System for monitoring electrical power usage of a structure and method of same

Abstract

Some embodiments can teach a system for monitoring usage of electrical power by a structure. The structure can have one or more main electrical power lines that supply the electrical power to a first load in the structure. A portion of the one or more main electrical power lines can run substantially parallel to a first axis. The structure can further have a panel that overlies the portion of the one or more main electrical power lines. The system can include: (a) a current sensor unit configured to be coupled to a portion of a surface of the panel, the current sensor unit having: (a) at least one magnetic field sensor having a length substantially parallel to a second axis, wherein the second axis is substantially perpendicular to the first axis, and the at least one magnetic field sensor is configured to detect a magnetic field generated by the one or more main electrical power lines; and (b) a processing unit configured to run on a processor. The current sensor unit can be configured to produce an output signal based on the magnetic field detected by the at least one magnetic field sensor. The processing unit further can be configured to receive the output signal from the current sensor unit and process the output signal to determine one or more parameters related to the usage of the electrical power by the first load in the structure. Other embodiments are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for measuring electrical current in one or more main electrical power lines of a structure, the structure having a breaker box, the breaker box comprising at least a first part of the one or more main electrical power lines and a metal panel over the first part of the one or more main electrical power lines, the apparatus comprising:
 a sensing device comprising:
 one or more electrical current sensors configured to provide two or more current measurements; and 
 one or more magnets coupled to the one or more electrical current sensors; and 
   a processing module configured to run on a computational unit and configured to use the two or more current measurements to determine the electrical current in the one or more main electrical power lines.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one of the one or more electric current sensors is enclosed by a ferromagnetic cup.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the one or more magnets are configured to couple to an exterior side of the metal panel.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the one or more electrical current sensors comprise:
 a first conductor coiled around a first one of the one or more magnets; and 
 a second conductor coiled around a second one of the one or more magnets. 
   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the one or more electrical current sensors comprise:
 a first side; and 
 a second side opposite the first side; 
   a first axis extends from the first side to the second side of each of the one or more electrical current sensors; and   each of the first axes are perpendicular to a portion of a length of the first part of the one or more main electrical power lines.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein:
 each of the first axes are also perpendicular to at least part of an exterior side of the metal panel.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the first side of each of the one or more electrical current sensors is coupled to the one or more magnets; and   the second side of each of the one or more electrical current sensors is spaced apart from the one or more magnets.   
     
     
         8 . A method for monitoring usage of electrical power of a structure using an electrical power monitoring system, the structure having one or more main electrical power lines that supply the electrical power to a first load in the structure, the method comprising:
 calibrating the electrical power monitoring system, wherein a first raw current in the one or more main electrical power lines and first calibration data are generated while calibrating the electrical power monitor system;   storing the first calibration data and a measurement of the first raw current;   measuring a second raw current;   calculating a first measured current; and   displaying the first measured current.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein calculating the first measured current comprises:
 if the second raw current is not within a first predetermined amount of the first raw current, performing a first recalibration of the electrical power monitoring system comprising:
 calibrating the electrical power monitoring system, wherein a third raw current in the one or more main electrical power lines and second calibration data are generated while performing the first recalibration of the electrical power monitor system; 
 storing the second calibration data and a measurement of the third raw current; and 
 calculating the first measured current using the second calibration data; and 
   if the second raw current is within the first predetermined amount of the first raw current, calculating the first measured current using the first calibration data.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first predetermined amount is approximately  1  percent.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 measuring a fourth raw current; 
 calculating a second measured current; and 
 displaying the second measured current. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 displaying the first measured current comprises displaying the first measured current on a display device, and   displaying the second measured current comprises displaying the second measured current on the display device.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein calculating the second measured current comprises:
 if the third raw current is not within a second predetermined amount of the first raw current or the second raw current, performing a second recalibration of the electrical power monitoring system comprising:
 calibrating the electrical power monitoring system, wherein a fifth raw current in the one or more main electrical power lines and third calibration data are generated while performing the second recalibration of the electrical power monitor system; 
 storing the third calibration data and a measurement of the fifth raw current; and 
 calculating the second measured current using the third calibration data; and 
   if the third raw current is within the second predetermined amount of the first raw current or the second raw current, calculating the second measured current using the first calibration data or the second calibration data.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the second predetermined amount is approximately  1  percent.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein calibrating the electrical power monitoring system comprises:
 attaching a computational device of the electrical power monitoring system into a first phase line of the structure;   attaching a calibration device of the electrical power monitoring system into a second phase line of the structure; and   the first phase line of the structure is different than the second phase line of the structure.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein calibrating the electrical power monitoring system further comprises:
 determining a first amplitude and a first phase of a first current in each current sensor of a sensing device of the electrical power monitoring system.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein calibrating the electrical power monitoring system further comprises:
 coupling a first load of the computational device to the first phase line; and   determining, while the first load is coupled to the first phase line, a second amplitude and a second phase of a second current in each of the current sensors of the sensing device of the electrical power monitoring system.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein calibrating the electrical power monitoring system further comprises:
 coupling a second load of the calibration device to the second phase line; and   determining, while the second load is coupled to the second phase line, a third amplitude and a third phase of a third current in each of the current sensors of the sensing device of the electrical power monitoring system.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein calibrating the electrical power monitoring system further comprises:
 determining calibration factors based at least in part on the first amplitudes, the first phases, the second amplitudes, the second phases, the third amplitudes, and the third phases of the current sensors of the sensing device of the electrical power monitoring system   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein calibrating the electrical power monitoring system further comprises:
 determining the first calibration data based on the calibration factors, an amplitude of the first raw current, and a phase of the first raw current.