Smart Electrical Drop Wire-Forms and Electrical Power Management System

Abstract

Disclosed is a power management system utilizing “smart” wire-devices installable in the “drop-grid” or “micro-grid” at a premise, such as a business or residence. The “smart” wire-device includes a management node integrated into a typical electrical power outlet, circuit breaker or switch as would be found in such premises, and is installable in the power line in a manner similar to existing wire-devices. The “smart” wire-device requires no special skill to install The present wire-device is “smart” in that the node has a detector circuit that senses the electrical characteristic(s) of the power line at the point at which it is installed. The node's communication circuit communicates with one or more spatially separated remote controller devices. The node operates a remotely controllable maker/breaker means in response to received instructions to alter the condition of the electrical power output of the “smart” wire-device.

1 . An electrical power management system for managing electrical power usage on a micro-power grid ( 1 ) of a consumer's premises, the management system comprising:
 an electricity metering device ( 610   b ) feeding power into a distribution panel ( 200 ) of the micro-power grid ( 1 );   the distribution panel ( 200 ), having a main circuit breaker ( 100   a ) and at least one distribution circuit breaker ( 100   b ) connected to at least one drop power line ( 16 ) to feed electrical power throughout the micro-grid ( 1 );   at least one remotely controllable, condition sensing wire-device ( 10 ) disposed in the at least one drop power line ( 16 ) between the distribution panel ( 200 ) and a load appliance ( 120 ,  220 ) installed on the power line ( 16 ); and   a signal processing unit ( 100 ) in signal communication with the at least one remotely controllable, condition sensing wire-device ( 10 ), the signal processing unit ( 100 ) in a communications network with the at least one remotely controllable, condition sensing wire-device ( 10 ), and adapted to provide electrical power usage management of the micro-power grid ( 1 ) and adapted to overcome breaks in the communications network.