Abstract: A water heater with an ionized ignition system includes an electronic controller in operative communication with a burner electrovalve, temperature detector, flow detector, and first and second spark plugs. The electronic controller is configured to ignite the water heater burner when a temperature detected by the temperature detector is less than (by preset margin) a desired water temperature input to the electronic controller by a user, and a). upon a flow demand signal from said flow detector, b). according to a time schedule input to said electronic controller; or c). when a remote control is actuated by the user.

Abstract: A water heater is controlled by an electronic system that initiates the operation of the heater when a flow detector sends a demand signal for hot water flow to the electronic card, which ignites a burner as function of a temperature programmed by the user. The burner is lit gradually by an electrical spark emitted by a spark plug connected to the electronic card, which in turn controls gas feed to the burner. As soon as the burner is lit, the electric current generated by the first spark plug is transformed by the ionization effect, changing the polarization of the current, which is detected by another spark plug that emits the change signal to the electronic card for further control of the heater. The heater operates without a permanently lit pilot light.