A comprehensive distribution box with street lamp control

Abstract

The utility model relates to a kind of comprehensive distribution box with street lamp control, box is separated into meter room, circuit breaker room, feeder switch room, street lamp control room, it further includes street lamp control device, by street lamp controller, fuse, contactor, TC terminal, mutual inductor, single-phase electric energy meter composition.The utility model combines comprehensive distribution box with street lamp control box, break the defect that the original street lamp control needs two distribution boxes to use in cooperation, appearance is more beautiful, save installation space, reduce cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of electrical equipment technology, specifically to a comprehensive distribution box with street light control. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, if a street lighting system needs to achieve complex control functions, such as time-based dimming, automatic brightness adjustment based on light intensity, remote monitoring, and intelligent control, additional distribution boxes may be required to install specialized control equipment or modules. For example, one distribution box might handle basic power supply and routine control, while another might house the intelligent street light controller and communication equipment for more advanced intelligent control. However, this approach has the following drawbacks: Increased Costs: Using two distribution boxes directly increases equipment procurement costs, including the cost of the box itself and internal electrical components (such as circuit breakers, contactors, fuses, and controllers). Furthermore, installing two distribution boxes requires more installation materials (such as cables, wires, and cable trays) and labor, increasing the initial investment. Subsequent maintenance costs will also increase accordingly, as regular inspections, repairs, and parts replacements are necessary for both devices. Larger Space Occupancy: Two distribution boxes occupy more installation space, which can pose installation difficulties in space-constrained environments, such as narrow roadsides or underground facilities. Moreover, the additional space occupation may necessitate modifications to the surrounding environment, further increasing costs and construction complexity. Increased System Complexity: The presence of two distribution boxes significantly complicates the entire streetlight control system. Increased wiring connections and electrical components lead to more potential failure points and reduced system reliability. Troubleshooting and locating faults becomes more difficult, as both distribution boxes and their interconnections must be considered simultaneously, increasing the workload and time required for maintenance personnel. Increased Management and Maintenance Difficulty: Daily management requires separate monitoring and management of both distribution boxes, increasing the workload for administrators. Maintenance involves checking and maintaining the operating status and parameter settings of both devices, increasing the risk of management oversights or delayed maintenance. Furthermore, the two distribution boxes may originate from different manufacturers or batches, with potential differences in internal components and control methods, further complicating maintenance. Utility Model Content

[0003] To overcome the above defects, this utility model combines the integrated power distribution box with the street light control box, breaking the original defect that required two power distribution boxes to be used in conjunction with the street light control. It has a more beautiful appearance, saves installation space, and reduces costs.

[0004] Technical solution: To solve the above problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution.

[0005] A comprehensive distribution box with street light control is internally divided into a metering room, a circuit breaker room, a feeder switch room, and a street light control room. The energy meter and metering transformer are located in the same room, separated from other rooms by sealing plates. The box door is locked, and the rooms are separated by galvanized steel plates. The distribution box uses side entry for wiring, with a waterproof elbow at the entry point and a waterproof gasket between the elbow and the box. Outgoing wiring can be either side-out or bottom-out. The key feature is the inclusion of a street light control device, consisting of a street light controller, fuses, contactors, TC terminals, transformers, and a single-phase energy meter. A three-phase four-wire power supply is drawn from the main busbar, passes through four transformers, and connects to the fuse. The fuse output is connected to the contactor input. The street light controller controls the contactor's on / off state, and the contactor output is connected to the TC terminal via a wire. The terminal blocks are for users to connect the street light load; the current transformer is also connected to the single-phase energy meter for measuring electrical energy. All components are connected in this way through wires to form a street light control device.

[0006] This utility model also includes a metering unit consisting of a metering current transformer and a three-phase four-wire electronic multi-function energy meter. The inside of the box is divided into an independent metering compartment specifically for the installation of the power supply metering device. The energy meter and the metering transformer are in the same compartment, separated from other compartments by a sealing plate. The box door should be able to be sealed with lead and locked. The metering current transformer adopts a through-core type, and its core diameter is not less than 40 mm, accommodating a maximum of two 300 mm2 copper cables.

[0007] This utility model also includes a street light compartment, which is equipped with a street light controller and an AC contactor. The AC contactor is used to connect or disconnect the power supply according to the lighting conditions and is controlled by the light-time control switch. The street light controller is an intelligent light-controlled switch with three control modes: full night light, half night light, and two-stage light.

[0008] This utility model distribution box can be installed in two ways: pole-mounted bracket installation and transformer platform hoisting. All components inside the box are installed on corresponding support irons. The top of the distribution box is equipped with a rainproof roof that extends 50mm from the front and back of the box body. The box door is an external snap-on type, and the outer edge of the door frame is made with a waterproof folded edge. Sealing strips are glued around the perimeter, and reinforcing ribs or lining plates are added to the inside of the box door.

