Potable water heater and method of using same

Abstract

A hot water heating system for use in a boat or vehicle which utilises the engine of the vehicle or boat, an AC power source or a fuel powered heater to heat a living area and to heat potable water. Each of the power sources can be utilised independently or in combination depending an the location and operation of the vehicle or boat. A valve is automatically controlled by a thermostat to allow heated fluid to circulate through the living area or to bypass the area. Aquastats are provided to automatically allow potable water to be heated. A display is provided for displaying textual and numerical information in user friendly format relating to the operation of the hot water heating system.

1 - 21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . Apparatus for displaying system status in a text and numerical form for a water heating system used in a boat or vehicle comprising a micro-controller for converting hexadecimal data or serial communications received from a control board into a text and/or numerical user friendly format display, said apparatus displaying the status of components of said water heating system and for displaying faults associated with said components of said water heating system.  
   
   
       23 . Apparatus as in  claim 22  and further displaying advertising and/or servicing information.  
   
   
       24 . Apparatus as in  claim 23  and further displaying a list of said faults and the number of times each of said faults has occurred during operation of said water heating system.  
   
   
       25 . Method for displaying in a user friendly format text and numerical information relating to a water heating system used in association with a vehicle or boat comprising visually displaying said text and numerical information in said user friendly format on a display, intermittently interrogating a control board connected to components of said water heating system, determining whether a fault is present which fault is associated with individual ones of said components, converting said fault information to said text and numerical information in said user friendly format and displaying said text and numerical information in said user friendly format on said display.  
   
   
       26 . Method for displaying user friendly text and numeral information relating to a water heating system on a vehicle or boat comprising positioning a display device for visually displaying said user friendly text and numerical information for viewing by a user in a convenient location for said user, continuously interrogating a control board connected to components of said water heating system, determining whether a fault is present which fault is associated with individual ones of said components, converting said fault information to said user friendly text and numerical information and displaying said user friendly text and numerical information on said display device.  
   
   
       27 . Method as in  claim 26  wherein said display is an LCD display.  
   
   
       28 . Method as in  claim 26  wherein said display is by way of a vacuum tube display and/or a touch screen display.  
   
   
       29 . Method as in  claim 26  and further displaying said faults upon commencement of the operation of said water heater system.  
   
   
       30 . Method as in  claim 29  and further displaying said faults upon shutdown of said water heater system.  
   
   
       31 . Method as in  claim 29  and further displaying the number of said faults associated with each of said components.  
   
   
       32 . Method as in  claim 26  and further including emitting an audio signal when a fault is present in said water heating system.  
   
   
       33 . Method as in  claim 26  wherein a unique number is associated with each of said components, said numbers being displayed upon power up or shutdown of said water heating system.  
   
   
       34 . Method as in  claim 26  and further including displaying textual and numerical information relating to fault free operation of said water heating system and for displaying servicing and advertising information.  
   
   
       35 . Apparatus for displaying system status in a text and numerical form for a water heating system used in a boat or vehicle comprising a display device for for displaying system status in a text and numerical form for said water heating system comprising a micro-controller for converting hexadecimal data or serial communications received from a control board into a text and/or numerical user friendly format display, said apparatus displaying the status of components of said water heating system and for displaying faults associated with said components of said water heating system.