Abstract: A water heater control system comprising an energy storage system electrically connected to a pilot valve operator and electrically isolated from a main valve operator. The energy storage system may be electrically connected to an ignition circuit. A thermoelectric device is in thermal communication with the pilot flame and electrically connected to a main valve operator. The water heater system may include a microcontroller configured to establish electrical communications between the device and the energy storage system, the pilot valve operator, and the main valve operator. The microcontroller may be configured to recognize a call for main burner operation, and may also be configured to check an available voltage of the energy storage system against a setpoint. The microcontroller may establish pilot flame operation with or without main burner operation, depending on whether a call for heat or recharging of the energy storage system is required.

Abstract: A water heater control system the water heater system comprising a rechargeable and non-rechargeable power source. In one or more examples, a controller such as a microcontroller of the water heater system is configured to receive power from the non-rechargeable power source and does not receive power from the rechargeable power source. Various other components of the water heater system are configured to receive power from the rechargeable power source. The system may comprise an energy storage system electrically connected to a pilot valve operator and electrically isolated from a main valve operator. The controller may be configured to recognize a call for main burner operation and may also be configured to check an available voltage of the energy storage system against a setpoint.

Abstract: A flame powered intermittent pilot combustion controller may include a first power source and a second power source separate from the first power source, a thermal electric and/or photoelectric device, an igniter and a controller. The thermal electric and/or photoelectric device may charge the first power source when exposed to a flame. The controller and the igniter may receive power from the first power source when the first power source has sufficient available power, and may receive power from the second power source when the first power source does not have sufficient available power.

Abstract: An illustrative HVAC controller may include a communication module for wirelessly communicating with a network and wiring terminals for receiving a wired connection to a remote temperature sensor that is situated remote from the HVAC controller and in a living space of the building. A controller may be operably coupled to the communication module and the wiring terminals and may be configured to implement a thermostat control algorithm to generate one or more control signals, wherein the one or more control signals are provided by a wired connection to the HVAC system to control one or more HVAC components of the HVAC system. The thermostat control algorithm may be configured to compare a sensed temperature received from the remote temperature sensor via the wiring terminals and a temperature setpoint received from the server via the network.

Abstract: A water heater control system comprising an energy storage system electrically connected to a pilot valve operator and electrically isolated from a main valve operator. The energy storage system may be electrically connected to an ignition circuit. A thermoelectric device is in thermal communication with the pilot flame and electrically connected to a main valve operator. The water heater system may include a microcontroller configured to establish electrical communications between the device and the energy storage system, the pilot valve operator, and the main valve operator. The microcontroller may be configured to recognize a call for main burner operation, and may also be configured to check an available voltage of the energy storage system against a setpoint. The microcontroller may establish pilot flame operation with or without main burner operation, depending on whether a call for heat or recharging of the energy storage system is required.

Abstract: A water heater control system the water heater system comprising a rechargeable and non-rechargeable power source. In one or more examples, a controller such as a microcontroller of the water heater system is configured to receive power from the non-rechargeable power source and does not receive power from the rechargeable power source. Various other components of the water heater system are configured to receive power from the rechargeable power source. The system may comprise an energy storage system electrically connected to a pilot valve operator and electrically isolated from a main valve operator. The controller may be configured to recognize a call for main burner operation and may also be configured to check an available voltage of the energy storage system against a setpoint.

Abstract: A universal heat pump defrost controller device can be configured to determine when and for how long to cause a heat pump to enter defrost mode to remove ice from the outdoor heat exchanger coil. The defrost controller of this disclosure is configured to work with a variety of heat pumps which may implement a variety of defrost approaches, such as demand or timing. The arrangement and form factor of the defrost controller, along with break-away tabs, may allow the defrost controller to fit in the limited space available in many heat pumps. The simple dual display and controls of the device provide for intuitive configuration and troubleshooting during setup and installation.

Abstract: An illustrative HVAC controller may include a communication module for wirelessly communicating with a network and wiring terminals for receiving a wired connection to a remote temperature sensor that is situated remote from the HVAC controller and in a living space of the building. A controller may be operably coupled to the communication module and the wiring terminals and may be configured to implement a thermostat control algorithm to generate one or more control signals, wherein the one or more control signals are provided by a wired connection to the HVAC system to control one or more HVAC components of the HVAC system. The thermostat control algorithm may be configured to compare a sensed temperature received from the remote temperature sensor via the wiring terminals and a temperature setpoint received from the server via the network.