[0009] This utility model has heat dissipation holes installed on both sides of the box body, and stainless steel dustproof mesh is added inside the heat dissipation holes. The diameter of the dustproof mesh holes should not be greater than 1mm.

[0010] The working principle of this utility model is as follows: A three-phase four-wire power supply is obtained from the main busbar via BVR 35 square millimeter wires. The power supply first passes through four current transformers. The function of the current transformers is to transform the voltage or current according to a certain ratio so that subsequent equipment can safely and accurately measure and process relevant electrical parameters. Afterwards, the power supply is led to fuses. Fuses provide short-circuit and overload protection in the circuit. When an abnormally large current occurs in the circuit (such as in a short circuit), the fuse element melts, cutting off the circuit and protecting subsequent equipment from damage. The power supply after fuse protection is connected to the input terminal of a contactor. A contactor is an automatic control electrical device capable of frequently connecting and disconnecting the main circuit; its operation is controlled by the street light controller. The street light controller (intelligent light-controlled switch) sends control signals based on set conditions (such as light intensity, time, etc.). When the conditions for turning on the lights are met (such as the light dimming to a certain level or reaching the set time for turning on the lights), the street light controller sends a signal to the contactor to close it, transferring electrical energy from the contactor's input terminal to the output terminal. When the conditions for turning off the lights are met, the street light controller sends a signal to open the contactor, cutting off the power supply to the street light. User wiring and load power supply: To facilitate user wiring, the contactor's output terminal uses BVR 35 square millimeter wire to lead to the TC terminal block. Users can then connect wires from the TC terminal block to the street light load to supply power to the street light, enabling it to illuminate according to control requirements.

[0011] In summary, this integrated distribution box, through the coordinated operation of its various components, achieves multiple functions such as power distribution, control, protection, metering, and intelligent control of streetlights.

[0012] The beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0013] High functional integration: It integrates multiple functions such as power distribution, metering, and street light control into one distribution box, avoiding the complex configuration of using multiple devices or distribution boxes, reducing the equipment footprint and installation space, lowering project construction costs, and facilitating management and maintenance, eliminating the need for separate inspection and operation of devices with different functions.

[0014] Intelligent street light control: Equipped with a street light controller (intelligent light control switch), it can intelligently control the on / off state and brightness adjustment of street lights based on various conditions such as light intensity and time. For example, it can automatically turn on the street lights when it gets dark to a certain extent and automatically turn them off when it gets light, or reduce the brightness of the street lights in the late night when there is less pedestrian and vehicle traffic, achieving energy-saving effects, effectively saving electricity resources, and reducing operating costs.

[0015] Facilitates user wiring: By leading the contactor output to the TC terminal block, a convenient wiring interface is provided for users. Users can directly lead wires from the TC terminal block to connect to the street light load, simplifying the wiring process, reducing wiring difficulty, improving installation efficiency, and also reducing the probability of failures caused by wiring errors.

[0016] High reliability: The functional modules are relatively independent yet work together. Even if one module fails, the impact on other modules can be minimized, which facilitates troubleshooting and maintenance. Overall, the reliability and stability of the system are improved, ensuring the normal operation of the street lighting system and increasing the lighting rate. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the front cross-sectional structure of this utility model.

[0018] Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the reverse side of this utility model.

[0019] The components in the diagram are named as follows: 1. Molded case circuit breaker; 2. Incoming copper busbar; 3. N-phase copper busbar; 4. Insulator; 5. Main busbar insulator; 6. Fluorescent lamp; 7. Main busbar; 8. Branch copper busbar; 10. Terminal block; 11. PE busbar; 12. Fluorescent lamp switch button; 13. Universal changeover switch; 14. Voltmeter; 15. Ammeter; 16. Single-phase energy meter; 17. Surge arrester; 18. Metering transformer; 19. Three-phase energy meter; 20. Three-phase four-wire anti-theft junction box; 21. Street light controller; 22. TC terminal block; 23. Contactor; 24. Fuse; 25. Current transformer. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present utility model without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0021] A comprehensive distribution box with street light control is internally divided into a metering room, a circuit breaker room, a feeder switch room, and a street light control room. The electricity meter and metering transformer are located in the same room, separated from other rooms by sealing panels. The box door is locked, and the rooms are separated by galvanized steel plates. The distribution box uses side entry for wiring, and a waterproof elbow is installed at the entry point. A waterproof gasket is installed between the elbow and the box. The outgoing lines can be either from the side or the bottom of the box. The device is characterized by including a street light control unit, consisting of a street light controller 21, a fuse 24, a contactor 23, a TC terminal block 22, a current transformer 25, and a single-phase energy meter 16. A three-phase four-wire power supply is drawn from the main busbar, passes through the four current transformers 25, and is connected to the fuse 24. The outgoing lines of the fuse 24 are connected to the incoming lines of the contactor 23. The street light controller 21 controls the on / off state of the contactor. The outgoing lines of the contactor 23 are connected to the TC terminal block 22 via wires for users to connect street light loads. The current transformers 25 are also connected to the single-phase energy meter for measuring electrical energy. All components are connected via wires to form the street light control unit.

