Blower with integrated low current activated relay combination for use in a power vent gas water heater

Abstract

A power circuit configuration for a water heater appliance is provided. The water heater appliance includes a tank, a gas valve, a blower, and a power circuit. The power circuit includes a gas valve controller on a gas valve control printed circuit board. The power circuit includes a first power conductor that is coupled to a blower motor of the water heater appliance. The power circuit also includes a second power conductor that is coupled to the blower motor of the water heater appliance through a relay such that the power circuit for the blower motor bypasses the gas valve control printed circuit board.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A power circuit for a water heater appliance comprising:
 a gas valve controller on a gas valve control printed circuit board;   a first power conductor coupled to a blower motor of the water heater appliance; and   a second power conductor coupled to the blower motor of the water heater appliance through a relay such that a current drawn by the blower motor bypasses the gas valve control printed circuit board.   
     
     
         2 . The power circuit for a water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the gas valve controller is coupled to the relay through a signal line. 
     
     
         3 . The power circuit for a water heater appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the gas valve controller is configured to communicate a control signal for the relay via the signal line. 
     
     
         4 . The power circuit for a water heater appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the control signal comprises one or more AC pulses or DC pulses. 
     
     
         5 . The power circuit for a water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the second power conductor is coupled to the gas valve control printed circuit board. 
     
     
         6 . The power circuit for a water heater appliance of  claim 5 , wherein the second power conductor is coupled to the gas valve control printed circuit board via a fuse. 
     
     
         7 . The power circuit of  claim 1 , wherein further comprising one or more sensors configured to detect an environmental condition associated with the blower, wherein the gas valve controller is configured to control the relay based at least in part on one or more signals from the one or more sensors. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 providing power to a blower motor of a water heater appliance via a first power conductor coupled to the blower motor and a second power conductor coupled to the blower motor via a relay; and   controlling the relay from a controller on a gas valve control printed circuit board.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein providing power to the blower motor comprises providing a current to the blower motor such that the current bypasses the gas valve control printed circuit board. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein controlling the relay comprises providing one or more AC pulses or DC pulses to the relay. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the second power conductor is coupled to the gas valve control printed circuit board via a fuse. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein controlling the relay comprises controlling the relay based on one or more signals from one or more sensors configured to detect an environmental condition associated with the blower. 
     
     
         13 . A water heater appliance comprising:
 a tank;   a gas valve;   a blower; and   a power circuit, the power circuit comprising:
 a gas valve controller on a gas valve control printed circuit board; 
 a first power conductor coupled to a blower motor of the water heater appliance; and 
 a second power conductor coupled to the blower motor of the water heater appliance through a relay such that the power circuit for the blower motor bypasses the gas valve control printed circuit board. 
   
     
     
         14 . The water heater appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the gas valve controller is coupled to the relay through a signal line. 
     
     
         15 . The water heater appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the gas valve controller is configured to communicate a control signal for the relay via the signal line. 
     
     
         16 . The water heater appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the control signal comprises one or more AC pulses or DC pulses. 
     
     
         17 . The water heater appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the second power conductor is coupled to the gas valve control printed circuit board via a fuse. 
     
     
         18 . The water heater appliance of  claim 13 , wherein further comprising a ground conductor coupled to the blower motor. 
     
     
         19 . The water heater appliance of  claim 13 , wherein further comprising one or more sensors configured to detect an environmental condition associated with the blower, wherein the gas valve controller is configured to control the relay based at least in part on one or more signals from the one or more sensors.