CA2588584A1 - Control system for bathers with ground continuity and ground fault detection - Google Patents
Control system for bathers with ground continuity and ground fault detection Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2588584A1 CA2588584A1 CA002588584A CA2588584A CA2588584A1 CA 2588584 A1 CA2588584 A1 CA 2588584A1 CA 002588584 A CA002588584 A CA 002588584A CA 2588584 A CA2588584 A CA 2588584A CA 2588584 A1 CA2588584 A1 CA 2588584A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- ground
- electrical
- spa
- line voltage
- disconnecting
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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Abstract
A method for verifying the integrity of an electrical ground connection to earth ground for an electrically powered circuit in a bathing installation, comprises controlling operation of the electrically powered circuit in the bathing installation by a microcomputer-based electronic controller system; detecting with the microcomputer-based electronic controller system a condition that the electrical ground is not connected to earth ground; and providing an electrical detection signal from said microcomputer-based electronic controller system indicative of said condition when the electrical ground is not connected to earth ground.
Claims (18)
1. A method for verifying the integrity of an electrical ground connection to earth ground for an electrically powered circuit in a bathing installation, comprising:
controlling operation of the electrically powered circuit in the bathing installation by a microcomputer-based electronic controller system;
detecting with the microcomputer-based electronic controller system a condition that the electrical ground is not connected to earth ground; and providing an electrical detection signal from said microcomputer-based electronic controller system indicative of said condition when the electrical ground is not connected to earth ground.
controlling operation of the electrically powered circuit in the bathing installation by a microcomputer-based electronic controller system;
detecting with the microcomputer-based electronic controller system a condition that the electrical ground is not connected to earth ground; and providing an electrical detection signal from said microcomputer-based electronic controller system indicative of said condition when the electrical ground is not connected to earth ground.
2. The method of Claim 1, wherein said electrically powered circuit includes a heater circuit including an electric heater element, the method further comprising:
powering the heater circuit by a line voltage connection;
disconnecting the line voltage connection from said heater circuit when the electrical ground is not connected to earth ground.
powering the heater circuit by a line voltage connection;
disconnecting the line voltage connection from said heater circuit when the electrical ground is not connected to earth ground.
3. The method of Claim 2, further comprising:
inhibiting operation of the heater circuit when the electrical ground is not connected to earth ground.
inhibiting operation of the heater circuit when the electrical ground is not connected to earth ground.
4. The method of Claim 1, further comprising:
generating an electrical control signal from said microcomputer-based electronic controller system to deactivate said electrically powered circuit in the event said electrical ground is disconnected from earth ground.
generating an electrical control signal from said microcomputer-based electronic controller system to deactivate said electrically powered circuit in the event said electrical ground is disconnected from earth ground.
5. The method of Claim 1, further comprising:
outputting a signal from the microcomputer-based electronic controller system to generate a visible or audible signal to a bathing installation user in response to said electrical detection signal.
outputting a signal from the microcomputer-based electronic controller system to generate a visible or audible signal to a bathing installation user in response to said electrical detection signal.
6. The method of Claim 1, wherein said detecting a condition that the electrical ground is not connected to earth ground comprises:
passing current through a light source connected to the electrical ground;
detecting light generated by the light source; and providing the electrical detection signal when the light source is not generating light.
passing current through a light source connected to the electrical ground;
detecting light generated by the light source; and providing the electrical detection signal when the light source is not generating light.
7. The method of Claim 1, further comprising:
powering the electrically powered circuit by a line voltage connection;
disconnecting the line voltage connection in response to said electrical detection signal.
powering the electrically powered circuit by a line voltage connection;
disconnecting the line voltage connection in response to said electrical detection signal.
8. The method of Claim 1, wherein the bathing installation includes a spa having a body of water and a system for recirculating the body of water through a heater apparatus.
9. A method for detecting failure in a spa electrical component, comprising:
providing control signals from a microcomputer-based electronic control system to control operation of the spa electrical component electrically powered by line voltage and having an electrical ground connection to earth ground;
monitoring the ground connection to detect current flow between the spa electrical component and earth ground, wherein during operation of the spa electrical component, no current flows between the spa electrical component and earth ground, and the presence of current flow during operation of said spa electrical component indicates a failure of said component;
generating a detector signal indicative of current flow in said electrical connection to earth ground indicative of said failure.
providing control signals from a microcomputer-based electronic control system to control operation of the spa electrical component electrically powered by line voltage and having an electrical ground connection to earth ground;
monitoring the ground connection to detect current flow between the spa electrical component and earth ground, wherein during operation of the spa electrical component, no current flows between the spa electrical component and earth ground, and the presence of current flow during operation of said spa electrical component indicates a failure of said component;
generating a detector signal indicative of current flow in said electrical connection to earth ground indicative of said failure.
10. The method of Claim 9, further comprising:
disconnecting said spa electrical component from line voltage in response to said detector signal indicative of current flow in said electrical connection to ground.
disconnecting said spa electrical component from line voltage in response to said detector signal indicative of current flow in said electrical connection to ground.
