Abstract: A control system for a hot water heater includes a reservoir for containing hot water, a cold water feed for the reservoir, a hot water exit for the reservoir and means for supplying energy to heat water in the reservoir. A temperature monitoring probe associated with the reservoir monitors the temperature of the reservoir. The frequency of removal of water from the reservoir is monitored. There are means for relating the temperature and frequency of water removal to control the operation of the energy means for supplying heat to the reservoir. The frequency of water usage is signaled by monitoring the water temperature in the reservoir, the water flow from the reservoir, or the pressure of water in the reservoir. Based upon the frequency determination, the setpoint of the heating system can be adjusted so that stacking is avoided.

Abstract: An oil burner control system is disclosed in which recycling between a loss of combustion to re-establishment of combustion is limited by counting the number of times recycling occurs and causing a the system to stop recycling and go to lockout after the count reaches a predetermined value.

Abstract: An oil burner control system is disclosed in which an extended time may be temporarily selected, in situations such as initial set up or periodic maintenance, for priming the pipes, filters and pumps, before a safety lockout of system operation occurs, while otherwise leaving the normal safety lockout functions intact. An igniter in the system operates in an “intermittent” mode during the temporarily selected extended time, and otherwise operates in an “interrupted” mode.

Abstract: Improved lockout control in oil primary controllers for oil heating systems which allows a reasonable number of user resets and ignition retries in the event of lockout, while minimizing the unwanted accumulation of oil in the combustion chamber of the heating system. When the oil primary goes into lockout mode due to failure of combustion to take place, the oil primary is placed in a restricted mode of operation in which a limited number of reset activations and combustion retries may be attempted. If they are unsuccessful, a waiting time interval is then imposed between further successive attempts. The lockout or trial for ignition time may also be reduced for subsequent attempts, to minimize flooding. Normal operation is returned once a successful combustion cycle has been achieved.

Abstract: A control system for a hot water heater includes a reservoir for containing hot water, a cold water feed for the reservoir, a hot water exit for the reservoir and means for supplying energy to heat water in the reservoir. A temperature monitoring probe associated with the reservoir monitors the temperature of the reservoir. The frequency of removal of water from the reservoir is monitored. There are means for relating the temperature and frequency of water removal to control the operation of the energy means for supplying heat to the reservoir. The frequency of water usage is signaled by monitoring the water temperature in the reservoir, the water flow from the reservoir, or the pressure of water in the reservoir. Based upon the frequency determination, the setpoint of the heating system can be adjusted so that stacking is avoided.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining and communicating a need for water heater clean out based on scale deposit buildup is disclosed in which a sensed increase in average reheat time is employed as a measure of deposit buildup and to initiate a clean out alert.

Abstract: A controller for a system has two or more operating modes. The controller operates according to a different control algorithm in each operating mode. A manually operable switch typically used for sending a reset signal to the controller, may also be used to change operating modes. The controller changes operating mode when it detects that the switch is manually operated during a preselected phase of controller operation, typically when power is first applied. The disclosed embodiment allows up to four different operating modes to be selected. A first selection of operating modes can occurs if the switch is held closed during startup and then immediately released. A second selection of operating mode occurs if the switch is pressed within a preselected time interval after power is first applied to the controller. Both selections can be made during a single start-up event.