Patent ID: 7221862
Filing Date: 2007-05-22
Classification: F24H,H05B

Abstract:
1. A control for an electric water heater, the electric water heater including at least one sensor that determines a temperature of water in the water heater and generates a temperature signal indicative of the water temperature, the control comprising: means for receiving the temperature signal; means for setting a desired temperature: means for generating a first control signal indicative of a first relationship between the temperature signal and a first temperature threshold, wherein the first temperature threshold is fixed and the first control signal turns off a heating element based on the first relationship; and means for generating a second control signal indicative of a second relationship between the temperature signal and a second temperature threshold, wherein the second temperature threshold is variably based on the desired temperature and the second control signal turns off the heating element based on the second relationship, wherein each of the first temperature threshold and the second temperature threshold is greater than the desired temperature.