Apparatus for and method of metering separate lighting circuits for comparative electric power usage to provide a virtual power plant in electric power savings

• US 6,724,180 B1
• Filed: 09/13/2002
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Potts, Neal R. Verfuerth
• Inventors: Verfuerth, Neal R., Potts, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pert, Evan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tang, Minh N.
• Application Number:
  US10/241,846
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 324/103.R, 324/114, 324/142, 324/158.1, 702/60, 702/62, 700/286, 700/291, 700/293, 315/294-295, 315/297, 315/307-308
• US Class Current: 324/142
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Lighting of buildings is costly in terms of electric power, and in view of this, disclosure is made of apparatus and method for comparison of electric power usage with incandescent or HID, high intensity discharge, lighting source compared to an alternate lighting source, such as fluorescent tube lights, to give the same or adequate light reading on a light meter as attained by an incandescent or HID, high intensity discharge light source then measuring the ampere reading at the same voltage of each lighting source to determine the KW demand to further determine lowest lighting cost, which then in effect will equate to a virtual power plant, which can be a considerable saving of cost and reduction of atmospheric pollution.

Claims

1. An apparatus for metering separate electric lighting circuits for comparative electric power usage, to provide a virtual power plant in electric power savings comprising:

a—

an electric power line to a light source in a circuit A and a switch in said electric power line to said light source in circuit A,

b—

an electric power line to a light source in a circuit B and a switch in said electric power line to said light source in said circuit B,

c—

a light meter at a distance d from direct light source of circuit A,

d—

a light meter at a distance d from direct light source of circuit B,

e—

a clamp-on ammeter and clamp of said ammeter surrounding said electric power line to said light source of said circuit A, said clamp-on ammeter connected into a computer through a probe opening in a panel of said computer,

f—

a clamp-on ammeter and clamp of said ammeter surrounding said electric power line to said light source of said circuit B, said clamp-on ammeter, of said circuit B, connected into said computer through a probe opening in said panel of said computer,

g—

a circuit A amperage reading window in said panel of said computer,

h—

a circuit B amperage reading window in said panel of said computer,

i—

a select switch in said panel of said computer, and said select switch to scan the selections of hours, volts, circuit B amperes, total amperes all fixture lights, KW rate % ratio, KW saved, amperes saved,

j—

a window in said panel of said computer to display data scanned,

k—

a voltage reset switch to switch to higher voltage and a switch to lower voltage, in said panel of said computer,

l—

a window to display power cost of said circuit A,

m—

a window to display power cost of said circuit B,

n—

a toggle switch in up position to show power cost of said circuit B in total,

o—

said toggle switch in down position to show power cost of said circuit A in total and,

p—

electric power plug in said panel of said computer, and a probe opening for communication plug-in on said panel of said computer.

2. Method of metering separate electric lighting circuits for comparative electric power usage, to provide a virtual power plant in electric power savings comprising:

a—

an electric power line to a light source in a circuit A and a switch in said electric power line to said light source in circuit A, and closing said switch on said electric power line,

b—

an electric power line to a light source in a circuit B and a switch in said electric power line to said light source in said circuit B, and closing said switch in said electric power line,

c—

a light meter at a distance d from direct light source of circuit A, and said direct light source aimed at said light meter of said circuit A,

d—

a light meter at a distance d from direct light source of circuit B, and said direct light source of said circuit B aimed at said light meter of said circuit B

e—

a clamp-on ammeter and clamp of said ammeter surrounding said electric power line to said light source of said circuit A, said clamp-on ammeter connected into a computer through a probe opening in a panel of said computer,

f—

a clamp-on ammeter and clamp of said ammeter surrounding said electric power line to said direct light source of said circuit B, said clamp-on ammeter, of circuit B, connected into said computer through a probe opening in said panel of said computer,

g—

a circuit A amperage reading window in said panel of said computer,

h—

a circuit B amperage reading window in said panel of said computer,

i—

a select switch in said panel of said computer, and said select switch to scan the selections of hours, volts, circuit B amperes, total amperes all fixture lights, KW rate % ratio, KW saved, amperes saved,

j—

a window in said panel of said computer to display data scanned,

k—

a voltage reset switch to switch to higher voltage and a switch to lower voltage, in said panel of said computer,

l—

a window to display power cost of said circuit A,

m—

a window to display power cost of said circuit B,

n—

a toggle switch in up position to show power cost of said circuit B in total,

o—

said toggle switch in down position to show power cost of said circuit A in total and,

p—

electric power plug in said panel of said computer, and a probe opening for communication plug-in on said panel of said computer.

3. The method of metering separate electric lighting circuits for comparative electric power usage, to provide a virtual power plant in electric power savings of claim 2 further comprising:

a—

said light source of said circuit A includes an incandescent light source and,

b—

a fluorescent light tube source in said circuit B.

4. The method of metering separate electric lighting circuits for comparative electric power usage, to provide a virtual power plant in electric power savings of claim 2 further comprising:

a—

said light source of said circuit A includes an “

HID”

high intensity discharge light source and,

b—

a fluorescent light tube source in said circuit B.