Abstract: A storage-type water heater includes a tank for supporting water to be heated, a first heating bank including a first heating surface disposed within the tank, a first contactor connected to the first heating bank, a second heating bank including a second heating surface disposed within the tank, a second contactor connected to the second heating bank, and a controller for selectively operating the first contactor and the second contactor.

Abstract: A method of controlling a motor operating a pumping apparatus of a system includes determining a trip value for a parameter, floating the trip value, and monitoring the operation of the pump. Monitoring the operation of the pump includes determining a value for the parameter, comparing the value to the trip value, and determining whether the comparison indicates a condition of the pump. The method of controlling the motor also includes controlling the motor to operate the pump based on the condition of the pump.

Abstract: A pumping apparatus for a jetted-fluid system includes a pump having an inlet connectable to the drain, and an outlet connectable to the return. The pump is adapted to receive the fluid from the drain and jet fluid through the return. The apparatus includes a motor coupled to the pump to operate the pump, a sensor configured to generate a signal having a relation to a parameter of the motor, and a switch coupled to the motor and configured to control at least a characteristic of the motor. The apparatus also includes a microcontroller coupled to the sensor and the switch. The microcontroller includes a model observer configured to receive a first value based on the signal and to generate a second value representative of at least one of a modeled flow or a modeled pressure based on the first value. The microcontroller is configured to control the motor based on the second value.

Abstract: An electrical machine having a stator and a rotor. The stator includes a core and a plurality of windings disposed on the core in a multiple-phase arrangement. The rotor is disposed adjacent to the stator to interact with the stator. A method of operating the motor includes applying a pulsed voltage differential to first and second terminals of the windings resulting in movement of the rotor; monitoring the back electromotive force (BEMF) of the windings to sense rotor movement; after the applying and monitoring steps, monitoring the BEMF of the windings to determine whether the rotor is rotating in a desired direction, and electrically commutating the motor when the rotor is rotating in the desired direction and zero or more other conditions exist.

Abstract: A method of controlling a motor operating a pumping apparatus of a system includes determining a trip value for a parameter, floating the trip value, and monitoring the operation of the pump. Monitoring the operation of the pump includes determining a value for the parameter, comparing the value to the trip value, and determining whether the comparison indicates a condition of the pump. The method of controlling the motor also includes controlling the motor to operate the pump based on the condition of the pump.

Abstract: A storage-type water heater includes a tank for supporting water to be heated, a first heating bank including a first heating surface disposed within the tank, a first contactor connected to the first heating bank, a second heating bank including a second heating surface disposed within the tank, a second contactor connected to the second heating bank, and a controller for selectively operating the first contactor and the second contactor.

Abstract: A method of controlling a motor operating a pumping apparatus of a system includes determining a trip value for a parameter, floating the trip value, and monitoring the operation of the pump. Monitoring the operation of the pump includes determining a value for the parameter, comparing the value to the trip value, and determining whether the comparison indicates a condition of the pump. The method of controlling the motor also includes controlling the motor to operate the pump based on the condition of the pump.

Abstract: A pumping apparatus for a jetted-fluid system includes a pump having an inlet connectable to the drain, and an outlet connectable to the return. The pump is adapted to receive the fluid from the drain and jet fluid through the return. The pumping apparatus includes a motor coupled to the pump to operate the pump, a sensor connectable to the power source and configured to generate a signal having a relation to a parameter of the motor, and a switch coupled to the motor and configured to control at least a characteristic of the motor. The pumping apparatus also includes a microcontroller coupled to the sensor and the switch. The microcontroller is configured to generate a derivative value based on the signal, and to control the motor based on the derivative value.

Abstract: A pumping apparatus for a jetted-fluid system includes a pump having an inlet connectable to the drain, and an outlet connectable to the return. The pump is adapted to receive the fluid from the drain and jet fluid through the return. The apparatus includes a motor coupled to the pump to operate the pump, a sensor configured to generate a signal having a relation to a parameter of the motor, and a switch coupled to the motor and configured to control at least a characteristic of the motor. The apparatus also includes a microcontroller coupled to the sensor and the switch. The microcontroller includes a model observer configured to receive a first value based on the signal and to generate a second value representative of at least one of a modeled flow or a modeled pressure based on the first value. The microcontroller is configured to control the motor based on the second value.

Abstract: A pumping apparatus for a jetted-fluid system includes a pump having an inlet connectable to the drain, and an outlet connectable to the return. The pump is adapted to receive the fluid from the drain and jet fluid through the return. The apparatus includes a motor coupled to the pump to operate the pump, a sensor configured to generate a signal having a relation to a parameter of the motor, and a switch coupled to the motor and configured to control at least a characteristic of the motor. The apparatus also includes a microcontroller coupled to the sensor and the switch. The microcontroller includes a model observer configured to receive a first value based on the signal and to generate a second value representative of at least one of a modeled flow or a modeled pressure based on the first value. The microcontroller is configured to control the motor based on the second value.

