Controller for a fuel fired water heating application

1. A controller for controlling the operation of a gas-fired water heating appliance, the controller comprising:

a switching means for connecting an electrical power source to an igniter for igniting gas;

a voltage sensing means for sensing the voltage value of the electrical power source, the voltage sensing means comprising a first voltage comparator that provides an output representative of the voltage level of the power source, and also a second voltage comparator that provides an output representative of the voltage level of the power source; and

a control means comprising a microprocessor having first and second analog-to-digital inputs connected to the first voltage comparator and second voltage comparator, wherein the microprocessor determines the actual voltage level of the power source for determining whether the power source is of a first rated voltage level or a second rated voltage level, and responsively determines a switching sequence corresponding to either the first rated voltage or the second rated voltage, where the microprocessor controls the switching means based on the switching sequence to effect switching of power to supply an average predetermined voltage to the igniter that will heat the igniter to a desired temperature, and where the microprocessor locks out igniter operation when there is a disagreement between the voltage levels sensed by the first and second voltage comparators.

2. The controller according to claim 1 where the microprocessor includes a program for controlling the switching means based on a look-up table that provides a plurality of switching sequences corresponding to a plurality of electrical power voltage values.

3. The controller according to claim 2 wherein the look-up table comprises a series of switching sequences comprising on and off duty cycles of half-wave periods of an alternating current source.

4. The controller according to claim 3 wherein the switching means comprises first and second triacs.

5. The controller according to claim 4 wherein the first triac provides for switching one direction of an alternating current source and a second triac provides for switch the opposite direction of an alternating current source, and the control means is capable of effecting simultaneous conduction of the first and second triacs to supply continuous alternating current to the igniter during warm up, and is capable of effecting periodic alternating conduction of the first and second triacs to supply intermittent alternating current to the igniter for providing a predetermined averaged voltage to the igniter.

6. The controller according to claim 1 , wherein at least one voltage comparator is configured to sense the polarity of the voltage of the power source, wherein the microprocessor locks out igniter operation upon determining that the polarity of the voltage of the power source is not compatible with the controller.

7. A controller for controlling the operation of a gas-fired water heating appliance, the controller comprising:

a switching means for connecting an electrical power source to an igniter for igniting gas;

a voltage sensing means for sensing the voltage value of the electrical power source, the voltage sensing means comprising a first voltage comparator that provides an output representative of the voltage level of the power source, and also a second voltage comparator that provides an output representative of the vo 1 tage level of the power source; and

a microprocessor having first and second analog-to-digital inputs connected to the first voltage comparator and second voltage comparator, wherein the microprocessor determines the actual voltage level of the power source to determine whether the power source is of a first rated voltage level or a second rated voltage level and responsively selects an appropriate switching sequence from a look-up table having a plurality of switching sequences corresponding to a plurality of voltage values for either the first rated voltage or the second rated voltage, where the microprocessor controls the switching means based on the selected switching sequence to effect switching of power to supply an average predetermined voltage to the igniter that will heat the igniter to a desired temperature, and where the microprocessor locks out igniter operation when there is a disagreement between the voltage levels sensed by the first and second voltage comparators.

8. The controller according to claim 7 wherein the look-up table includes a series of switching sequences comprising on and off duty cycles of half-wave periods of an alternating current source.

9. The controller according to claim 8 wherein the switching means comprises first and second triacs.

10. The controller according to claim 9 wherein the first triac provides for switching one direction of an alternating current source and a second triac provides for switch the opposite direction of an alternating current source, and the control means is capable of effecting simultaneous conduction of the first and second triacs to supply continuous alternating current to the igniter during warm up, and is capable of effecting periodic alternating conduction of the first and second triacs to supply intermittent alternating current to the igniter for providing a predetermined averaged voltage to the igniter.

11. The controller according to claim 9 wherein the controller comprises at least first and second terminals for connecting the controller to either a 120 volt current voltage source or a 240 volt alternating current source.

12. The controller according to claim 8 , wherein the microprocessor selects a switching sequence from either a first look-up table corresponding to a 120 volt power source or a second look-up table corresponding to a 240 volt power source, where the switching sequence comprises an on and off duty cycle that provides an averaged predetermined voltage to the igniter for heating the igniter to a desired temperature.

13. The controller according to claim 12 , wherein the predetermined voltage is in the range of about 98 volts to 102 volts.

14. The controller according to claim 13 , wherein the desired temperature is in the range of about 1100° to about 1300° Celsius.

15. The controller according to claim 7 wherein the first voltage comparator for determining whether the electrical power source is of a first or second rated voltage level further comprises a first connection to a first terminal for a 120 volt alternating current source and a second connection to a second terminal for a 240 volt alternating current source, and wherein the first voltage comparator detects the level of voltage in either the first connection to the first terminal or the second connection to the second terminal.

16. The controller according to claim 7 , wherein at least one voltage comparator is configured to sense the polarity of the voltage of the power source, wherein the microprocessor locks out igniter operation upon determining that the polarity of the voltage of the power source is not compatible with the controller.

17. A method for controlling the operation of a gas-fired water heating appliance having a voltage level sensing means, a switching means, and a microprocessor in communication with the voltage sensing and switching means, the method comprising:

sensing the voltage level of the electrical power source connected to the controller using a first voltage comparator that provides an output representative of the voltage level of the power source, and also a second voltage comparator that provides an output representative of the voltage level of the power source;

locking out igniter operation when there is a disagreement between the voltage levels sensed by the first and second voltage comparators;

determining whether the power source is either a 120 volt alternating current source or a 240 volt alternating current source;

selecting an appropriate switching sequence from either a first look-up table for a 120 volt power source having a plurality of switching sequences corresponding to a plurality of sensed voltage values, or a second look-up table for a 240 volt power source having a plurality of switching sequences corresponding to a plurality of sensed voltage values, where the switching sequence comprises an on and off duty cycle of half-wave periods of an alternating current; and

controlling the switching means based on the selected duty cycle to provide an average predetermined power to the igniter to heat the igniter to a desired temperature.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of comparing a reference voltage to a predetermined voltage for determining whether the power source is either a 120 volt or 240 volt power source.