Patent ID: 6240249
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: F24H

Abstract:
An electric water heater comprising:a tank adapted to hold a quantity of water to be heated;a plurality of electric resistance type heating elements extending into the interior of said tank;a plurality of thermostats electrically coupled to said plurality of electric resistance type heating elements;fuse apparatus electrically coupled to said plurality of thermostats and having a power input side;a terminal structure having a line side portion operative to selectively receive either single or three phase electrical power from a source thereof, and a load side portion having first and second electrical connectors associated therewith;a plurality of electrical leads having first ends operatively coupled to said power input side of said fuse apparatus, and second ends;a third electrical connector connected to said second ends of said plurality of electrical leads and being releasably mateable with either selected one of said first and second electrical connectors; androuting circuitry interconnected between said line side portion of said terminal structure and said first and second electrical connectors and being operative to:(1) route single phase electrical power to said plurality of heating elements, via said electrical leads, said fuse apparatus and said thermostats, when said third electrical connector is operatively mated with said first electrical connector and single phase electrical power is being supplied to said line side portion of said terminal structure, and(2) route three phase electrical power to said plurality of heating elements, via said electrical leads, said fuse apparatus and said thermostats, when said third electrical connector is operatively mated with said second electrical connector and three phase electrical power is being supplied to said line side portion of said terminal structure.