Electrical power distribution plugstrip with current information display and method of use

Abstract

A power management device can include a power management device housing, a power input associated with the power management device housing, and a plurality of power outputs associated with the power management device housing. At least certain power outputs can be connectable to one or more electrical loads external to the power management device housing and to the power input. In some embodiments, a communications bus can be associated with the power management device housing and one or more power control sections can also be associated with the power management device housing. In some embodiments, one ore more power control sections can communicate with the communications bus and with one or more corresponding power outputs among the plurality of power outputs. In some embodiments, a power information display can communicate with the communications bus. If desired, a power information determining section can be associated with the power management device housing and in communication with the communications bus. The power information determining section may communicate power-related information to the power information display.

1 . An electrical power distribution plugstrip connectable to one or more electrical loads in an electrical equipment rack, the electrical power distribution plugstrip comprising in combination: 
 A. an electrical power distribution plugstrip housing configured to be mounted in the electrical equipment rack;    B. a plurality of power inputs in operating power providing communication with the electrical power distribution plugstrip housing;    C. a plurality of power outputs disposed along a side of the electrical power distribution plugstrip housing, wherein each of the plurality of power outputs is connectable to a corresponding one of the one or more electrical loads, and wherein each of the plurality of power inputs is in operating power providing communication with a corresponding sub-plurality of the plurality of outputs;    D. a current-related information display associated with the electrical power distribution plugstrip housing in current-related information determining communication with at least one among the plurality of power inputs and the plurality of power outputs; and    E. a current-related information reporting system coupled with the electrical power distribution plugstrip housing and being (i) in current-related information determining communication with at least one among the plurality of power inputs and the plurality of power outputs, and (ii) connectable in current-related information transfer communication with a separate communications network distal from the electrical power distribution plugstrip housing.    
     
     
         2 . The electrical power distribution plugstrip of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 F. a plurality of power control relays associated with the electrical power distribution plugstrip housing, each of the plurality of power control relays being connected to at least one of the plurality of power inputs and in power controlling communication with one or more corresponding power outputs among the plurality of power outputs.    
     
     
         3 . The electrical power distribution plugstrip of  claim 2  further comprising: 
 G. at least one intelligent power section associated with the electrical power distribution plugstrip housing and in which is disposed at least one of the plurality of power control relays.    
     
     
         4 . The electrical power distribution plugstrip of  claim 3  further comprising: 
 H. an external power manager application external to the electrical power distribution plugstrip housing connectable in network communication with the intelligent power section associated with the electrical power distribution plugstrip housing, whereby a user of the external power manager may control power provided to selectable ones of the plurality of power outputs.    
     
     
         5 . The electrical power distribution plugstrip of  claim 2  further comprising: 
 F. a plurality of intelligent power sections associated with the electrical power distribution plugstrip housing, each of the plurality of intelligent power sections being in communication with at least a corresponding one or more among the plurality of power outputs.    
     
     
         6 . The electrical power distribution plugstrip of  claim 5  further comprising: 
 G. an external power manager application external to the electrical power distribution plugstrip housing and connectable in network communication with the plurality of intelligent power sections associated with the electrical power distribution plugstrip housing, whereby a user of the external power manager may control power provided to selectable ones of the plurality of power outputs.    
     
     
         7 . The electrical power distribution plugstrip of  claim 3  wherein the current-related information display is in current determining communication with all among the plurality of power outputs through at least one current sensing device.  
     
     
         8 . The electrical power distribution plugstrip of  claim 5  wherein the current-related information display is in current determining communication with all among the plurality of power outputs through at least one current sensing device.  
     
     
         9 . The electrical power distribution plugstrip of  claim 3  wherein the at least one intelligent power section comprises an intelligent power module having at least one of the plurality of power control relays and the corresponding power output for such one power control relay.  
     
     
         10 . The electrical power distribution plugstrip of  claim 4  wherein the intelligent power section comprises an intelligent power module having at least one of the plurality of power control relays and the corresponding power output for such one power control relay.  
     
     
         11 . The electrical power distribution plugstrip of  claim 5  wherein each of the plurality of intelligent power sections comprises an intelligent power module having at least one of the plurality of power control relays and the corresponding one or more power outputs for such one power control relay.  
     
