Power management controls for electric appliances

• US 6,806,446 B1
• Filed: 10/04/2002
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stephen D. Neale
• Original Assignee: Stephen D. Neale
• Inventors: Neale, Stephen D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jeffery, John A.
• Application Number:
  US10/264,390
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 219/497, 219/485, 219/488, 392/485-487, 307/31-35, 307/38-39, 307/41
• US Class Current: 219/497
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/144 Measuring or calculating energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/20 characterised by control inputs
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/215 before heating
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/219 after heating
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/238 Flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/37 of electric heaters
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/395 Information to users, e.g. alarms
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/407 using electrical switching, e.g. TRIAC
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/414 using electronic processing, e.g. computer-based
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/2028 Continuous-flow heaters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0252 Domestic applications

Abstract

A power management system comprises a microprocessor and a current flow sensor in electrical communication therewith. The current flow sensor measures the amount of electrical current available to the building as well as the actual current flowing through the building. A load sensor is in electrical communication with the microprocessor and measures the load requirements of the appliance. One or more switches are electrical communication with the microprocessor and control the power flowing to the appliance. The microprocessor maintains a record of the information from the load sensor and the current sensor and further has a electrical maximum limit and a continuous load limit for the building. The microprocessor uses the one or more switches to average a continuous load over a preset period of time which is less than the continuous load limit for said building while never exceeding the electrical maximum limit for said building.

Claims

1. A power management system for controlling the electrical power to an appliance in a building, the power management system comprising;

a microprocessor;

at least one current flow sensor in electrical communication with the microprocessor, the at least one current flow sensor adapted to measure the amount of electrical current available to the building as well as the actual current flowing through the building;

a load sensor in electrical communication with the microprocessor, the load sensor adapted to measure the load requirements of the appliance;

one or more switches in electrical communication with the microprocessor, the one or more switches adapted to control the power flowing to the appliance;

the microprocessor maintaining a record of the information from the load sensor and the one or more current sensors, the microprocessor having predetermined a electrical maximum limit and a continuous load limit for the building, the microprocessor using the one or more switches to average a continuous load over three hours which is less than the continuous load limit for said building while never exceeding the electrical maximum limit for said building.

2. The power management system of claim 1 wherein the household appliance is a tankless hot water heater.

3. The power management system of claim 2 wherein the load sensor comprises, in combination, an inlet water temperature sensor, an outlet water temperature sensor and a flow sensor.

4. The power management system of claim 2 wherein the tankless water heater includes a plurality of on demand heating elements.

5. The power management system of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor has a display and a keypad.

6. The power management system of claim 1 wherein the one or more switches are triacs.

7. The power management system of claim 1 wherein the continuous load limit is 80% of the electrical maximum limit.

8. The power management system of claim 1 further comprising a controller in electrical communication with the microprocessor and a second electrical appliance in the building, the microprocessor having the ability to instruct the controller to shut down the second electrical appliance to reduce the electrical load on the building.

9. A power management system for controlling the electrical power to a tankless hot water heater having a plurality of on demand heating elements in a building, the power management system comprising;

a microprocessor;

at least one current flow sensor in electrical communication with the microprocessor, the at least one current flow sensor adapted to measure the amount of electrical current available to the building as well as the actual current flowing through the building;

an inlet water temperature sensor, an outlet water temperature sensor and a flow sensor in electrical communication with the microprocessor, the inlet water temperature sensor, the outlet water temperature sensor and the flow sensor adapted to measure the load requirements of the tankless hot water heater;

or more triacs in electrical communication with the microprocessor, the one or more triacs adapted to control the power flowing to the plurality of heating elements of the tankless hot water heater;

the microprocessor maintaining a record of the information from the inlet water temperature sensor, the outlet water temperature sensor, the flow sensor and the one or more current sensors, the microprocessor having predetermined a electrical maximum limit and a continuous load limit which is 80% of the electrical maximum limit for the building, the microprocessor using the one or more triacs to average a continuous load over three hours which is less than the continuous load limit for said building while never exceeding the electrical maximum limit for said building.

10. The power management system of claim 9 wherein the microprocessor has a display and a keypad.

11. The power management system of claim 9 further comprising a controller in electrical communication with the microprocessor and a second electrical tankless hot water heater in the building, the microprocessor having the ability to instruct the controller to shut down the second electrical appliance to reduce the electrical load on the building.