Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are disclosed of self-configuring ignition controls or control modules (e.g., 120V/240V automatic self-configuring combined ignition and pool control for gas fired pool heating equipment, etc.).

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a hot surface ignition module is configured to receive user input settings for one or more HVAC system configuration parameters wirelessly transmitted by a mobile device to the hot surface ignition module. The hot surface ignition module is configured to store the received user input settings for the one or more HVAC system configuration parameters to control the at least one HVAC component according to the received user input settings for the one or more HVAC system configuration parameters.

Abstract: A gas powered water heater includes a storage tank, a main burner, a display, a flame sensor assembly, a wireless communication interface, and a control system. The flame sensor assembly includes a probe to couple an electric current through a flame on the main burner, and a detector that provides signals representative of the electric current provided through the probe. The control system is programmed to determine a length of time taken for a transition between a signal representative of no electric current and a signal representative of a steady state electric current, to select a flame strength level from a plurality of more than three flame strength levels, to display an indication of the selected flame strength level, and to output, using the wireless communication interface, an alert based on the selected flame strength level for display on a remote computing device.

Abstract: A gas valve assembly includes a gas valve and a control circuit. The gas valve is configured for variably controlling a flow of gas through the gas valve assembly. The control circuit includes a controller programmed to determine a first setting for the gas valve in response to a received commanded flow, adjust the first setting to a second setting based on a measured temperature when the measured temperature is one that may induce changes to the flow of gas through the gas valve assembly, and control the gas valve based on the second setting.

Abstract: An example HVAC system includes an HVAC component, and an HVAC control configured to control the HVAC component according to an HVAC system configuration parameter. The HVAC control includes a controller wireless interface and a memory. The system also includes a mobile device having a user interface and a mobile wireless interface in wireless communication with the controller wireless interface of the HVAC control. The mobile device is configured to display the HVAC system configuration parameter on the user interface, receive user input settings for the HVAC system configuration parameter, and wirelessly transmit the received user input settings to the controller wireless interface of the HVAC control. The HVAC control is configured to store the received user input settings in the memory of the HVAC control to control the HVAC component. Example methods of controlling an HVAC system are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of systems and methods for controlling inducer motor speed. In an exemplary embodiment, a method includes changing stator voltage of an inducer motor (e.g., by changing a firing angle of a triac, using a transistor, a silicon controlled rectifier or semiconductor controlled rectifier (SCR), other switching device, etc.); determining actual inducer motor speed (e.g., by using a hall effect sensor or other speed sensor, etc.); and after determining the actual inducer motor speed, changing the motor stator voltage (e.g., by changing the firing angle of the triac, etc.) to a value at which the actual inducer motor speed is controllably regulated and/or maintained substantially at a set speed.

Abstract: A gas powered water heater includes a storage tank, a main burner, a flame sensor assembly, and a controller communicatively coupled to the flame sensor assembly. The flame sensor assembly includes a probe positioned proximate the main burner to couple an electric current to the main burner through a flame on the main burner and not to couple an electric current to the main burner when the flame is not present on the main burner, and a detector that provides signals representative of the electric current provided through the probe. The controller is programmed to determine a length of time taken for a transition between a signal representative of no electric current and a signal representative of a steady state electric current, and determine, based at least in part on the determined length of time, a strength of the flame on the main burner.

Abstract: A method of controlling a gas furnace system includes controlling a motor of a draft inducer to increase a speed of the motor in response to a call for heat, receiving pressure signals output by a pressure transducer, receiving signals indicating whether a pressure switch is in a first state or a second state, and determining a first status of the pressure transducer as reliable, unreliable, or questionable at a first time based on the received pressure signals from the pressure transducer, the signals indicating whether the pressure switch is in the first state or the second state, and a first status of the motor of the draft inducer at the first time. Operation of the motor of the draft inducer is stopped when the first status of the pressure transducer indicates that the pressure transducer is unreliable.

Abstract: A method of controlling a gas furnace system includes determining a first pressure in a conduit coupled to a draft inducer from signals output by a pressure transducer positioned to sense a pressure within the conduit with a motor of the draft inducer in a stopped condition. A first status of the pressure transducer is determined based at least in part on the first pressure. The motor of the draft inducer is controlled to increase a speed of the motor from the stopped condition in response to a call for heat when the first status does not indicate that the pressure transducer is unreliable, and the motor is maintained in a stopped condition when the first status indicates that the pressure transducer is unreliable.

Abstract: An HVAC system includes an HVAC controller and a motor having five taps and a motor controller including a motor memory and a motor processor. The motor memory stores a first set of control data and instructions that cause the motor processor to drive the motor according to the first set of control data in response to energization of one or more of the five taps. The HVAC controller includes an HVAC controller processor and an HVAC controller memory. The HVAC controller processor is programmed to output instructions to the motor on one tap of the five taps, the instructions instructing the motor controller to change at least one element of the first set of control data to create a second set of control data different than the first set of control data.

Abstract: A system for controlling a capacity of a compressor includes a motor of the compressor including a main winding connected at a connection point to an auxiliary winding and a drive configured to control a speed of the motor. The system includes a first switch configured to selectively connect the main winding to either a first line voltage or a first output of the drive, a second switch configured to selectively connect the connection point to either a second line voltage or a second output of the drive, and a third switch configured to selectively connect the auxiliary winding to either a capacitor or a third output of the drive. The system includes a solenoid valve configured to selectively either operate in a first capacity or a second capacity. The system includes a control module configured to control the drive, the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch.