[0022] This utility model also includes a metering unit consisting of a metering current transformer 25 and a three-phase four-wire electronic multi-function energy meter. The inside of the box is divided into an independent metering compartment specifically for the installation of the power supply metering device. The energy meter and the metering transformer are in the same compartment, separated from other compartments by a sealing plate. The box door should be able to be sealed with lead and locked. The metering current transformer adopts a through-core type, and its core diameter is not less than 40 mm, accommodating a maximum of two 300 mm2 copper cables.

[0023] This utility model also includes a street lamp room, which is equipped with a street lamp controller 21 and an AC contactor 23. The AC contactor 23 is used to connect or disconnect the power supply according to the lighting conditions and is controlled by the light control switch. The street lamp controller 21 is an intelligent light control switch with three control modes: full night light, half night light, and two-stage light.

[0024] This utility model distribution box can be installed in two ways: pole-mounted bracket installation and transformer platform hoisting. All components inside the box are installed on corresponding support irons. The top of the distribution box is equipped with a rainproof roof that extends 50mm from the front and back of the box body. The box door is an external snap-on type, and the outer edge of the door frame is made with a waterproof folded edge. Sealing strips are glued around the perimeter, and reinforcing ribs or lining plates are added to the inside of the box door.

[0025] This utility model has heat dissipation holes installed on both sides of the box body, and stainless steel dustproof mesh is added inside the heat dissipation holes. The diameter of the dustproof mesh holes should not be greater than 1mm.

[0026] The distribution box can be installed in two ways: pole-mounted and transformer platform (channel steel) hoisting. All internal components are mounted on corresponding support irons, ensuring the outer casing is not stressed and has a flat and uniform appearance. The outer casing is made of 1Cr17 stainless steel with a thickness of no less than 2mm. The surface is powder-coated to prevent glare and reflection. The box is rainproof, dustproof, theftproof, lightning-proof, and electromagnetic interference-proof, achieving an IP65 protection rating. The top of the distribution box has a rainproof roof extending 50mm from the front and rear of the box. The door is an external snap-on type with a waterproof folded edge on the outer edge of the door frame and a sealing strip with a width × thickness ≥30 × 3mm around the perimeter. The inside of the door is reinforced with ribs or liners to prevent deformation. The door should open smoothly, using stainless steel triple hinges with an opening angle of 180°. The door lock is an embedded handle pull-rod lock (818 transformer lock), with a visible lock lug function after the handle is rotated to the correct position, and a rainproof cover is provided. All materials are aluminum alloy. Install ventilation holes on both sides of the enclosure, and add stainless steel dustproof mesh inside the ventilation holes. The diameter of the dustproof mesh holes should not exceed 1mm.

[0027] The distribution box is partially divided into a metering room, circuit breaker room, feeder switch room, and street light control room. The electricity meter and metering transformer are in the same room, separated from other rooms by sealing panels. The box doors are locked. Each room is separated by galvanized steel plates with a thickness of at least 2mm. Except for the necessary passages (holes) for incoming and outgoing lines (primary and secondary lines), the gaps are no greater than 20mm. The distribution box uses side entry for wiring, equipped with waterproof elbows (diameter ≥100mm, angle = 45°, box opening diameter 85mm). A waterproof gasket is placed between the elbow and the box body to facilitate cable connection. Outgoing lines can be either side-mounted or bottom-mounted, with both inlet and outlet ports sealed with epoxy resin boards with a thickness of at least 2mm.

[0028] The enclosure consists of a current transformer and a three-phase four-wire electronic multi-function energy meter. The interior is divided into a dedicated metering compartment for the installation of the power supply metering device. The energy meter and current transformer reside in the same compartment, separated from other compartments by a sealing plate. The enclosure door should be sealable with lead and lock. The current transformer should be a through-core type (busbar type is not permitted), with an accuracy class of 0.5, marked as a single current ratio, and a secondary capacity of 10VA. The core diameter of the current transformer should be no less than 40 mm to accommodate a maximum of two 300 mm² copper cables. It should be of the cast epoxy resin insulation type, suitable for operation in outdoor tropical climates according to climatic requirements. The insulation must be properly treated to prevent damage from ultraviolet radiation from sunlight.

[0029] The street light compartment contains a street light controller (intelligent light-controlled switch) and an AC contactor. The AC contactor is used to switch the power supply on or off according to lighting conditions and is controlled by the light. The photovoltaic cells are switched on and off once a day, with an appropriate delay to avoid switching on or off in the shade of trees or other objects. If located under trees, or generally in the shade, the switch should not be switched on. Four single-phase electricity meters are installed. The switch's light sensitivity is adjustable, factory-adjusted to 10 lux to prevent inconvenience during operation. The switch has a time delay mechanism to handle special situations such as activation due to sudden darkening of the environment.

