Variable wattage control system
A control system and methods are provided that limit power provided to a power receiving device to a value less that that produced at full line voltage. The system includes at least one power receiving device and a power controller operatively associated with the power receiving device, the power controller comprising a power limiting function that limits the power provided to the power receiving device to a value less than that produced at a full line voltage through the use of a scaling function.
1. A control system that limits the wattage provided to a heat-producing element to a value less than that produced at full line voltage, the system comprising:
at least one heat-producing element;
a power controller operatively associated with the heat-producing element;
a temperature controller operably associated with the power controller and generating a signal representing a percentage power output required to reach a set point temperature based on a comparison between a temperature reading and the set point temperature; and
a power limiting function that limits the wattage provided to the heat-producing element to multiple wattage values less than that produced at a full line voltage through the use of a scaling function when the control system is operating at full line voltage, the scaling function being a ratio between a desired wattage and the wattage at full line voltage,
wherein the power controller provides a scaled power output by multiplying the percentage power output by the scaling function.
2. The control system according to claim 1 wherein the power limiting function and the scaling function reside in a module, the module being attached to the heat-producing element.
3. The control system according to claim 1 wherein the power limiting function and the scaling function reside in a module, the module being operatively placed between the power controller and the heat-producing element.
4. The control system according to claim 1 wherein the power limiting function and the scaling function reside in a module, the module being operatively placed between a power source and the power controller.
5. The control system according to claim 1 wherein the power limiting function and the scaling function reside in the power controller, the power controller being operatively placed between a power source and the heat-producing element.
6. The control system according to claim 1 wherein the power limiting function and the scaling function reside in a module, the module being operatively placed between an output of a control device and a control input to the power controller.
7. The control system according to claim 1 further comprising a temperature controller, the temperature controller comprising:
a temperature sensing function that determines a process temperature operatively associated with the heat-producing element;
a temperature comparison function for comparing a temperature associated with the heat-producing element with a set point temperature and determining a required output; and
an output function that varies the wattage supplied to the heat-producing element.
8. A control system that limits power provided to a power receiving device to a value less that that produced at full line voltage, the system comprising:
at least one power receiving device;
a power controller operatively associated with the power receiving device, the power controller comprising a power limiting function that limits the power provided to the power receiving device to a value less than that produced at a full line voltage through the use of a scaling function when the control system is operating at full line voltage, the scaling function being a ratio between a desired power and the power at full line voltage; and
a temperature controller operably associated with the power controller and generating a signal representing a percentage power output required to reach a set point temperature based on a comparison between a temperature reading and the set point temperature,
wherein the power controller provides a scaled power output by multiplying the percentage power output by the scaling function.
9. The control system according to claim 8 further comprising at least one circuit protection device operatively associated with the power receiving device.
10. The control system according to claim 8 further comprising at least one filtering device operatively associated with the power receiving device to suppress high frequency component generation.
11. The control system according to claim 8 further comprising a temperature controller operatively associated with the power receiving device.
12. A control system that limits power provided to a power receiving device to a value less that that produced at full line voltage, the system comprising:
at least one power receiving device;
a power controller operatively associated with the power receiving device;
a temperature controller operably associated with the power controller and generating a signal representing a percentage power output required to reach a set point temperature based on a comparison between a temperature reading and the set point temperature; and
a module operatively associated with the power controller, the module comprising a power limiting function that limits the power provided to the power receiving device to a value less than that produced at a full line voltage through the use of a scaling function when the control system is operating at full line voltage, the scaling function being a ratio between a desired power and the power at full line voltage,
wherein the power controller provides a scaled power output by multiplying the percentage power output by the scaling function.
13. The control system according to claim 12 , wherein the module is placed between the power controller and the power receiving device.
14. The control system according to claim 12 , wherein the module is placed between the power controller and a power source.
15. The control system according to claim 12 , wherein the module is placed between the power controller and another control device.