Abstract: An electrical machine having a stator and a rotor. The stator includes a core and a plurality of windings disposed on the core in a multiple-phase arrangement. The rotor is disposed adjacent to the stator to interact with the stator. A method of operating the motor includes applying a pulsed voltage differential to first and second terminals of the windings resulting in movement of the rotor; monitoring the back electromotive force (BEMF) of the windings to sense rotor movement; after the applying and monitoring steps, monitoring the BEMF of the windings to determine whether the rotor is rotating in a desired direction, and electrically commutating the motor when the rotor is rotating in the desired direction and zero or more other conditions exist.

Abstract: An electrical machine having a stator and a rotor. The stator includes a core and a plurality of windings disposed on the core in a multiple-phase arrangement. The rotor is disposed adjacent to the stator to interact with the stator. A method of operating the motor includes applying a pulsed voltage differential to first and second terminals of the windings resulting in movement of the rotor; monitoring the back electromotive force (BEMF) of the windings to sense rotor movement; after the applying and monitoring steps, monitoring the BEMF of the windings to determine whether the rotor is rotating in a desired direction, and electrically commutating the motor when the rotor is rotating in the desired direction and zero or more other conditions exist.

Abstract: An appliance is disclosed that includes an electrically operated load such as a gas-fired appliance having an electrically operated gas valve. A current sensing circuit is configured to sense the current provided to the load. Based upon this sensed current, it is determined whether the load is energized. Methods are also disclosed for monitoring the status of a current sensing circuit to determine the actual operating state of the load.

Abstract: A gas-fired appliance is disclosed that includes a gas valve powered by a power source. A plurality of switching units, each responsive to a condition of the appliance, are arranged in series between the gas valve and the power source. Each switching unit includes an emitter, such as an emitter of an optocoupler, that is used to monitor the opened or closed status of a switch in the switching unit. When at least one switch opens, power to the gas valve is reduced preventing the gas valve from operating. However, because this reduced power is provided to each subsequent switching unit, each optocoupler can be monitored regardless of the opened or closed status of previous switching units. As such, one or more open switches can be detected simulataneously.

Abstract: A pumping apparatus for a jetted-fluid system includes a pump having an inlet connectable to the drain, and an outlet connectable to the return. The pump is adapted to receive the fluid from the drain and jet fluid through the return. The apparatus includes a motor coupled to the pump to operate the pump, a sensor configured to generate a signal having a relation to a parameter of the motor, and a switch coupled to the motor and configured to control at least a characteristic of the motor. The apparatus also includes a microcontroller coupled to the sensor and the switch. The microcontroller includes a model observer configured to receive a first value based on the signal and to generate a second value representative of at least one of a modeled flow or a modeled pressure based on the first value. The microcontroller is configured to control the motor based on the second value.

Abstract: A method of controlling a motor operating a pumping apparatus of a system includes determining a trip value for a parameter, floating the trip value, and monitoring the operation of the pump. Monitoring the operation of the pump includes determining a value for the parameter, comparing the value to the trip value, and determining whether the comparison indicates a condition of the pump. The method of controlling the motor also includes controlling the motor to operate the pump based on the condition of the pump.

Abstract: A pumping apparatus for a jetted-fluid system includes a pump having an inlet connectable to the drain, and an outlet connectable to the return. The pump is adapted to receive the fluid from the drain and jet fluid through the return. The pumping apparatus includes a motor coupled to the pump to operate the pump, a sensor connectable to the power source and configured to generate a signal having a relation to a parameter of the motor, and a switch coupled to the motor and configured to control at least a characteristic of the motor. The pumping apparatus also includes a microcontroller coupled to the sensor and the switch. The microcontroller is configured to generate a derivative value based on the signal, and to control the motor based on the derivative value.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for controlling an electric machine. The method can include using a controller to detect whether power is present at a first node of the controller, detect whether power is present at a second node of the controller, generate at least one signal based at least in part on the detection, and energize the electric machine using a detected power when the at least one signal indicates power is present at at least one of the first node, the second node, and a combination of the first node and the second node.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for controlling an electric machine. The method can include using a controller to detect whether power is present at a first node of the controller, detect whether power is present at a second node of the controller, generate at least one signal based at least in part on the detection, and energize the electric machine using a detected power when the at least one signal indicates power is present at at least one of the first node, the second node, and a combination of the first node and the second node.

Abstract: An electric machine having a stator assembly that includes a stator core and a coil supported by the stator core and a rotor assembly that includes a shaft and a rotor supported by the shaft that is in magnetic interaction with the stator core. The electric machine may include a single sensor configured to detect magnetic polarities of the rotor as the rotor rotates relative to the sensor and to generate a signal representing the detected magnetic polarities of the rotor. The signal and an inverted version of the signal are utilized to control current through the coil. The current may be controlled indirectly by controlling the application of voltage to the coil. The sensor may be encapsulated on a circuit board to positively position the sensor relative to the circuit board. The circuit board may be mounted to a bearing housing of the electric machine. The sensor may be received in a pocket of a bearing housing of the electric machine so the sensor is positively positioned relative to the rotor.