[0030] The molded case circuit breaker 1 of this utility model has its inlet terminal connected to the inlet copper busbar 2 to receive external power, and its outlet terminal connected to the main busbar 7, which is fixed by the main busbar insulator 5. The N-phase copper busbar 3 is connected to the neutral wire portion of the main busbar 7 to form a circuit, and the insulator 4 is used to fix the copper busbars in the branch lines.

[0031] The main busbar 7 connects to multiple branch lines via branch copper busbars 8. In each branch line, contactor 23 is connected in series with fuse 24. The front end of fuse 24 is connected to branch copper busbar 8, and the output end of contactor 23 is connected to downstream equipment.

[0032] In terms of metering, the metering transformer 18 is mounted on the main busbar 7 or the branch copper busbar 8, and its output is connected to the three-phase energy meter 19. The output of the three-phase energy meter 19 is connected to the three-phase four-wire anti-theft junction box 20. The single-phase energy meter 16 is connected to the single-phase branch line through the terminal block 10.

[0033] In the monitoring equipment, ammeter 15 is connected to transformer 25, which is mounted on the corresponding copper busbar; voltmeter 14 is connected in parallel to main busbar 7, and universal switch 13 is connected to voltmeter 14 to switch the measurement of phase voltage.

[0034] In the auxiliary equipment, 6 fluorescent lamps are connected to the lighting branch circuit via TC terminal 22, and fluorescent lamp switch button 12 is connected in series in the fluorescent lamp 6 circuit. Street light controller 21 is connected to the street light branch circuit via terminal block 10. Surge arrester 17 is connected in parallel to the incoming terminal of main busbar 7, and PE busbar 11 is connected to the grounding terminal of each device to achieve grounding protection.

[0035] Enhanced Short-Circuit Protection: In the circuit breaker compartment, molded case circuit breakers with high breaking capacity, such as the NM3 and NM3LC series, are selected. Their rated ultimate short-circuit breaking capacity should not be less than 50kA, enabling them to quickly interrupt overload and short-circuit currents, effectively protecting the electrical equipment in the distribution box and downstream street light loads, and preventing equipment damage or even fire accidents caused by excessive current. For the street light control room, fast-acting fuses are added to the contactor circuit. When a short-circuit fault occurs, the fuse can blow within milliseconds, further enhancing the short-circuit protection of the street light control circuit.

[0036] Leakage Current Protection: A leakage current protection device, such as a residual current circuit breaker (RCD), is installed in the outgoing circuit of the power supply switch room to monitor the residual current in the line in real time. When leakage occurs and the leakage current exceeds a set threshold (generally 30mA or 100mA, which can be adjusted according to the actual application scenario), the RCD can quickly cut off the power supply to prevent electric shock accidents and ensure the personal safety of street light maintenance personnel and pedestrians.

[0037] Lightning and Surge Protection: Install a suitable surge protector (SPD), such as a Class B or Class C surge protector, at the incoming line of the distribution box. Its nominal discharge current should be reasonably selected based on the local lightning activity intensity and power grid conditions, generally not less than 10kA. The SPD can effectively suppress surge voltages caused by lightning strikes or power grid voltage fluctuations, protecting electrical components in the distribution box from transient overvoltage impacts. Simultaneously, the grounding wire of the surge protector should use a copper conductor of not less than 6mm² to ensure reliable grounding and quickly conduct the surge current to the ground. Phase Loss Protection: Configure a phase loss protection module at the incoming line of the main busbar and the power input of the street light control device. This module monitors the voltage of the three-phase power supply in real time. When it detects a phase voltage loss or a voltage drop below a certain percentage (e.g., 70%), it immediately issues an alarm signal and controls the contactor to cut off the power supply, preventing equipment damage due to phase loss operation, especially avoiding overload burnout of street light fixtures due to phase loss.

[0038] Overvoltage and undervoltage protection: Overvoltage and undervoltage protection circuits are installed at the main incoming line of the street light controller and distribution box. When the power supply voltage exceeds a certain percentage (e.g., 110%) of the rated voltage or falls below a certain percentage (e.g., 85%) of the rated voltage, the protection circuit activates, cutting off the power supply to the corresponding circuit to prevent damage to the street light equipment and other electrical components in the distribution box due to abnormal voltage. Simultaneously, the protection circuit can feed back abnormal voltage information to the monitoring system, facilitating timely handling by maintenance personnel.

[0039] Temperature Protection: Temperature sensors, such as thermistor temperature sensors, are installed inside the distribution box, especially in areas with concentrated heat-generating components such as circuit breaker rooms and street light control rooms. When the internal temperature exceeds the set safe temperature threshold (e.g., 55℃), the temperature sensor transmits a signal to the control circuit. The control circuit then activates the cooling fan for forced cooling, ensuring that the electrical components inside the box operate within a normal temperature environment and extending the equipment's lifespan. If the temperature continues to rise and exceeds the limit temperature (e.g., 70℃), the control circuit can further implement protective measures such as cutting off the power supply.

