Sensor systems principally for swimming pools and spas

Abstract

A pool or spa control system includes a sensor system with one or more sensors in contact with a main body of water. The sensor system measures water condition data of the body of water and is mounted on a wall submerged in the main body of water. The pool or spa control system also includes a modem that facilitates data communications between the sensor system and communication equipment positioned at a different location from the main body of water.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pool or spa control system comprising:
 a. a sensor system comprising one or more sensors for obtaining data relating to conditions of a swimming pool or spa;   b. a lighting system comprising one or more lighting devices, the one or more lighting devices comprising a light output with a controllable characteristic; and   c. a controller in communication with the sensor system and the lighting system, wherein the controller is configured to provide a control signal to the lighting system for controlling the one or more lighting devices based on the data obtained from the one or more sensors.   
     
     
         2 . The pool or spa control system of  claim 1 , wherein the conditions of the swimming pool or spa comprise water conditions within the swimming pool or spa. 
     
     
         3 . The pool or spa control system of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor system is configured to provide an indication of temperature of the body of water, pressure at the sensor system, pH of the body of water, oxidation reduction potential (ORP) of the body of water, conductivity of the body of water, stray current in the body of water, levels of dissolved oxygen (O 2 ) or other gasses in the body of water, turbidity of the body of water, hardness of the body of water, alkalinity of the body of water, chlorine level in the body of water, phosphate level in the body of water, lumens level in the body of water, chloramines/halogenated disinfection by-products in the body of water, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The pool or spa control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controllable characteristic of the light output comprises at least one of a color, lumens, or activation status. 
     
     
         5 . The pool or spa control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to communicate data from the sensors to an application on a remote user device. 
     
     
         6 . The pool or spa control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to send a control signal to equipment of the swimming pool or spa based on the data obtained from the one or more sensors. 
     
     
         7 . A method of controlling a swimming pool or spa control system, the method comprising:
 a. receiving data relating to conditions of a swimming pool or spa from one or more sensors of a sensor system;   b. providing a control signal to a lighting system comprising one or more lighting devices for controlling the one or more lighting devices based on the received data from the one or more sensors, the one or more lighting devices comprising a light output with a controllable characteristic.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the data from the one or more sensors comprises data relating to water conditions within the swimming pool or spa. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the data relating to water conditions comprises at least one of water temperature, pressure at the sensor system, water pH, water oxidation reduction potential (ORP), water conductivity, stray current in the swimming pool or spa, levels of dissolved oxygen (O 2 ) or other gasses in the swimming pool or spa, turbidity of the swimming pool or spa, water hardness, water alkalinity, chlorine level, phosphate level, lumens level, chloramines/halogenated disinfection by-products level, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein providing the control signal comprises controlling the controllable characteristic of the light output. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the controllable characteristic comprises at least one of a color, lumens, or activation status. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising communicating the data received from the sensors to an application on a remote user device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising sending a control signal to equipment of the swimming pool or spa based on the data obtained from the one or more sensors.