Abstract: An HVAC controller may be programmed to initiate a delta T test in response to a request received from a user. The user may initiate the delta T test at the HVAC controller or via a remote device. In some cases, the HVAC controller may be configured to automatically execute a delta T test for each valid equipment stage combination of the HVAC system without receiving further input from the user and to determine both a run time and a stabilized delta T parameter value for each equipment stage combination. The HVAC controller may also record the delta T parameter value and run time for each test in the memory of the HVAC controller. The HVAC controller may be further configured to notify the user when testing for each/all equipment stage combination is complete.

Abstract: An HVAC controller is configured to log one more user interactions into a user interaction log stored in its memory such that at least some of the user interactions may be recalled from the user interaction log and displayed on the user interface of the HVAC controller in response to a request by a user. The user may use the information contained in the user interaction log as an aid in troubleshooting an HVAC system.

Abstract: A humidifier having a field-replaceable water heating enclosure and a humidifier main unit configured to receive the field-replaceable water heating enclosure is provided. The field-replaceable water heating enclosure may include a water inlet, a water outlet, a water vapor outlet, and a resistive heating element. The humidifier main unit may be configured to provide water to the field-replaceable water heating enclosure via the water inlet when the field-replaceable water heating enclosure is received by the humidifier main unit. To facilitate this, the humidifier main unit may include a manifold structured to interface with the water inlet, the water outlet, and the water vapor outlet. The humidifier main unit also may be configured to provide electrical power to the resistive heating element of the field-replaceable water heating enclosure when the field-replaceable water heating enclosure is received by the humidifier main unit.

Abstract: An illustrative damper system includes a damper blade that is configured to be positioned within a duct, such as a bypass duct of an HVAC system. A shaft is in communication with the damper blade, a torsion spring is in communication with the shaft, and a force adjustment mechanism is in communication with the torsion spring. The shaft, the damper blade, and the torsion spring may be configured such that the shaft may affect movement of the damper blade about a rotation axis and the torsion spring may provide a bias force to the shaft for biasing the damper blade toward a desired position (e.g. closed position).

Abstract: An illustrative damper system includes a damper blade, a damper actuator, and a standoff, where the standoff may be configured for use with an insulated duct having an outer surface of the duct, an insulating layer around the outer surface of the duct, and an outer surface of the insulating layer. Illustratively, the standoff may include a body, a mounting mechanism including a first flange, and a second flange spaced from the first flange, where the body, the first flange and the second flange may form an opening or space configured to receive the insulating layer. In some cases, the standoff may include one or more ribs extending between the body and the first and second flanges.

Abstract: An illustrative damper system includes a damper blade that is configured to be positioned within a duct, such as a bypass duct of an HVAC system. A shaft is in communication with the damper blade, and an actuator or force adjustment mechanism is in communication with the shaft. The actuator or force adjustment mechanism may include a housing and a spring therein, where the spring is in communication with the shaft. The shaft, the damper blade, and the spring may be configured such that the shaft may affect movement of the damper blade about a rotation axis offset from a diametrical axis of the damper blade.

Abstract: A damper system may include a handle mechanism for use with a damper actuator system. Illustratively, the handle mechanism may include a drive gear mechanism, a handle, a housing, and a spring, and may be actuated to set a crack pressure for the damper system. The handle may connect to the drive gear mechanism at a drive gear arm of the drive gear mechanism and may flip over or about the drive gear arm to move from a first position to a second position. In some instances, once the handle is in the second position, a force may be applied thereto to disengage the drive gear from a stop member and thereafter, the handle may be rotated to change the crack pressure of the damper system.

Abstract: An HVAC controller is configured to log and record performance related data related to a performance of an HVAC system over a period of time in one or more performance logs stored in a memory of the HVAC controller. In some cases, the HVAC controller may be configured to retrieve at least some of the performance related data from the performance log that corresponds to a selected period of time that may be selected by a user, and display the retrieved performance related data on a display of the HVAC controller.

Abstract: An HVAC controller may store a delta T limit. The delta T limit may be, or may include, a maximum and/or a minimum delta T limit. The HVAC controller may compare a measured delta T value against a delta T limit to determine if the delta T limit has been violated. If the HVAC controller determines that a delta T limit has been violated, the HVAC Controller may log the violation, and in some cases, display a user alert on a display of the HVAC controller. In some cases, different delta T limits may be stored for each operating mode (e.g. heating and cooling), and in some cases, for each stage combination within an operating mode, where appropriate.

Abstract: An HVAC controller may be programmed to identify one or more faults with respect to the operation of a connected HVAC system. In some cases, the HVAC controller may record a fault to a fault log and/or display an alert on the display of the HVAC controller only after a predetermined number of faults of the same fault type have been identified by the HVAC controller, sometime within a predetermined number of cycles of the HVAC system or within a predetermined amount of time.

