Generator controller configured for preventing automatic transfer switch from supplying power to the selected load

• US 9,281,716 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2013
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Discovery Energy LLC
• Original Assignee: Kohler Company
• Inventors: Albsmeier, Eric D., Dorn, Douglas W., Gross, William Herman, Sember, Andrew John, Hackbarth, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): POUDEL, SANTOSH RAJ
• Application Number:
  US13/736,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20130154370A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: 713/310
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/08 requiring starting of a prime-mover

Abstract

A power management system may include a generator controller. The generator controller may (i) operate the generator; and (ii) prohibit a transfer switch from supplying first or second power to an output of the transfer switch. In some systems, the first power may be primary power (e.g., from a primary power source such as a utility) while the second power is secondary power (e.g., from a secondary power source such as a generator). In other systems, the second power may be primary power while the first power is secondary power, or both the first and second power may be secondary power.

Claims

1. A power management system comprising:

a generator that includes an internal combustion engine and an alternator; and

a generator controller that operates the generator, wherein the generator controller is configured to prohibit at least some of a plurality of transfer switches from supplying secondary power or primary power to outputs of the respective transfer switches;

wherein each of the respective outputs on the transfer switches provides power to a load, wherein each load is located in a different location, wherein each of the locations corresponds to a different residence in a dwelling or residential community.

2. The power management system of claim 1, wherein the primary power is provided by a utility.

3. The power management system of claim 1, wherein the generator controller prohibits certain transfer switches from supplying the secondary power when the primary power is unavailable by controlling a position of a switching mechanism of the respective transfer switch.

4. The power management system of claim 3, wherein the generator controller controls the position of the switching mechanism by controlling power to a transfer coil of the switching mechanism.

5. The power management system of claim 3, wherein the generator controller controls the position of the switching mechanism by providing a signal to a transfer switch controller that controls the respective transfer switch.

6. The power management system of claim 3, wherein the generator controller prohibits certain transfer switches from supplying the secondary power when the primary power is unavailable by controlling the position of the switching mechanism to correspond to a position wherein the primary power is connected with the output.

7. The power management system of claim 3, wherein the generator controller prohibits certain transfer switches from supplying the secondary power when the primary power is unavailable by controlling the position of the switching mechanism to correspond to an off position, wherein neither the secondary power nor the primary power is connected to the output.

8. The power management system of claim 1, wherein the generator controller is configured to receive a user input prohibiting selected transfer switches from supplying secondary power or primary power to the respective outputs of the selected transfer switches.

9. A power management system comprising:

a generator that includes an internal combustion engine and an alternator; and

a generator controller that operates the generator, wherein the generator controller is configured to prohibit at least some of a plurality of transfer switches from supplying secondary power or primary power to outputs of the respective transfer switches, wherein each of the respective outputs on the transfer switches provides power to a load, wherein the generator controller is configured to prohibit at least some of the plurality of transfer switches from supplying the secondary power or primary power to outputs of the respective transfer switches based on whether a user of the load has paid a fee to receive the primary power or the secondary power.

10. The power management system of claim 9, wherein the primary power is provided by a utility.

11. The power management system of claim 9, wherein the generator controller prohibits certain transfer switches from supplying the secondary power when the primary power is unavailable by controlling a position of a switching mechanism of the respective transfer switch.

12. The power management system of claim 11, wherein the generator controller controls the position of the switching mechanism by providing a signal to a transfer switch controller that controls the respective transfer switch.

13. The power management system of claim 11, wherein the generator controller prohibits certain transfer switches from supplying the secondary power when the primary power is unavailable by controlling the position of the switching mechanism to correspond to a position where the primary power is connected with the output.

14. The power management system of claim 9, wherein the generator controller is configured to receive a user input prohibiting selected transfer switches from supplying secondary power and primary to the respective outputs of the selected transfer switches.

15. A power management system comprising:

a generator that includes an internal combustion engine and an alternator; and

a generator controller that operates the generator, wherein the generator controller is configured to prohibit at least one of a plurality of transfer switches from supplying the secondary power or primary power to outputs of the respective at least one transfer switches based on an environmental condition, wherein each of the respective outputs on the at least one transfer switches provides power to a load, wherein the environmental condition includes at least one of temperature, ambient noise level, a received utility request, time of day or weather conditions.

16. The power management system of claim 15, wherein the primary power is provided by a utility.

17. The power management system of claim 15, wherein the generator controller prohibits certain transfer switches from supplying secondary power when the primary power is unavailable by controlling a position of a switching mechanism of the respective transfer switch.

18. The power management system of claim 15, wherein the generator controller prohibits certain transfer switches from supplying secondary power when the primary power is unavailable by controlling the position of the switching mechanism to correspond to a position where the primary power is connected with the output.

19. The power management system of claim 15, wherein the generator controller is configured to prohibit at least some of the plurality of transfer switches from supplying secondary power to outputs of the respective transfer switches based on ambient temperature where the generator is located.

20. The power management system of claim 15, wherein the generator controller is configured to prohibit at least some of the plurality of transfer switches from supplying secondary power to outputs of the respective transfer switches based on ambient noise where the generator is located.