Smart switching panel for secondary power supply

Abstract

A smart switching panel for selectively connecting either a primary power supply or a secondary power supply to a plurality of electric loads. The switching panel includes a plurality of switching elements each connected to both the primary and secondary power supplies. A controller of the switching panel operates to cause the switching element to transition between a first position in which the primary power supply is connected to the electric load, a second position in which the secondary power supply is connected to the electric load and an open condition. A current sensor is positioned to monitor the amount of current drawn by the electric load and is connected to the controller such that the controller can monitor the amount of current drawn by each of the electric loads. The controller can transition each of the switching elements to the open condition when the current draw exceeds a current threshold.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A switching panel for providing electrical power to a plurality of electric loads from a primary power supply or a secondary power supply, comprising:
 a plurality of switching elements each connected to both the primary power supply and the secondary power supply and to at least one electric load within the plurality of electric loads, wherein each of the plurality of switching elements is operable in a first condition and a second condition;   a controller operatively connected to each of the plurality of switching elements, wherein the controller is operable to independently control a condition of each of the switching elements; and   a plurality of current sensors each in communication with the controller, wherein each of the current sensors is positioned between one of the switching elements and at least one electric load of the plurality of electric loads associated with the switching element, wherein each of the plurality of current sensors is operable to detect a current draw of the at least one electric load associated with the switching element;   wherein the primary power supply and secondary power supply are configured to supply power to the switching panel simultaneously; and   wherein the controller is configured to transition one or more of the plurality of switching elements from the first condition to the second condition upon receiving an indication that the detected current draw of the electric load associated with the switching element is below a threshold current value.   
     
     
         22 . The switching panel of  claim 21 , wherein each of the plurality of switching elements is configured to transition to an open condition upon receiving an indication from a corresponding one of the current sensors that a sensed current downstream of the switching element has exceeded a second threshold current value. 
     
     
         23 . The switching panel of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one electric load associated with the switching element is connected to the primary power supply when the switching element is in the first condition, is connected to the secondary power supply when the switching element is in the second condition, and is disconnected from both the primary power supply and the secondary power supply when the switching element is in the open condition. 
     
     
         24 . The switching panel of  claim 22 , wherein the primary power supply is a utility power supply. 
     
     
         25 . The switching panel of  claim 22 , wherein the secondary power supply is chosen from a group consisting of: solar cells, electric storage batteries, a wind turbine, a photovoltaic generator, and a generator. 
     
     
         26 . The switching panel of  claim 25 , wherein the secondary power supply includes two or more power sources. 
     
     
         27 . The switching panel of  claim 21 , further comprising a tertiary power supply, wherein the tertiary power supply is connected to each of the plurality of switching elements, wherein each of the plurality of switching elements is further operable in a third condition, wherein the tertiary power supply is configured to supply power to the switching panel simultaneously with the primary power supply and the secondary power supply, and wherein the controller is configured to transition one or more of the plurality of switching elements to the third condition to connect the tertiary power supply to at least one electric load of the plurality of electric loads. 
     
     
         28 . The switching panel of  claim 21 , wherein each of the switching elements is a MOSFET. 
     
     
         29 . The switching panel of  claim 21 , wherein each of the switching elements is an insulated-gate bipolar transistor. 
     
     
         30 . The switching panel of  claim 21 , wherein each of the switching elements is a multi-position relay. 
     
     
         31 . The switching panel of  claim 21 , wherein the secondary power supply is connected to a DC-AC inverter, wherein the DC-AC inverter is configured to supply AC electrical power to the plurality of switching elements. 
     
     
         32 . A switching panel for providing electrical power to a plurality of electric loads from multiple power supplies, comprising:
 a plurality of switching elements, each switching element being connected to each of a first power supply and a second power supply, and configured to transmit electrical power received from the first power supply or the second power supply to at least one electric load of the plurality of electric loads, each of the plurality of switching elements being operable in a first condition and a second condition;   a controller operatively connected to each of the plurality of switching elements, wherein the controller is operable to independently control a condition of each of the plurality of switching elements; and   a plurality of current sensors each in communication with the controller, wherein each of the current sensors is positioned between one of the switching elements and the at least one electric load of the plurality of electric loads associated with the switching element, wherein each of the plurality of current sensors is operable to detect a current draw of the at least one electric load;   wherein the controller is configured to transition one or more of the plurality of switching elements from the first condition to the second condition upon receiving an indication that an energy cost associated with the first power supply exceeds a threshold value; and   wherein the first power supply and second power supply are configured to supply power to the switching panel simultaneously.   
     
     
         33 . The switching panel of  claim 32 , wherein each of the plurality of switching elements is configured to transition to an open condition upon receiving an indication from a corresponding one of the current sensors that a sensed current downstream of the switching element has exceeded a threshold current value. 
     
     
         34 . The switching panel of  claim 33 , wherein the at least one electric load associated with the switching element is connected to the first power supply when the switching element is in the first condition, is connected to the second power supply when the switching element is in the second condition, and is disconnected from both the first power supply and the second power supply when the switching element is in the open condition. 
     
     
         35 . The switching panel of  claim 32 , wherein the first power supply is a utility power supply. 
     
     
         36 . The switching panel of  claim 32 , wherein the second power supply is chosen from a group consisting of: solar cells, electric storage batteries, a wind turbine, a photovoltaic generator, and a generator. 
     
     
         37 . The switching panel of  claim 32 , wherein the second power supply is connected to a DC-AC inverter, wherein the DC-AC inverter is configured to supply AC electrical power to the plurality of switching elements. 
     
     
         38 . The switching panel of  claim 32 , further comprising a third power supply, wherein the third power supply is connected to each of the plurality of switching elements, wherein each of the plurality of switching elements is further operable in a third condition, wherein the third power supply is configured to supply power to the switching panel simultaneously with the first power supply and the second power supply, and wherein the controller is configured to transition one or more of the plurality of switching elements to the third condition to connect the third power supply to at least one electric load of the plurality of electric loads. 
     
     
         39 . A switching panel for providing electrical power to an electric load from multiple power supplies configured to supply power to the switching panel simultaneously, the switching panel comprising:
 a switching element connected to each of a first power supply and a second power supply, and configured to transmit electrical power received from the first power supply or the second power supply to at least one electric load coupled to the switching element, the switching element being operable in a first condition, a second condition, and an open condition;   a controller operatively connected to the switching element and operable to control a condition of the switching element; and   a current sensor in communication with the controller, wherein the current sensor is positioned between the switching element and the electric load, wherein the current sensor is operable to detect a current draw of the electric load;   wherein the controller is configured to transition the switching element from the first condition to the second condition upon receiving an indication that the detected current draw of the electric load associated is below a threshold current value.   
     
     
         40 . The switching panel of  claim 39 , wherein a DC-AC inverter is positioned between the second power supply and the switching panel, the DC-AC inverter being configured invert DC electrical power from the second power supply into AC electrical power to supply AC electrical power to the switching element.