Patent ID: 8682458
Filing Date: 2014-03-25
Classification: A61H,F24H,G05D

Abstract:
1. A low maintenance spa control system that eliminates the need for mechanical flow or pressure monitoring devices, the spa having a main body of water, a water pump, and a spa water heater having an electrically-powered heating element within a heater housing through which water flows during a heating cycle with the water pump activated, the spa control system comprising: a water temperature sensor thermally coupled to the main body of water for the spa, a heater temperature sensor thermally coupled to the spa water heater element, wherein said sensor thermally coupled to said heater is located very near the heating element of said heater in order to measure the actual temperature of said heating element, logic means connected to said sensors and configured to receive signals from said water temperature sensor and said heater temperature sensor to manage operation of the electrically powered heating element and the water pump, and power switching means connected to said logic means to activate said heater during the heating cycle only when said temperature sensors indicate that the temperatures at their respective locations are within a prescribed difference of each other and thereby indicate the presence of flowing water through the heater housing during the heating cycle and that the water and heater sensors are working properly; wherein mechanical water flow and mechanical water pressure monitoring devices are absent from the system.