[0040] Current imbalance protection: A current transformer is installed at the three-phase power input of the street light control device to monitor the magnitude of the three-phase current in real time. By calculating the imbalance of the three-phase current, when the imbalance exceeds the set allowable value (e.g., 15%), an alarm signal is issued, and corresponding measures are taken according to the actual situation, such as adjusting the load distribution or cutting off the power supply to the faulty circuit, to prevent problems such as equipment overheating and damage caused by three-phase current imbalance.

[0041] Fuse Protection: In street light control devices, in addition to existing fuses for short-circuit protection, miniature fuses are added for extra protection in some critical control and signal circuits. The rated current of these miniature fuses is precisely selected based on the normal operating current of the circuit. When an overcurrent or short-circuit fault occurs in the circuit, the miniature fuse melts quickly, isolating the fault point and protecting other components in the circuit from damage. It also facilitates rapid fault location and troubleshooting.

[0042] Undercurrent protection: An undercurrent protection function is set for the output circuit of the street light control device. When the output current is detected to be lower than a certain percentage (e.g., 50%) of the normal operating current, it is determined that the street light load may have an open circuit or other abnormal situation. The undercurrent protection device issues an alarm signal to remind maintenance personnel to check the street light lines and lamps in time to ensure the normal operation of the street light system.

[0043] Arc Fault Protection: An arc fault detection device is installed inside the distribution box. This device accurately identifies arc faults caused by aging lines, poor contact, or other reasons by detecting arc characteristic signals in the circuit, such as high-frequency current and voltage changes. Once an arc fault is detected, the power supply is immediately cut off to prevent serious accidents such as fires caused by arcing, thus improving the safety of the distribution box operation.

[0044] Instantaneous protection: In the protection functions of circuit breakers, the instantaneous protection characteristic is enhanced. This enables the circuit breaker to disconnect the circuit at an extremely fast speed (usually within a few milliseconds) the instant a short-circuit current is detected, minimizing the impact of the short-circuit current on electrical equipment and protecting the equipment from the thermal effects and electrodynamic damage of the short-circuit current.

[0045] Backup protection: Backup protection devices are installed for critical electrical equipment within the distribution box, such as main circuit breakers and street light controllers. When the main protection device fails or fails to operate in a timely manner, the backup protection device can quickly activate and take over the protection function, ensuring the reliability and continuity of the distribution box's operation. The operating time of the backup protection device should be reasonably set based on the operating time of the main protection and the allowable fault time of the equipment to achieve selectivity and reliability of protection.

[0046] Reclosing Protection: In the outgoing circuits of the distribution box, for streetlight areas with high requirements for power supply continuity, circuit breakers or residual current reclosing devices with reclosing function are used, such as NM2LC and NM3LC residual current reclosing devices. When a transient fault (such as lightning strike, tree branch touching the wire, etc.) causes the circuit breaker to trip, the reclosing device can automatically reclose 1-3 times at predetermined time intervals. If the fault is transient, normal power supply can be restored after successful reclosing; if the fault is permanent, the circuit breaker will remain tripped after a failed reclosing to avoid further damage to the equipment. At the same time, the reclosing device can upload the reclosing action information to the monitoring system through the communication interface, which is convenient for maintenance personnel to monitor the line operation status.

[0047] Overload Alarm and Protection: An overload alarm function is set up in the monitoring system of the distribution box. Current transformers monitor the current of each circuit in real time. When the current in a circuit exceeds a certain percentage (e.g., 120%) of its rated current, the monitoring system issues an overload alarm signal, reminding maintenance personnel to pay attention to the load status of that circuit. Simultaneously, an overload protection delay function can be set according to actual conditions. If the overload duration of a circuit exceeds the set delay time (e.g., 10 minutes), the power supply to that circuit is automatically cut off to prevent overheating and damage to equipment due to prolonged overload operation.

[0048] Grounding Protection: A complete grounding system for the distribution box should be implemented to ensure reliable grounding of the metal casing, support frame, and all metal casings of electrical equipment. The grounding resistance should meet relevant standards and generally not exceed 4Ω. An independent grounding electrode should be used, and the distribution box should be reliably connected to the grounding electrode via a copper grounding conductor with a cross-sectional area of ​​not less than 25mm². Inside the distribution box, a dedicated grounding busbar should be installed, and all equipment requiring grounding should be connected to the grounding busbar via grounding branch lines to ensure the reliability and effectiveness of grounding. Grounding protection effectively prevents the casing of electrical equipment from becoming live, avoiding electric shock accidents, and also improves the safety of the distribution box under abnormal conditions such as lightning strikes.

