Wireless Power Line Sensor

Abstract

A wireless sensor apparatus for determining and reporting the status of an electrical wire, where the sensor apparatus comprises an electrically insulated housing; a non-contact electrical energy harvesting device, within said housing, an electric power source; a microcontroller; a wireless data transmission antenna; a visual indicator.

1 . A wireless sensor system for measuring the status of an electrical wire, said sensor system comprising: a sensor member, said first member having an electrically insulated housing; a wireless electrical energy harvesting device, said energy harvest device disposed within said housing; an electric current detector and voltage detector disposed within the housing; an electric power source, said power source operatively connected to said energy harvesting device; a programmable microprocessor, said microprocessor operably connected to said power source; a wireless data transmission antenna, said wireless data transmission antenna operably connected to said power source and to said microprocessor; a visual display, said visual display operably connected to said power source and to said microprocessor; and an insulator member, said insulator member having an electrically insulated housing, said insulator member slidingly, translatably, and releasably attached to said insulator member; and an electrical wire, said electrical wire disposed between said first member and said second member. 
     
     
         2 . The wireless sensor system of  claim 1 , wherein the insulated housings comprise HDPE. 
     
     
         3 . The wireless sensor of system  claim 1 , wherein the energy harvesting device comprises an electromechanical AC energy harvester. 
     
     
         4 . The wireless sensor system of  claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises a rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         5 . The wireless sensor system of  claim 1 , wherein the visual display comprises a plurality of LEDs. 
     
     
         6 . A method of sensing the mechanical and electrical status of a power line, said method comprising the steps of: providing a sensor, where said sensor wirelessly harvests power from an adjacent power line; using said sensor to detect the current in an adjacent power line; using said sensor to detect the presence of a voltage in said power line; using said sensor to detect the mechanical load on said power line; using said sensor to communicate the mechanical and electric status of said power line to a system user. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of wirelessly harvesting electrical power comprises using an electromechanical AC energy harvesting device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of using said sensor to communicate the mechanical and electric status of said power line to a system user comprises sending data from said sensor to a remote computer. 
     
     
         9 . A wireless sensor system for measuring the status of an electrical wire, said sensor system comprising: a sensor member, said first member having an electrically insulated housing; a wireless electrical energy harvesting device, said energy harvest device disposed within said housing; an electric current detector and voltage detector disposed within the housing; an electric power source, said power source operatively connected to said energy harvesting device; a programmable microprocessor, said microprocessor operably connected to said power source; a wireless data transmission antenna, said wireless data transmission antenna operably connected to said power source and to said microprocessor; a visual display, said visual display operably connected to said power source and to said microprocessor; and an insulator member, said insulator member having an electrically insulated housing, said insulator member slidingly, translatably, and releasably attached to said insulator member.