Secondary heating system controller

Abstract

A secondary heating-system-controller ( 10 ) for use in conjunction with a primary heating-system-controller ( 26 ) of a heating system, comprises interruption means ( 18, 20 ) for periodically temperature-independently deactivating and reactivating the heating system during an activation period of the heating system determined by the primary heating-system-controller ( 26 ). A method is also provided having the step of temperature-independently deactivating and reactivating the heating system a plurality of times using the interruption means ( 18, 20 ) during a standard activation period of the heating system.

1 . A secondary heating-system-controller for use in conjunction with a primary heating-system-controller of a heat supply unit supplying a heating system, the secondary heating-system-controller comprising interruption means for temperature-independently periodically deactivating and reactivating the heat supply unit supplying the heating system during an activation period of the heat supply unit determined by the primary heating-system-controller. 
     
     
         2 . A secondary heating-system-controller as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the interruption means includes a control circuit for activating and deactivating the heat supply unit, a timer for outputting timing signals to the control circuit for an activation period and a deactivation period, a user-interface which interfaces with the timer for a user to set the activation period and the deactivation period, and a primary heating-system-controller input element for receiving a primary heating-system activation signal and a primary heating-system deactivation signal from the primary heating-system-controller. 
     
     
         3 . A secondary heating-system-controller as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the primary heating-system-controller input element is an intercept input for directly receiving the primary heating-system activation signal and the primary heating-system deactivation signal from the primary heating-system-controller. 
     
     
         4 . A secondary heating-system-controller as claimed in  claim 2  or  claim 3 , further comprising a support for supporting the primary heating-system-controller. 
     
     
         5 . A secondary heating-system-controller as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the support includes an engagement element for releasably engaging the primary heating-system-controller. 
     
     
         6 . A secondary heating-system-controller as claimed in  claim 4  or  claim 5 , wherein the support includes the primary heating-system-controller input element. 
     
     
         7 . A secondary heating-system-controller as claimed in any one of  claims 2  to  6 , further comprising a housing in or on which is provided the interruption means, the primary heating-system controller being connectable to the housing. 
     
     
         8 . A secondary heating-system-controller as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a mounting plate on which the interruption means is mountable. 
     
     
         9 . A secondary heating-system-controller as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the mounting plate is common to the secondary heating-system-controller and the primary heating-system-controller. 
     
     
         10 . A secondary heating-system-controller as claimed any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a wireless transmitter for wireless communication with a heating system. 
     
     
         11 . A secondary heating-system-controller as claimed any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a wireless receiver for wireless communication with the primary heating-system-controller. 
     
     
         12 . A secondary heating-system-controller as claimed any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a supplementary controller for overriding a deactivation and/or reactivation condition of the secondary heating-system controller. 
     
     
         13 . A secondary heating-system-controller as claimed any one of the preceding claims, in the form of a kit of parts. 
     
     
         14 . A secondary heating-system-controller substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
     
         15 . A secondary heating-system-controller as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in combination with a primary heating-system-controller of a heat supply unit supplying a heating system. 
     
     
         16 . A combination as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the secondary heating-system-controller is mounted on the primary heating-system-controller. 
     
     
         17 . A boiler for a heating system, the boiler comprising a secondary heating-system controller as claimed in  claim 1  which is provided thereon or therein. 
     
     
         18 . A boiler as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising an onboard boiler controller, the secondary heating-system controller being integral with the boiler controller. 
     
     
         19 . A method of reducing utility costs for a heating system by using a secondary heating-system-controller as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising the step of temperature-independently deactivating and reactivating the heat supply unit supplying a heating system a plurality of times using the interruption means during a standard activation period of the heat supply unit.