Abstract: In an exemplary system embodiment, a mobile device is configured to receive and/or determine a first identifier of the first HVAC control and to automatically configure one or more first settings for the first HVAC control corresponding with the first identifier. The one or more first settings are stored within and retrievable directly from the memory of the mobile device. The mobile device is also configured to receive and/or determine a second identifier of the second HVAC control and to automatically configure one or more second settings for the second HVAC control corresponding with the second identifier. The one or more second settings are stored within and retrievable directly from the memory of the mobile device for wireless transmission to the second HVAC control for download to a memory of the second HVAC control for controlling at least one HVAC component according to the one or more second settings.

Abstract: A method of controlling a gas furnace system includes controlling a motor of a draft inducer coupled to a conduit to increase a speed of the motor from a stopped condition in response to a call for heat, and receiving pressure signals output by a pressure transducer responsive to pressure in the conduit. Signals indicating whether a pressure switch responsive to pressure in the conduit is in a first state or a second state are received. A first status of the pressure transducer is determined based on the received pressure signals from the pressure transducer and the signals indicating whether the pressure switch is in the first state or the second state. The method includes continuing to operate the motor when the first status does not indicate that the pressure transducer is unreliable, and stopping the motor when the first status indicates that the pressure transducer is unreliable.

Abstract: A method of operating an HVAC system including a motor having five taps, and an HVAC controller communicatively connected to a plurality of the five taps the motor includes storing, by a processor of the HVAC controller, selected speeds associated with a plurality of operating conditions in a memory of the HVAC control. The processor controls the motor according to the selected speeds and their associated operating conditions using a group of taps of the plurality of taps of the motor to which the HVAC controller is communicatively connected. Data is communicated between the motor and the HVAC controller using one of the plurality of taps of the motor to which the HVAC controller is communicatively connected.

Abstract: A gas powered appliance includes a burner for burning gas, a flame sensor positioned proximate the burner to detect a strength of a flame on the burner and to output signals indicative of the strength of the flame, and a controller connected to the flame sensor. The controller includes a communication interface, a processor, and a memory containing instructions that program the controller to control the burner, receive the signals from the flame sensor indicative of the strength of the flame, determine the strength of the flame from the received signals, and output, using the communication interface, an indication of the strength of the flame to a mobile device for display on the mobile device.

Abstract: An HVAC system includes a motor having a plurality of speeds at which it can operate, an HVAC control, and a mobile device. The HVAC control is configured to control the motor during a plurality of different operations, and includes a controller processor, a controller memory, and controller near field communication (NFC) wireless interface including an NFC processor, an NFC memory, and an antenna. The mobile device includes a user interface and a mobile NFC wireless interface configured. The mobile device is configured to display the plurality of different operations on the user interface, receive user input settings of speeds of the motor for each of the plurality of different operations, and wirelessly transmit the received user input settings to the controller NFC wireless interface of the HVAC control. The NFC processor is configured to store the received user input settings in the NFC memory.

Abstract: An example HVAC system includes an HVAC component, and an HVAC control configured to control the HVAC component according to an HVAC system configuration parameter. The HVAC control includes a controller wireless interface and a memory. The system also includes a mobile device having a user interface and a mobile wireless interface in wireless communication with the controller wireless interface of the HVAC control. The mobile device is configured to display the HVAC system configuration parameter on the user interface, receive user input settings for the HVAC system configuration parameter, and wirelessly transmit the received user input settings to the controller wireless interface of the HVAC control. The HVAC control is configured to store the received user input settings in the memory of the HVAC control to control the HVAC component. Example methods of controlling an HVAC system are also disclosed.

Abstract: An HVAC system includes at least one HVAC component, an HVAC controller, and a communication device. The controller includes a first substrate, a processer mounted on the first substrate, a memory mounted on the first substrate and in communication with the processor, a control interface mounted on the first substrate and communicatively coupled to the processor and the at least one HVAC component, and a first communication interface mounted on the first substrate and communicatively coupled to the processor. The communication module includes a second substrate, a communication circuit mounted on the second substrate, and a second communication interface mounted on the second substrate and communicatively coupled to the communication circuit.

Abstract: An example HVAC system includes a furnace including a gas valve, a circulator motor to circulate air through the HVAC system, and a current sensor configured to detect a current supplied to the circulator motor. The system also includes a controller configured to disable the gas valve when a detected current supplied to the circulator motor is outside of a specified operating current range. A detected current to the circulator motor outside of the specified operating current range is indicative of a malfunction of the circulator motor. Example methods of operating a gas valve in an HVAC system are also disclosed.

Abstract: An example HVAC system includes an HVAC component, and an HVAC control configured to control the HVAC component according to an HVAC system configuration parameter. The HVAC control includes a controller wireless interface and a memory. The system also includes a mobile device having a user interface and a mobile wireless interface in wireless communication with the controller wireless interface of the HVAC control. The mobile device is configured to display the HVAC system configuration parameter on the user interface, receive user input settings for the HVAC system configuration parameter, and wirelessly transmit the received user input settings to the controller wireless interface of the HVAC control. The HVAC control is configured to store the received user input settings in the memory of the HVAC control to control the HVAC component. Example methods of controlling an HVAC system are also disclosed.