11. The method of Claim 10, wherein said disconnecting said spa electrical component includes:
sending a control signal from said microcomputer-based electronic control system to open a relay.
sending a control signal from said microcomputer-based electronic control system to open a relay.
12. The method of Claim 10, wherein said electrical component is a heater apparatus for heating water supplied to the spa.
13. The method of Claim 12, wherein the heater apparatus has a heater housing fabricated of electrically conductive material and an electric heater element, the electrical connection to ground being connected to said heater housing.
14. The method of Claim 9, wherein said monitoring the ground connection to detect current flow comprises:
using a toroid surrounding a wire comprising said ground connection to generate the detection signal when current passes through the wire.
using a toroid surrounding a wire comprising said ground connection to generate the detection signal when current passes through the wire.
15. A method of testing a ground fault circuit interrupter for a bathing installation, comprising:
supplying a line voltage supply to the bathing installation using at least two power supply conductors;
connecting the line voltage supply to one or more spa devices through one or more switching devices to power the devices;
controlling the one or more switching devices using an electronic controller system;
monitoring current flow in said high power conductors to detect a current imbalance;
disconnecting the line voltage supply to said one or more spa devices when a current imbalance is detected without disconnecting power from said controller system;
during a test conducted on a programmed schedule without user intervention, simulating a fault condition by generating a current imbalance to test said monitoring and said disconnecting;
automatically reconnecting the line voltage to said one or more spa devices immediately following said test if said monitoring and said disconnecting was properly performed during said test.
supplying a line voltage supply to the bathing installation using at least two power supply conductors;
connecting the line voltage supply to one or more spa devices through one or more switching devices to power the devices;
controlling the one or more switching devices using an electronic controller system;
monitoring current flow in said high power conductors to detect a current imbalance;
disconnecting the line voltage supply to said one or more spa devices when a current imbalance is detected without disconnecting power from said controller system;
during a test conducted on a programmed schedule without user intervention, simulating a fault condition by generating a current imbalance to test said monitoring and said disconnecting;
automatically reconnecting the line voltage to said one or more spa devices immediately following said test if said monitoring and said disconnecting was properly performed during said test.
16. The method of Claim 15, further including:
displaying a current imbalance condition message on a control panel display in response to detection of said current imbalance.
displaying a current imbalance condition message on a control panel display in response to detection of said current imbalance.
17. The method of Claim 15, further including:
in response to a user-command, simulating a fault condition by generating a current imbalance to test said monitoring and said disconnecting;
automatically reconnecting said the line voltage to said one or more spa devices immediately following said test if said monitoring and said disconnecting was properly performed during said test.
in response to a user-command, simulating a fault condition by generating a current imbalance to test said monitoring and said disconnecting;
automatically reconnecting said the line voltage to said one or more spa devices immediately following said test if said monitoring and said disconnecting was properly performed during said test.
18. The method of Claim 15, wherein the bathing installation includes a spa having a body of water and a system for recirculating the body of water through a heater apparatus.
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US9920198P | 1998-09-03 | 1998-09-03 | |
| US60/099,201 | 1998-09-03 | ||
| US09/335,308 | 1999-06-16 | ||
| US09/335,308 US6253121B1 (en) | 1998-09-03 | 1999-06-16 | Control system for bathers with ground continuity and ground fault detection |
| CA002342768A CA2342768C (en) | 1998-09-03 | 1999-08-31 | Control system for bathers with ground continuity and ground fault detection |
Related Parent Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002342768A Division CA2342768C (en) | 1998-09-03 | 1999-08-31 | Control system for bathers with ground continuity and ground fault detection |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2588584A1 true CA2588584A1 (en) | 2000-03-16 |
| CA2588584C CA2588584C (en) | 2011-07-05 |
Family
ID=38326385
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2588584A Expired - Lifetime CA2588584C (en) | 1998-09-03 | 1999-08-31 | Control system for bathers with ground continuity and ground fault detection |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2588584C (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US10030647B2 (en) | 2010-02-25 | 2018-07-24 | Hayward Industries, Inc. | Universal mount for a variable speed pump drive user interface |
| US10718337B2 (en) | 2016-09-22 | 2020-07-21 | Hayward Industries, Inc. | Self-priming dedicated water feature pump |
-
1999
- 1999-08-31 CA CA2588584A patent/CA2588584C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US10030647B2 (en) | 2010-02-25 | 2018-07-24 | Hayward Industries, Inc. | Universal mount for a variable speed pump drive user interface |
| US11572877B2 (en) | 2010-02-25 | 2023-02-07 | Hayward Industries, Inc. | Universal mount for a variable speed pump drive user interface |
| US10718337B2 (en) | 2016-09-22 | 2020-07-21 | Hayward Industries, Inc. | Self-priming dedicated water feature pump |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2588584C (en) | 2011-07-05 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKEX | Expiry |
Effective date: 20190903 |