[0049] Fault Isolation and Indication: Each circuit in the distribution box is equipped with a fault isolation device, such as a disconnect switch or load disconnect switch. When a circuit fault occurs, the faulty circuit can be isolated from other normal circuits by operating the disconnect switch, facilitating safe troubleshooting and maintenance. Simultaneously, fault indicator lights are installed on the distribution box panel, corresponding to the fault status of each circuit. When a fault occurs in a circuit, the corresponding fault indicator light illuminates, visually indicating the location of the faulty circuit and improving fault handling efficiency.

[0050] Phase-to-phase short-circuit protection: In the incoming and outgoing circuits of the distribution box, current transformers and protective relays constitute a phase-to-phase short-circuit protection device. When the current between any two phases exceeds the set short-circuit current threshold, the protection device quickly operates, cutting off the power supply to the faulty circuit and preventing serious consequences caused by the phase-to-phase short circuit. The operating time of the phase-to-phase short-circuit protection device should be as short as possible, generally within tens of milliseconds, to reduce the damage of the short-circuit current to the equipment.

[0051] Zero-sequence current protection: For street lighting systems using a three-phase four-wire power supply, a zero-sequence current transformer is installed at the incoming line of the distribution box to form a zero-sequence current protection device. When a single-phase ground fault occurs in the system, the zero-sequence current transformer detects the zero-sequence current. The protection device, based on the set zero-sequence current action value and delay time, determines the fault and takes corresponding protective measures, such as issuing an alarm signal or cutting off the power supply. Zero-sequence current protection can effectively detect and protect against leakage current problems caused by single-phase ground faults, improving the safety and reliability of the street lighting system.

[0052] Low-voltage ride-through protection: To ensure the normal operation of the street lighting system when the grid voltage drops (e.g., due to grid faults or voltage fluctuations), a low-voltage ride-through device is installed in the distribution box. This device can maintain the normal operation of the street lighting equipment for a period of time (generally several hundred milliseconds to several seconds) when the grid voltage drops to a certain level (e.g., 20% - 90% of the rated voltage), preventing the streetlights from going out or the equipment from being damaged due to excessively low voltage. The low-voltage ride-through device ensures the stability and reliability of the street lighting system under abnormal grid voltage conditions by adjusting the operating parameters of the street lighting equipment or switching to backup power.

[0053] Transformer Protection: If the distribution box is used in conjunction with the transformer, comprehensive protection functions are set up for the transformer. These include overcurrent protection, overload protection, gas protection (for oil-immersed transformers), and temperature protection. By installing appropriate sensors and protective relays, the transformer's operating parameters are monitored in real time. When an abnormality occurs, the power supply to the transformer is quickly cut off to prevent damage. At the same time, the fault information is uploaded to the monitoring system for timely maintenance and repair.

[0054] Insulation monitoring and protection: An insulation monitoring device is installed inside the distribution box to monitor the insulation resistance value of each electrical circuit in real time. When the insulation resistance value is lower than the set safety threshold (e.g., 0.5MΩ), the insulation monitoring device issues an alarm signal, prompting maintenance personnel to detect potential insulation damage and to promptly inspect and repair it. This prevents faults such as leakage and short circuits caused by poor insulation, ensuring the safe operation of the distribution box and street lighting system.

[0055] Communication Failure Protection: For distribution boxes equipped with remote monitoring capabilities, a communication failure protection mechanism is implemented. When communication between the distribution box and the monitoring system is interrupted for a certain period of time (e.g., 5 minutes), the backup communication module inside the distribution box automatically activates to attempt to restore the communication connection. Simultaneously, the distribution box sends a communication failure alarm message to the monitoring system, reminding maintenance personnel to check the communication lines and equipment to ensure the normal operation of the remote monitoring function, enabling timely monitoring of the distribution box's operating status and remote control.

[0056] Software Protection: Software protection measures are employed in the intelligent control system of the distribution box. A user access control function is implemented, allowing users with different permissions to perform only authorized operations, preventing unauthorized personnel from misoperating the distribution box. Simultaneously, the control software is encrypted to prevent cracking or tampering, ensuring system security and stability. Furthermore, the software features data backup and recovery capabilities, regularly backing up the distribution box's operational data. In the event of system failure or data loss, data can be quickly recovered, ensuring normal system operation and data integrity.

[0057] Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Protection: Considering the potential impact of external electromagnetic interference on the distribution box, EMC protection measures are implemented during the design and manufacturing process. The distribution box casing undergoes robust electromagnetic shielding treatment, using materials with electromagnetic shielding properties to construct the enclosure and ensuring its airtightness to reduce the intrusion of external electromagnetic interference. Simultaneously, inside the distribution box, sensitive electronic components and control circuits are shielded and filtered to suppress the generation and propagation of internal electromagnetic interference, ensuring the normal operation of the electrical equipment within the distribution box in complex electromagnetic environments.