     
         12 . The electrical power distribution plugstrip of  claim 6  wherein each of the plurality of intelligent power sections comprises an intelligent power module having at least one of the plurality of power control relays and the corresponding one or more power outputs for such one power control relay.  
     
     
         13 . The electrical power distribution plugstrip of  claim 7  wherein the at least one intelligent power section comprises an intelligent power module having at least one of the plurality of power control relays and the corresponding one or more power outputs for such one power control relay.  
     
     
         14 . The electrical power distribution plugstrip of  claim 8  wherein each of the plurality of intelligent power sections comprises an intelligent power module having at least one of the plurality of power control relays and the corresponding one or more power outputs for such one power control relay.  
     
     
         15 . An electrical power distribution plugstrip connectable to one or more electrical loads in an electrical equipment rack, the electrical power distribution plugstrip comprising in combination: 
 A. an electrical equipment rack-mountable electrical power distribution plugstrip housing;    B. a plurality of power inputs penetrating the electrical equipment rack-mountable electrical power distribution plugstrip housing;    C. a plurality of power outputs disposed along an area on a face of the electrical equipment rack-mountable electrical power distribution plugstrip housing, each among the plurality of power outputs being removably connectable to a corresponding one of the one or more electrical loads;    D. a digital current information display associated with another area of the electrical equipment rack-mountable electrical power distribution plugstrip housing in current determining communication with at least one among the plurality of power inputs and the plurality of power outputs; and    E. a plugstrip current reporting system (i) associated with the electrical equipment rack-mountable electrical power distribution plugstrip housing (ii) in power information determining communication with at least one among the plurality power inputs and the plurality of power outputs, and (iii) communicatingly connectable with a distal current reporting system through a communications network external to the electrical equipment rack-mountable electrical power distribution plugstrip housing.    
     
     
         16 . The electrical power distribution plugstrip of  claim 15  further comprising: 
 D. a plurality of power control relays associated with the electrical equipment rack-mountable electrical power distribution plugstrip housing, each of the plurality of power control relays being connected to at least one of the plurality of power inputs and to one or more corresponding power outputs among the plurality of power outputs.    
     
     
         17 . The electrical power distribution plugstrip of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 E. at least one intelligent power section associated with the electrical equipment rack-mountable electrical power distribution plugstrip housing and in which is disposed at least one of the plurality of power control relays.    
     
     
         18 . The electrical power distribution plugstrip of  claim 17  further comprising: 
 F. an external power manager application external to the electrical equipment rack-mountable electrical power distribution plugstrip housing connectable in network communication with the at least one intelligent power section associated with the electrical equipment rack-mountable electrical power distribution plugstrip housing, whereby a user of the external power manager may control power provided to selectable ones of the plurality of power outputs.    
     
     
         19 . The electrical power distribution plugstrip of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 E. a plurality of intelligent power sections associated with the electrical equipment rack-mountable electrical power distribution plugstrip housing, each of the plurality of intelligent power sections being in communication with at least a corresponding one or more of the plurality of power outputs.    
     
     
         20 . The electrical power distribution plugstrip of  claim 19  further comprising: 
 F. an external power manager application external to the electrical equipment rack-mountable electrical power distribution plugstrip housing and connectable through the communications network with the plurality of intelligent power sections associated with the electrical equipment rack-mountable electrical power distribution plugstrip housing, whereby a user of the external power manager may control power provided to selectable ones of the plurality of power outputs.    
     
     
         21 . The electrical power distribution plugstrip of  claim 17  wherein the at least one intelligent power section comprises an intelligent power module having at least one of the plurality of power control relays and the corresponding power output for such one of the plurality of power control relays.  
     
     
         22 . The electrical power distribution plugstrip of  claim 18  wherein the at least one intelligent power section comprises an intelligent power module having at least one of the plurality of power control relays and the corresponding power output for such one power control relay.  
     
     
         23 . The electrical power distribution plugstrip of  claim 19  wherein each of the plurality of intelligent power sections comprises an intelligent power module having at least one of the plurality of power control relays and the corresponding one or more power outputs for such one power control relay.  
     
     
         24 . The electrical power distribution plugstrip of  claim 20  wherein each of the plurality of intelligent power sections comprises an intelligent power module having at least one of the plurality of power control relays and the corresponding one or more power outputs for such one power control relay.