Heater for pools and spas with improved sensor control

Abstract

A heater for a pool system, such as a swimming pool or a spa, includes a controller and a plurality of sensors for determining an operating condition of the heater. In some cases, the heater includes a gas sensor for determining at least one characteristic of gas supplied to the heater. The heater may also include a wiring sensor for determining a wiring configuration for an igniter of the heater. Additionally or alternatively, the heater may include a water inlet sensor, a water outlet sensor, and a vent sensor. The heater for the pool system may be provided with various other sensors or combination of sensors.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heater for a pool system, the heater comprising:
 a gas supply inlet configured to receive gas from a source such that gas flows into the heater; and   a sensor configured to detect at least one characteristic of gas flowing in the heater.   
     
     
         2 . The heater of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor, wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the heater based on the at least one characteristic being outside of an acceptable range. 
     
     
         3 . The heater of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to disable an igniter based on the at least one characteristic being outside of the acceptable range. 
     
     
         4 . The heater of  claim 2 , further comprising a user interface communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to control the user interface to display information about the at least one characteristic of the gas flowing in the heater. 
     
     
         5 . The heater of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller and a communication module, wherein the controller is configured to transmit information related to the at least one characteristic to a remote device via the communication module. 
     
     
         6 . The heater of  claim 5 , wherein the communication module is a Bluetooth communication module. 
     
     
         7 . The heater of  claim 1  wherein the at least one characteristic is a gas pressure supplied to the heater. 
     
     
         8 . The heater of  claim 7 , wherein the sensor is a gas pressure switch. 
     
     
         9 . The heater of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid inlet, a heat exchanger, and a fluid outlet for the heat exchanger, and wherein the heater is configured to heat water by directing water through the fluid inlet, past the heat exchanger, and out the fluid outlet of the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         10 . A heater for a pool system, the heater comprising a circuit including a flame sense, means for detecting a polarity of the circuit, and means for sending a signal relating to a condition of the polarity. 
     
     
         11 . The heater of  claim 10 , wherein the means for sending the signal comprises a wireless communication module or a wired communication module. 
     
     
         12 . The heater of  claim 11 , wherein the means for detecting the polarity of the circuit comprises means for comparing a line voltage input to a ground input for the circuit and/or means for comparing a neutral voltage input to the ground input for the circuit. 
     
     
         13 . The heater of  claim 10 , wherein flame sense comprises a flame sense rod of the heater configured to detect a presence of a flame. 
     
     
         14 . The heater of  claim 10 , wherein means for sending the signal comprises means for generating a notification on an application or generating a notification on an on-board user interface of the heater. 
     
     
         15 . A heater for a pool system, the heater comprising:
 a fluid inlet sensor for detecting a water inlet temperature of fluid flowing through an inlet of the heater;   a fluid outlet sensor for detecting a water outlet temperature of the fluid flowing out of an outlet of a heat exchanger of the heater; and   a controller configured to (i) determine a flow rate condition based on information from the fluid inlet sensor and the fluid outlet sensor and (ii) communicate the determined flow rate condition.   
     
     
         16 . The heater of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to determine a temperature rise as the flow rate condition based on a difference between the water inlet temperature and the water outlet temperature. 
     
     
         17 . The heater of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to estimate a system flow based on a difference between the water inlet temperature and the water outlet temperature. 
     
     
         18 . The heater of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to generate a controlled response based on the determined condition being a predefined condition, and wherein the controlled response comprises generating response signal. 
     
     
         19 . The heater of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 determine that the heater is in a good condition based on the a difference between the water inlet temperature and the water outlet temperature being within a predefined range; and   determine that the heater is in one of a plurality of problem conditions based on the a difference between the water inlet temperature and the water outlet temperature being being outside of the predefined range.   
     
     
         20 . The heater of  claim 19 , wherein the controller is configured to determine that the heater is in:
 a low flow problem condition based on the temperature rise being above the predefined water range and the vent temperature being within the predefined vent range;   a sooting problem condition or scaling problem condition based on the temperature rise being within the predefined water range and the vent temperature being above the predefined vent range; and   a longer duration low flow problem condition or a scaling problem condition based on the temperature rise being above the predefined water range and the vent temperature being above the predefined vent range.