Energy saving control circuit for hot water heater

Patent · Tue Apr 12 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:5007148

Stipe, L E

In combination with a hot water heater having upper and lower electric heating elements having electric circuits and associated upper and lower thermostat switches for opening and closing the electric circuits of the heating elements, an energy saving control circuit is described comprising: (a) an energy saver switch in the electric circuit of the lower heating element operable to open and close the circuit, (b) a normally open full tank relay switch in parallel with the energy saver switch, for opening and closing the circuit of the lower heating element, (c) an electric circuit for the coil of the full tank relay switch, (d) holding circuit means for connecting the electric circuit of the coil to a source of electric potential, to enegerize the coil and close the normally open full tank relay switch and activate the lower heating element, (e) a momentary manual make switch in the holding circuit means for initiating closing of the holding circuit means, and (f) means in the holding circuit means for deactivating the holding circuit means upon opening of the lower thermostat switch, for preventing subsequent activation of the lower heating element except by manual operation of the momentary make switch.

• Assignee: NOV; NOV-88-013241; EDB-88-113618
• Patent Number(s): US 4737615
• OSTI ID: 5007148
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320106* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Building Equipment-- (1987-)
APPLIANCES
CONTROL
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DESIGN
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC COILS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
HEATERS
RELAYS
SWITCHES
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
THERMOSTATS
WATER HEATERS