Abstract: An HVAC controller may be programmed to monitor a current delta T of an HVAC system and to determine a performance level of the HVAC system based, at least in part, on one or more delta T limits stored in the memory of the HVAC controller. The HVAC controller may be further programmed to display or provide a user alert if the performance level falls outside of a normal operating range for the HVAC system.

Abstract: An HVAC controller may include a user activated performance test for monitoring the performance of a connected HVAC system. In some cases, the user activated tests may cause the HVAC controller to operate the HVAC system and identify a current delta T of the HVAC system. In some cases, the identified current delta T may be displayed on a display of the HVAC controller for viewing and/or evaluation by the user. In some cases, a delta T limit may be accepted from the user through the user interface of the HVAC controller. In some cases, a minimum run time may also be received via the user interface of the HVAC controller. The delta T limit and/or the minimum run time may be based, at least in part, on the current delta T identified by the user activated performance test.

Abstract: An HVAC controller may display a user query on the display of the HVAC controller, which queries the user as to whether a utility saver switch is installed and in use. The HVAC controller may take into account whether a utility saver switch is installed and in use when determining, logging and/or reporting out diagnostic faults of the HVAC system.

Abstract: An HVAC controller that monitors a current performance level of an HVAC system, and determines if the current performance level falls below a minimum performance threshold level for at least a first predetermined amount of time. The HVAC controller may be configured it display an alert on the display of the HVAC controller if the HVAC controller determines that the current performance level has fallen below the minimum performance threshold level for at least the first period of time. In some cases, the HVAC controller may remove the alert from the display of the HVAC controller if the current performance level subsequently rises and remains above the minimum performance threshold level for at least a second predetermined amount of time. In some cases, the first predetermined amount of time may include a utility shutoff period component and/or a defrost cycle period component.

Abstract: An HVAC controller that monitors the performance of an HVAC system during its operating by comparing a monitored parameter value (e.g. delta T) to a pre-determined limit stored in the HVAC controller memory in order to determine if a performance limit has been violated. In some cases, the HVAC controller may display on a display of the HVAC controller a user alert for at least some of the detected violations. In some instances, the HVAC controller may display or otherwise provide a user alert only after a pre-determined number of performance violations are detected by the HVAC controller. Alternatively, or in addition, the HVAC controller may accept one or more conditions that indicate when a user alert for a detected violation is not to be displayed on the display of the HVAC controller.

Abstract: An HVAC controller is configured to log one more user interactions into a user interaction log stored in its memory such that at least some of the user interactions may be recalled from the user interaction log and displayed on the user interface of the HVAC controller in response to a request by a user. The user may use the information contained in the user interaction log as an aid in troubleshooting an HVAC system.

Abstract: A computer readable storage medium, embodying instructions executable by a computer to perform a method, the method including: validating a memory write of data segments using a first number of leaf hashes of a first hash tree, where each of the first number of leaf hashes is associated with one of the data segments of a first block size, generating interior node hashes based on the first number of leaf hashes, where each of the interior node hashes is associated with a second block size, generating a first root hash using the interior node hashes, where the first root hash is associated with a remote procedure call size, transmitting the first root rash and the data segments to a network file system, where the transmission is performed using the remote procedure call size, and validating the transmission of the data segments using the first root hash.

Abstract: An insulating beverage sleeve that can lay flat for use as a coaster is described. The sleeve has two separate corrugated panels held together by a thin, flexible outer sheath. The sleeve can collapse into a platform, where no relatively stiff insulating material undergoes a bend or fold at the edges of the platform.

Abstract: A method for performing distributed transactions of a cluster. The method includes, in response to a lock request including a first epoch from a first node, setting a local epoch to a maximum of the first epoch and the local epoch, sending a first lock including the local epoch to the first node, and in response to a conflicting lock request including a second epoch from a second node, setting the local epoch to a maximum of the second epoch and the local epoch, where the conflicting lock request is delayed until after the first lock is released. The method further includes, in response to a reintegration request including a third epoch from the first node, setting the local epoch to a maximum of the third epoch and the local epoch and performing a reintegration based on the reintegration request, where the reintegration is logged using the local epoch.

Abstract: A computer readable storage medium, embodying instructions executable by a computer to perform a method, the method including: validating a memory write of data segments using a first number of leaf hashes of a first hash tree, where each of the first number of leaf hashes is associated with one of the data segments of a first block size, generating interior node hashes based on the first number of leaf hashes, where each of the interior node hashes is associated with a second block size, generating a first root hash using the interior node hashes, where the first root hash is associated with a remote procedure call size, transmitting the first root rash and the data segments to a network file system, where the transmission is performed using the remote procedure call size, and validating the transmission of the data segments using the first root hash.