Electrical distribution panel including first non-critical load bus and second critical load bus

• US 7,599,171 B1
• Filed: 07/14/2008
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Remmert, Scot E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson; Gregory D
• Application Number:
  US12/172,504
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 200/50.32, 200/50.33, 361/631, 361/634, 361/641
• US Class Current: 361/631
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/018 Application transfer; between utility and emergency power supply circuits in H02J9/04
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/062 for AC powered loads

Abstract

A load center includes an enclosure, a first power input, a second power input, a first circuit breaker having a line terminal electrically connected to the first power input and a load terminal, a first bus electrically connected to the load terminal, a number of independent second circuit breakers powered from the first bus, a second bus, a number of independent third circuit breakers powered from the second bus, and a transfer switch having a first input electrically connected to the first bus, a second input electrically connected to the second power input, and an output electrically connected to the second bus. The transfer switch selectively electrically connects one of its first and second inputs to its output. The first bus and the second circuit breakers power only a number of non-critical loads. The second bus and the third circuit breakers power only a number of critical loads.

Claims

1. An electrical distribution panel comprising:

an enclosure;

a first power input;

a second power input;

a first circuit interrupter including a first terminal electrically connected to said first power input and a second terminal;

a first bus electrically connected to the second terminal of said first circuit interrupter;

a number of second circuit interrupters powered from said first bus;

a second bus;

a number of third circuit interrupters powered from said second bus;

a transfer switch including a first input electrically connected to said first bus, a second input electrically connected to said second power input, and an output electrically connected to said second bus, said transfer switch being structured to selectively electrically connect one of the first and second inputs of said transfer switch to the output of said transfer switch,

wherein said first bus and said number of second circuit interrupters are structured to power only a number of non-critical loads,

wherein said second bus and said number of third circuit interrupters are structured to power only a number of critical loads, which are different than said number of non-critical loads, and

wherein said second circuit interrupters operate independently from said third circuit interrupters.

2. The electrical distribution panel of claim 1 wherein said first power input is structured to receive a primary power source;

and wherein said second power input is structured to receive a backup power source.

3. The electrical distribution panel of claim 2 wherein said primary power source is a utility power source;

and wherein said backup power source is one of a generator, an auxiliary power unit, and an uninterruptible power source.

4. The electrical distribution panel of claim 1 wherein said critical loads are selected from the group consisting of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning load;

a sump pump;

a refrigerator;

a freezer;

an alarm system; and

a medical device.

5. The electrical distribution panel of claim 1 wherein said first power input and said second power input both include a first power leg structured to receive a first power phase and a second power leg structured to receive an opposite second power phase.

6. The electrical distribution panel of claim 1 wherein said transfer switch is an automatic transfer switch.

7. The electrical distribution panel of claim 6 wherein one of said number of second circuit interrupters is a closed circuit interrupter that electrically connects the first input of said automatic transfer switch to said first bus.

8. The electrical distribution panel of claim 6 wherein a sub-feed lug block electrically connects the output of said automatic transfer switch to said second bus.

9. The electrical distribution panel of claim 1 wherein said enclosure comprises a first compartment enclosing said first circuit interrupter, said first bus, said number of second circuit interrupters, said second bus, and said number of third circuit interrupters, and further comprises a separate second compartment enclosing said transfer switch.

10. The electrical distribution panel of claim 9 wherein said enclosure further comprises a barrier separating said first compartment from said separate second compartment.

11. An electrical distribution panel comprising:

an enclosure comprising a first compartment and a separate second compartment;

a first power input;

a first circuit interrupter including a first terminal electrically connected to said first power input and a second terminal;

a first bus electrically connected to the second terminal of said first circuit interrupter;

a plurality of second circuit interrupters powered from said first bus;

a second bus electrically connected to said first bus through one of said second circuit interrupters;

a number of third circuit interrupters powered from said second bus;

wherein said first bus and said number of second circuit interrupters are structured to power only a number of first loads,

wherein said second bus and said number of third circuit interrupters are structured to power only a number of second loads, and

wherein said second compartment is structured to receive a transfer switch including a first input electrically connectable to said first bus, a second input electrically connectable to a second power input, and an output electrically connectable to said second bus, said transfer switch being structured to selectively electrically connect one of the first and second inputs of said transfer switch to the output of said transfer switch.

12. The electrical distribution panel of claim 11 wherein said first power input is structured to receive a primary power source;

and wherein said second power input is structured to receive a backup power source.

13. The electrical distribution panel of claim 12 wherein said primary power source is a utility power source;

and wherein said backup power source is one of a generator, an auxiliary power unit, and an uninterruptible power source.

14. The electrical distribution panel of claim 11 wherein said number of first loads are selected from the group consisting of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning load;

a sump pump;

a refrigerator;

a freezer;

an alarm system; and

a medical device.

15. The electrical distribution panel of claim 11 wherein said first power input and said second power input both include a first power leg structured to receive a first power phase and a second power leg structured to receive an opposite second power phase.

16. The electrical distribution panel of claim 11 wherein said transfer switch is an automatic transfer switch.

17. The electrical distribution panel of claim 16 wherein said one of said second circuit interrupters is a closed circuit breaker comprising a line terminal electrically connected to said first bus, and a load terminal electrically connected to said second bus.

18. The electrical distribution panel of claim 17 wherein a sub-feed lug block electrically connects the load terminal of said one of said second circuit interrupters to said second bus.

19. The electrical distribution panel of claim 17 wherein a sub-feed lug block and a number of conductors electrically connect the load terminal of said one of said second circuit interrupters to said second bus;

and wherein said number of conductors are removable to permit the first input of said transfer switch to be electrically connected to the load terminal of said one of said second circuit interrupters, and to permit the output of said transfer switch to be electrically connected to said second bus.

20. The electrical distribution panel of claim 11 wherein said first compartment encloses said first circuit interrupter, said first bus, said plurality of second circuit interrupters, said second bus, and said number of third circuit interrupters.

21. The electrical distribution panel of claim 20 wherein said enclosure further comprises a barrier separating said first compartment from said separate second compartment.

22. The electrical distribution panel of claim 11 wherein said second circuit interrupters operate independently from said third circuit interrupters.

23. The electrical distribution panel of claim 11 wherein said one of said second circuit interrupters is a circuit breaker comprising a line terminal electrically connected to said first bus, and a load terminal;

wherein a number of conductors electrically connect the load terminal of said one of said second circuit interrupters to said second bus; and

wherein said number of conductors are removable to permit the first input of said transfer switch to be electrically connected to the load terminal of said one of said second circuit interrupters, and to permit the output of said transfer switch to be electrically connected to said second bus.