includes at least one of a resistance wire diameter, a heater insulation thickness, a heater sheath thickness, a conductivity, a specific heat and density of the material of the heater, an emissivity of the heater and the fluid flow pathway, and combinations thereof. The control device is configured to provide power to the at least one electric heater based on the temperature of the at least one electric heater.

Disclosed is a system and method for monitoring hot water supply in a load control network, and more particularly for ensuring that there is sufficient hot water available for a customer participating in a demand response program that uses, at least in part, water heaters as a component of the demand response program. A multi-meter that is external to the water heater is used to monitor an electrical power supply circuit on the water heater, to report preferably volts, amps, and power factor of the water heater. The multi-meter may use these measured values to, in turn, determine a current charge state of the water heater and thus ensure maintenance of an adequate supply of hot water, even in times of demand response curtailment.

This temperature control device is provided with: an endothermic/exothermic unit that heats or cools a subject to be subjected to temperature control; a temperature detection unit that detects the first temperature of the periphery of the subject; a control unit that controls the endothermic/exothermic unit on the basis of a variable target temperature; and a variable target temperature setter that sets the variable target temperature to a first variable target temperature on the basis of the first temperature and target temperature information indicating the target temperature. With such temperature control device, since the target temperature changes to a suitable value as needed, a time needed until the temperature of the subject reaches the target temperature can be shortened.

Provided is a thermostat including a diaphragm arranged on a core body that is inserted into a base. The assembly is closed at the top by a metallic cover and at the bottom by a flat lid. The thermostat also includes the core body presenting a cylindrical shape and is provided with two radially opposing projections and a guide hole, with the guide hole centrally arranged to receive a pin in a slidably manner; and the base, in an monolithic body, including: two walls in the form of a cylindrical arc, having collars on their top portions and together defining a cradle for said core body; and sides and faces that are adjacent to the sides. Projecting from said faces are terminals for electrical connection. The short terminal is coupled to a contact blade for contact with the long terminal. The blade is actuated by the pin, which is in turn actuated by the diaphragm. The terminals and the blade are co-injected with the base. Alternatively, the thermostat also includes a heater bias, formed by a pair of resistors in parallel.

Provided is a thermostat including a diaphragm arranged on a core body that is inserted into a base. The assembly is closed at the top by a metallic cover and at the bottom by a flat lid. The thermostat also includes the core body presenting a cylindrical shape and is provided with two radially opposing projections and a guide hole, with the guide hole centrally arranged to receive a pin in a slidably manner; and the base, in an monolithic body, including: two walls in the form of a cylindrical arc, having collars on their top portions and together defining a cradle for said core body; and sides and faces that are adjacent to the sides. Projecting from said faces are terminals for electrical connection. The short terminal is coupled to a contact blade for contact with the long terminal. The blade is actuated by the pin, which is in turn actuated by the diaphragm. The terminals and the blade are co-injected with the base. Alternatively, the thermostat also includes a heater bias, formed by a pair of resistors in parallel.

Systems and methods for provisioning a component of an HVAC system are presented. A provisioning device, such as a smartphone, is used to scan HVAC component information obtained from a tag on each component and wirelessly transfers the information to a thermostat or HVAC system controller. The thermostat or system controller automatically configures itself to control the equipment based on the details in the tag which are transmitted to the thermostat. The label may include barcode or textual information, which is decoded by software executing in the provisioning device, the thermostat, or a server computer in communication with the provisioning device or the thermostat. In embodiments, the HVAC component information is transmitted to a web services application to facilitate the installation, support, maintenance, and repair of the HVAC system.

A temperature control apparatus is provided, which is capable of, even when it is necessary to perform control by means of valves in a plurality of channels, promptly controlling a temperature of an area to be temperature-controlled promptly to a desired temperature, while avoiding complication and enlargement of the apparatus as a whole. Passage and blockage of a heating medium passing through a first supply channel to a mixing channel, a temperature of the heating medium being controlled by a first temperature regulating unit at a predetermined temperature, and passage and blockage of a heating medium passing through a second supply channel to the mixing channel, a temperature of the heating medium being controlled by a second temperature regulating unit, are controlled by a valve unit. The valve unit includes a first spool valve and a second spool valve, which are coupled through a heat insulating layer.