Abstract: A flame powered intermittent pilot combustion controller may include a first power source and a second power source separate from the first power source, a thermal electric and/or photoelectric device, an igniter and a controller. The thermal electric and/or photoelectric device may charge the first power source when exposed to a flame. The controller and the igniter may receive power from the first power source when the first power source has sufficient available power, and may receive power from the second power source when the first power source does not have sufficient available power.

Abstract: A furnace controller for a modulating furnace that helps provide a balance between energy efficiency and occupant comfort across various burner firing rates and/or across various circulating blower speeds. In some cases, the furnace controller can be configured to permit a user to customize operation of the furnace in accordance with their particular needs and/or desires with respect to efficiency and comfort. A selection may be made between an energy efficiency setting and a user comfort setting. Then, a plenum parameter such as a discharge air temperature (DAT) or discharge air flow (DAF) may be regulated in accordance with the selected setting.

Abstract: A furnace controller for a modulating furnace that helps provide a balance between energy efficiency and occupant comfort across various burner firing rates and/or across various circulating blower speeds. In some cases, the furnace controller can be configured to permit a user to customize operation of the furnace in accordance with their particular needs and/or desires with respect to efficiency and comfort. A selection may be made between an energy efficiency setting and a user comfort setting. Then, a plenum parameter such as a discharge air temperature (DAT) or discharge air flow (DAF) may be regulated in accordance with the selected setting.

Abstract: A furnace controller for a modulating furnace that helps provide a balance between energy efficiency and occupant comfort across various burner firing rates and/or across various circulating blower speeds. In some cases, the furnace controller can be configured to permit a user to customize operation of the furnace in accordance with their particular needs and/or desires with respect to efficiency and comfort. A selection may be made between an energy efficiency setting and a user comfort setting. Then, a plenum parameter such as a discharge air temperature (DAT) or discharge air flow (DAF) may be regulated in accordance with the selected setting.

Abstract: A damper control system having energy efficient mechanisms. The system may use a heat-to-electric power converter such as a thermopile. Heat may come from a pilot light used for igniting a flame for an appliance. The system may store electric energy in a storage module which could be a sufficiently large capacitor. The system may monitor the position of a damper in a vent or the like and provide start and stop movements of the damper using minimal energy. One way that the system may control electrical energy to a damper motor or another electrical mover of the damper is to use pulse width modulated signals.

Abstract: A system for adjusting a bias voltage of a flame sensing system. The system may use pulse width modulation to adjust the bias voltage. The system may have a flame sensing rod that conveys an electrical equivalent circuit of a flame presence to a detector via low pass filter. An excitation voltage may be conveyed via a DC blocking mechanism to the sensing rod. A pulse width modulation signal may be conveyed via a bias resistor to a node of the low pass filter and the detector. The input of an A/D converter may be that of the detector for flame signals. Also, leakages between the node of the A/D converter connection and the voltage source and/or ground may be detected and compensated. Further, leakage of the DC blocking mechanism may be minimized.

Abstract: A low cost flame sensing system having at last one floating point. For instance, the system may have two grounds. There may be a flame sensing rod for detecting a flame which has a model circuit which appears upon the existence of the flame proximate to the sensing rod. The sensing rod may function without an explicit or dedicated excitation source connected to it. There may be diagnostics in the system for detecting leakage or shorts of the sensing rod to ground. Also, the system may have AC grounding phase detection.

Abstract: A furnace controller for a modulating furnace that helps provide a balance between energy efficiency and occupant comfort across various burner firing rates and/or across various circulating blower speeds. In some cases, the furnace controller can be configured to permit a user to customize operation of the furnace in accordance with their particular needs and/or desires with respect to efficiency and comfort. A selection may be made between an energy efficiency setting and a user comfort setting. Then, a plenum parameter such as a discharge air temperature (DAT) or discharge air flow (DAF) may be regulated in accordance with the selected setting.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a fuel-fired appliance is provided. The appliance enters a wait state in which burner operation ceases if a sensor indicates the presence of flammable vapors that are above an acceptable and/or safe vapor level. The appliance returns to a run state if the vapor level returns to an acceptable and/or safe vapor level within a period of time, but enters a lockout state if the vapor level does not return to an acceptable and/or safe vapor level within the period of time.

Abstract: Appliance control with ground reference compensation is provided. Ground reference compensation can be desirable when a device or component of an appliance is powered by a higher power source, and is controlled by a controller that is powered by a lower power source. In such a situation, a voltage difference can develop between the ground references of the higher and lower power sources, which can affect accurate control of the device or component. In some cases, a measure related to the voltage difference between the ground references is first determined, and then the power/voltage that is ultimately delivered to the device or component is adjusted or compensated based, at least in part, on the determined difference.