Patent ID: 6920377

Claim:
A control for a heating system, operable in an OFF mode, an ON mode and a PILOT-ON mode and including a pilot burner assembly, comprising, in combination: a controller implementing a predetermined need-based protocol, said controller directing said OFF mode in the absence of a heating demand, said controller sequencing said heating system through said PILOT-ON mode and said ON mode in response to a heating demand; a storage device having at least a first status parameter; and a thermo-electric assembly in thermal communication with said pilot burner assembly; and said controller being coupled to said pilot burner assembly, said storage device and said thermo-electric assembly; said controller interconnecting said pilot burner assembly and said storage device to initiate said PILOT-ON mode, said storage device powering said pilot burner assembly to terminate said OFF mode, said thermo-electric assembly providing a potential to power said heating system and said controller during said PILOT-ON mode and said ON mode; said controller storing at least a first status threshold related to said storage device and periodically receiving said first status parameter, said controller maintaining said PILOT-ON mode in lieu of said OFF mode whenever said first status parameter and said first status threshold have a predetermined relationship.