Male power connector for bidirectional AC power

Abstract

A male power connector 10 configured for carrying bidirectional AC grid power. The male power connector includes multiple pins 11 configured to plug into a female receptacle. An insulating sleeve 12 i

Claims

THE CLAIMED INVENTION IS:

1. A male power connector configured to carry bidirectional AC grid power, the male power connector including a plurality of pins configured to plug into a female receptacle, the male power connector comprising:an insulating sleeve configured to electrically isolate the pins when not plugged into a female receptacle, wherein the insulating sleeve is retracted while the pins enter the female receptacle.

2. The male power connector of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to sense whether the insulating sleeve is retracted or is not retracted.

3. The male power connector of either claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the pins is a hot pin configured to carry AC voltage, the male power connector further comprising:an AC terminal;a normally-open relay connectable between the hot pin and the AC terminal, wherein the relay is configured to close when the insulating sleeve is retracted and when the male power connector is inserted into a live female receptacle to enable AC power flow in either direction.

4. The male power connector of claim 3, wherein the relay remains open when the male power connector is inserted into a female receptacle not carrying AC voltage, to disable AC power flow into the female receptacle.

5. A method for providing electrical safety while enabling a bidirectional AC power connection to a power grid, the method comprising:providing a male power connector including a plurality of pins configured to plug into a female receptacle;electrically isolating the pins when not plugged into a female receptacle; and exposing the pins while the pins enter the female receptacle.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:said exposing the pins only to contacts of the female receptacle while plugging the male power connector into the female receptacle.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:sensing whether the insulating sleeve is retracted or is not retracted.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one of the pins is a hot pin configured to carry AC voltage, the method further comprising:providing a normally-open relay connectable between the hot pin and an AC terminal;enabling the relay to close when the insulating sleeve is retracted and when the male power connector is inserted into a live female receptacle, thereby enabling AC power flow in either direction.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:enabling the relay to remain open when the male power connector is inserted into a female receptacle not carrying AC voltage, thereby disabling AC power flow into the female receptacle.

10. A system comprising:a male connector including a plurality of pins configured to plug into a compatible female connector, the male connector including an insulating sleeve configured to electrically isolate the pins when not plugged into a compatible female connector, wherein the insulating sleeve is retracted while the pins enter the female connector; anda sensor configured to sense whether the insulating sleeve is retracted or is not retracted.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:an appliance connectable to the male connector;a normally-open relay connectable between a pin of the male connector and the appliance, wherein the relay is configured to close when the insulating sleeve is retracted and when the male connector is inserted into a live female connector to enable power flow in either direction.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the relay is configured to remain open when the male connector is inserted into a female connector not carrying voltage, to disable power flow into the female connector.

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