[0058] Misoperation Protection: Multiple misoperation protection measures are implemented in the control panel and control circuit of the distribution box. For example, a mechanical interlock device is installed on the circuit breaker's operating mechanism to prevent opening operations while the circuit breaker is closed, thus avoiding accidents such as arcing short circuits caused by misoperation. On the street light controller's operating interface, a password verification and operation confirmation mechanism is used. Critical operations can only be performed after entering the correct password and undergoing secondary confirmation, preventing abnormal operation of the street light system due to accidental touches or misoperations.

[0059] Redundancy Protection: For critical electrical components within the distribution box, such as main circuit breakers, street light controllers, and contactors, redundant configurations are employed. This means that backup components are provided. When a main component fails, the backup component automatically switches on, ensuring the normal operation of the distribution box and improving system reliability and stability. Simultaneously, the redundancy protection system should possess fault detection and switching functions, capable of monitoring the operating status of the main components in real time. When a fault is detected, it quickly switches the load to the backup component, ensuring uninterrupted power supply to the street light system.

[0060] Remote protection and control: Using remote communication technologies such as 4G / 5G, NB-IoT, and LoRa, the protection devices in the distribution box are connected to a remote monitoring center. Maintenance personnel can monitor the operating status of the distribution box and the operation of the protection devices in real time from the remote monitoring center. When a fault occurs, they can remotely operate the protection devices, such as remotely opening and closing the circuit breaker, and adjusting protection parameters, thus achieving remote protection control of the distribution box and improving the timeliness and efficiency of fault handling.

[0061] Dynamic protection adjustment: Utilizing intelligent control technology, the protection devices in the distribution box can dynamically adjust protection parameters based on actual operating conditions. For example, based on changes in the load of the street lighting system, the overcurrent protection's operating threshold can be automatically adjusted to avoid malfunctions or insufficient protection caused by load fluctuations. Simultaneously, the protection devices can monitor grid parameters such as voltage and frequency in real time, dynamically adjusting protection strategies according to changes in grid operating conditions, improving the adaptability and effectiveness of the protection.

[0062] Fault Recording and Analysis: The monitoring system for the distribution box includes a fault recording and analysis function. When a protective device in the distribution box activates or malfunctions, the system automatically records detailed information such as the time, type, and relevant electrical parameters of the fault. By analyzing this fault record data, maintenance personnel can gain a deeper understanding of the distribution box's operating status, identify patterns and causes of faults, and provide a basis for equipment maintenance and improvement. It also helps optimize the parameter settings of protective devices, thereby improving the reliability and stability of the distribution box.

[0063] Intelligent Diagnosis and Early Warning: Leveraging artificial intelligence and big data analytics, the system performs real-time analysis and processing of the distribution box's operational data. By establishing equipment fault models and predictive algorithms, it achieves intelligent diagnosis and early warning of potential faults in the distribution box. When the system detects abnormal trends in equipment operating parameters, it issues early warning signals to remind maintenance personnel to conduct timely inspections and maintenance, preventing faults, reducing equipment failure rates, and improving the operational reliability of the street lighting system.

[0064] This utility model adopts intelligent control and management:

[0065] Remote Monitoring and Operation: Wireless communication modules such as 4G / 5G, NB-IoT, or LoRa are integrated into the street light controllers. These modules connect the distribution box to the smart lighting management platform. Maintenance personnel can remotely monitor and operate the street light controllers, contactors, and other equipment within the distribution box using the management platform software on a computer or mobile phone. For example, they can remotely control the street light's on / off time, adjust brightness, and view the street light's operating status in real time (e.g., whether it is lit normally, current, voltage, and other parameters). The communication modules should possess good stability and anti-interference capabilities to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of data transmission, while also supporting encrypted communication to guarantee data transmission security.

[0066] The system combines timed and light-controlled operation: In addition to intelligent light-controlled switches, the timed control function of the street light controller has been further optimized. Users can flexibly set multiple timed on / off periods on the management platform according to the lighting needs of different seasons and road sections. Simultaneously, the light-controlled and timed functions work together. When the ambient illuminance is lower than the set on threshold (e.g., 10 lux), the street light will automatically turn on if the current time falls within the preset on period; when the ambient illuminance is higher than the set off threshold (e.g., 30 lux), and the current time falls within the preset off period, the street light will automatically turn off. This satisfies the lighting needs of different times of day while also achieving energy savings.

[0067] Energy Consumption Monitoring and Analysis: Utilizing single-phase electricity meters within the distribution box, along with additional smart meters or power acquisition modules, the energy consumption of the streetlight control devices and each outgoing circuit is monitored in real time. The collected data is uploaded to the management platform via a communication module. The management platform analyzes and processes this data, generating daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly electricity consumption reports and energy consumption curves. Through energy consumption analysis, maintenance personnel can understand the power consumption patterns of the streetlight system, identify sections or lights with abnormal energy consumption, and take timely energy-saving measures, such as replacing them with high-efficiency energy-saving lights and optimizing streetlight control strategies, thereby reducing the overall energy consumption of the streetlight system.

