Systems and Methods for Controlling Ion Deposition

1 . A method of depositing ions in water, comprising:

determining a conductivity level of the water using a reference probe;

determining a power level based on the determined conductivity level;

applying power to a deposition probe corresponding to the determined power level using a first electrical circuit; and

depositing a concentration of ions in the water.

2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

ionizing a silver coating associated with the deposition probe, wherein the ionizing results in depositing a concentration of silver ions in the water.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising maintaining the concentration of silver ions in the water regardless of the determined conductivity level of the water.

4 . The method of claim 2 further comprising maintaining the concentration of silver ions in the water regardless of a length of the deposition probe.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the conductivity level of the water further comprises:

passing a test current through the reference probe using the electrical circuit;

determining a reference probe resistance based on a reference probe feedback voltage and a reference probe feedback current to the electrical circuit; and

determining the conductivity level based on the reference probe resistance.

6 . The method of claim 5 further comprising:

determining a deposition probe resistance based on a deposition probe feedback voltage and a deposition probe feedback current to the electrical circuit; and

comparing the reference probe resistance to the deposition probe resistance to determine a wear level of the deposition probe.

7 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

reversing a polarity of a voltage across the deposition probe when a predetermined time has elapsed.

8 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that a water flow is present, the water flow resulting from a demand from a washing appliance.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

switching off the current to the deposition probe when the water flow is not present.

10 . A system for depositing ions in water, comprising:

a reference probe coupled to an electrical circuit;

a deposition probe coupled to the electrical circuit; and

wherein the electrical circuit comprises a power source, the electrical circuit being operable to:

determine a conductivity level of the water using the reference probe;

determine a power level to deliver to the deposition probe based on the determined conductivity level; and

supply the determined power level to the deposition probe, the power and the water ionizing a material on the deposition probe.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the electrical circuit further comprises:

a switch having a first position and a second position; and

wherein when the switch is in the first position a reference probe current supplies the reference probe, and when the switch is in the second position, the deposition probe current supplies the deposition probe.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the reference probe comprises a non-corrosive metallic material.

13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the deposition probe comprises a silver coating.

14 . The system of claim 10 further comprising:

a flow switch, the flow switch operable to detect a water flow resulting from a demand from a washer appliance, the flow switch further operable to activate the electrical circuit when the water flow is detected.

15 . A method of determining wear of a deposition probe, comprising:

determining a deposition probe resistance based on a deposition probe feedback voltage and a deposition probe feedback current to an electrical circuit;

determining if the deposition probe resistance is less than a first predetermined value; and

indicating that the deposition probe has not worn past a first length when the deposition probe resistance is less than the first predetermined value.

16 . The method of claim 15 further comprising:

determining if the deposition probe resistance is less than a second predetermined value, the second predetermined value being greater than the first predetermined value;

indicating that the deposition probe has worn past the first length when the deposition probe resistance is less than the second predetermined value but greater than the first predetermined value; and

indicating that the deposition probe has worn past a second length when the deposition probe resistance is greater than the second predetermined value, the second length being less than the first length.

17 . The method of claim 16 further comprising:

shutting off a power to the deposition probe when the deposition probe resistance is greater than the second predetermined value.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein:

indicating that the deposition probe has not worn past the first length comprises displaying a first color;

indicating that the deposition probe has worn past the first length comprises displaying a second color; and

indicating that the deposition probe has worn past the second length comprises displaying a third color.

19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

replacing the deposition probe with a new deposition probe; and

indicating that the new deposition probe has not worn past the first length.