[0068] Intelligent dimming function expansion: In addition to dimming based on time of day and ambient light, street light controllers can also add dimming functionality based on traffic flow. Traffic flow sensors, such as microwave radar sensors or video image recognition sensors, are installed on the street light poles to monitor traffic flow in real time. When traffic flow is high, the street light brightness is automatically adjusted to a higher level to provide better lighting and ensure traffic safety; when traffic flow is low, the street light brightness is appropriately reduced to achieve energy savings. At the same time, the dimming function should have smooth transition characteristics to avoid sudden brightness changes affecting driver vision.

[0069] Fault Diagnosis and Early Warning: An intelligent fault diagnosis module is installed in the distribution box. This module collects operating parameters (such as current, voltage, and temperature) and equipment status information (such as switch position and contactor engagement status) of various electrical devices, and analyzes and processes this data using fault diagnosis algorithms. When a fault or abnormal operation is detected, the intelligent fault diagnosis module can quickly determine the fault type and location, and send a fault alarm message to the management platform via the communication module. Simultaneously, the management platform generates a corresponding maintenance work order based on the fault information and pushes it to the maintenance personnel's mobile phones, reminding them to handle the issue promptly. Furthermore, by analyzing historical fault data, a fault early warning function can be implemented to predict potential faults in advance, allowing for preventative maintenance measures and reducing equipment failure rates.

[0070] Equipment Asset Management: A distribution box equipment asset management system is established on the smart lighting management platform to manage all equipment within the distribution boxes using information technology. Detailed information such as equipment model, specifications, manufacturer, purchase date, installation location, maintenance records, and service life is recorded. Through the asset management system, maintenance personnel can easily query equipment information, understand the equipment's operating status and maintenance history, rationally plan equipment maintenance, and promptly update and replace equipment, thereby improving equipment management efficiency and reducing equipment operation and maintenance costs.

[0071] Integration with other systems: Enables the distribution box to work in conjunction with other relevant systems such as urban transportation and meteorological systems. For example, when the transportation system detects a traffic accident or congestion, it sends the information to the distribution box's management platform. The distribution box then automatically adjusts the brightness of the accident or congested road section and surrounding streetlights according to the instructions, increasing the lighting brightness and providing better lighting conditions for rescue and traffic management.

Claims

1. A comprehensive distribution box with street light control, the box is internally divided into a metering room, a circuit breaker room, a feeder switch room, and a street light control room. The energy meter and metering transformer are in the same room, separated from other rooms by sealing plates. The box door is locked. The rooms are separated by galvanized steel plates. The distribution box uses side entry for wiring, with a waterproof elbow at the entry point. A waterproof gasket is placed between the elbow and the box body. Outgoing wiring uses both side and bottom exit methods. Its characteristics are: It also includes a street light control device, which consists of a street light controller, fuses, contactors, TC terminals, current transformers, and single-phase energy meters. Three-phase four-wire power is drawn from the main busbar, passes through four current transformers, and is then connected to the fuses. The fuse outputs are connected to the contactor inputs. The street light controller controls the on / off state of the contactors, and the contactor outputs are connected to the TC terminals via wires for users to connect street light loads. The current transformers are also connected to the single-phase energy meters for measuring electrical energy. All components are connected in this way via wires to form the street light control device.

2. The integrated distribution box with street light control according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a metering unit consisting of a metering current transformer and a three-phase four-wire electronic multi-function energy meter. The interior of the enclosure is divided into a separate metering compartment specifically for the installation of the power supply metering device. The energy meter and the metering transformer are in the same compartment, separated from other compartments by a sealing plate. The door of the enclosure should be able to be sealed with lead and lock. The metering current transformer adopts a through-core type, and its core diameter is not less than 40mm, accommodating a maximum of two 300 mm2 copper cables.

3. The integrated distribution box with street light control according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a street light room, which is equipped with a street light controller and an AC contactor. The AC contactor is used to turn the power on or off according to the lighting conditions and is controlled by the light-time control switch. The street light controller is an intelligent light-controlled switch with three control modes: full night light, half night light, and two-stage light.

4. A comprehensive distribution box with street light control according to claim 1, characterized in that: The distribution box can be installed in two ways: pole-mounted bracket installation and transformer platform hoisting. All components inside the box are installed on corresponding support irons. The top of the distribution box is equipped with a rainproof roof that extends 50mm from the front and back of the box body. The box door is an external snap-on type, and the outer edge of the door frame is made with a waterproof folded edge. Sealing strips are glued around the perimeter, and reinforcing ribs or lining plates are added to the inside of the box door.

5. A comprehensive distribution box with street light control according to claim 1, characterized in that: Heat dissipation holes are installed on both sides of the enclosure, and stainless steel dustproof mesh is added inside the heat dissipation holes. The diameter of the dustproof mesh holes is no more than 1mm.

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