Portable battery switch box

Abstract

To provide emergency power supply equipment that is low-cost and easy to install. [Solution] The switch 10 in the switch box 1 used when attaching a portable battery 2 to a target branch switch 81 for supplying power to a specific load 9 has a common terminal 13 connected to the specific load 9, a first selection terminal 11 connected to the target branch switch 81, and a second selection terminal 12 connected to the portable battery 2. The switch switches between a first state in which the first selection terminal 11 is opened from the common terminal 13 and the second selection terminal 12 is short-circuited to the common terminal 13, and a second state in which the second selection terminal 12 is opened from the common terminal 13 and the first selection terminal 11 is short-circuited to the common terminal 13. In the first state, the portable battery 2 is interposed between the target branch switch 81 and the specific load 9 and connected in series, and in the second state, the specific load 9 is connected to the target branch switch 81 without going through the portable battery 2.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention of the present application relates to a technology for countermeasures against power outages that may be caused by large-scale disasters.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, cases where the lifelines of regions have suffered serious damage due to natural disasters such as large earthquakes and floods have occurred frequently, and it has become an urgent issue to ensure thorough countermeasures. In particular, the number of cases where large-scale power outages occur due to damage to power plants and damage to power transmission and distribution networks has been increasing, and the importance of countermeasures against them has been emphasized. When a power outage due to a disaster occurs, although there are few cases that require a long time to restore, it often takes several days. During that time, an inconvenient life without electricity is inevitable. In many cases, people take refuge in evacuation shelters equipped with emergency power supply equipment, but due to privacy concerns, they often hesitate and end up staying at home without electricity.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In consideration of the above problems, countermeasures are being taken to provide emergency power supply equipment that takes into account power outages during disasters even in ordinary houses. However, conventional emergency power supply equipment is very expensive and requires the installation of a power supply system for switching and using it from the system power, and the construction is also large-scale. For example, when a generator is adopted as the emergency power supply equipment, it is branched on the upstream side (system side) of the distribution board and the generator is connected to be switched and used during a power outage. However, a large generator is required to cover the entire load on the downstream side of the distribution board, resulting in expensive and large-scale construction. While some systems replace generators with solar panels and batteries, similarly, large and expensive batteries are needed to power the entire load during a power outage, and the installation is extensive. Often, specially configured (non-standard) distribution boards are required, resulting in high costs and complex installation. In addition, some systems install so-called V2H (Vehicle to Home) systems, allowing electric vehicles or plug-in hybrid vehicles to be used as batteries, but these multi-functional systems are inevitably expensive and large-scale. Due to these various circumstances, despite the recognized need, emergency power supply systems have not become widespread. The present invention was made with the above-mentioned problems of emergency power supply measures during disasters in mind, and aims to provide an emergency power supply system that can be easily installed at low cost. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] To solve the above problems, this specification discloses an invention for a portable battery switch box. The portable battery switch box according to the disclosed invention is a portable battery switch box used when attaching a portable battery to a target branch switch, which is a branch switch in a distribution board installed in a building and is installed for supplying power to a specific load. This portable battery switch box has a built-in switch, which has a common terminal connected to a specific load, a first selection terminal connected to the target branch switch, and a second selection terminal connected to the portable battery. The switch then toggles between a first state, in which the first selection terminal is disconnected from the common terminal and the second selection terminal is short-circuited to the common terminal, and a second state, in which the second selection terminal is disconnected from the common terminal and the first selection terminal is short-circuited to the common terminal. In the first state, the portable battery is interposed between the target branch switch and the specific load, and the portable battery is connected in series with the specific load. In the second state, the specific load is connected to the target branch switch without the portable battery. Furthermore, in order to solve the above problems, the portable battery switch box according to the disclosed invention is The system is equipped with a main line terminal connected to the target branch switch, a load terminal connected to a specific load, a battery input terminal connected to the input terminal of a portable battery, and a battery output terminal connected to the output terminal of a portable battery. The common terminal is connected to the load terminal, and the first selectable terminal is connected to the battery output terminal. The second selection terminal is connected to both the main line terminal and the battery input terminal. It can have this kind of structure. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] As explained below, the portable battery switch box according to the disclosed invention allows the portable battery to be charged during normal times (when there is no power outage) and to be used to supply power to a specific load during a power outage. Therefore, electricity can be used at the specific load until the portable battery's charge reaches zero. This makes it possible to use the minimum amount of electricity necessary during disasters. Even when the portable battery is removed, power to the specific load is maintained by the switch operation during normal times (when there is no power outage), so there are no problems with power usage at the specific load. Furthermore, installation can be completed inexpensively and quickly, and the hardware cost can be significantly reduced. Therefore, power outage countermeasures during disasters can be implemented at a low cost. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of a power outage countermeasure set using the portable battery switch box of the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram showing the wiring configuration when the portable battery is removed. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram showing an example of an automatic switch configuration. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram of a power outage countermeasure set using the portable battery switch box of the second embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a schematic diagram of a power outage preparedness kit using a portable battery switch box as an example. [Figure 6] This is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a power outage countermeasure set that can handle multiple loads. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Next, embodiments for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a power outage countermeasure set using the portable battery switch box of the first embodiment. The power outage countermeasure kit shown in Figure 1 is a kit installed during the construction of a building to add a function to secure power using a storage battery in the event of a power outage. As shown in Figure 1, this power outage countermeasure kit consists of a switch box 1, a portable storage battery 2, a solar power generation panel 3, main wiring 41, 42, etc., according to the first embodiment. The switch box 1 is provided with a main terminal 100 and a load terminal 101. The power outage countermeasure kit described below is intended for residential use such as detached houses and apartments, but it may also be installed in non-residential buildings such as offices and government offices.

[0009] As shown in Figure 1, this power outage countermeasure kit is installed on the downstream side (load side) of the distribution board 8. More specifically, it is installed on one branch switch 81 in the distribution board 8. As is well known, the distribution board 8 is connected to the power transmission and distribution network provided by the power company and receives power supply. The power outage countermeasure kit is installed by interposing it between the said branch switch 81 and the specific load 9 that is powered by said branch switch 81.

[0010] During building construction, electrical wiring work typically involves temporary wiring after the structural work is completed, followed by final wiring after the interior work is finished. A distribution board is installed at the location where the grid power is supplied, and power lines to each load (each room) are connected to the output terminals of each branch switch on the distribution board. Then, power receiving terminals such as outlets are installed at each load. The installation of this power outage protection kit is carried out during normal power distribution work. That is, instead of directly connecting the power supply line to the specific load 9 at a single branch switch 81, the installation is completed simply by connecting the wires with the power outage protection kit in between. Specifically, one end of the first main wiring 41 is connected to a single branch switch 81, and the other end of the first main wiring 41 is connected to the main wiring terminal 100 on the switch box 1. In addition, one end of the second main wiring 42 is connected to the load terminal 101 on the switch box 1, and the other end is connected to the specific load 9.

[0011] In the following explanation, the branch switch 81 to which the power outage countermeasure kit is installed will be referred to as the target branch switch. The specific load 9 supplied by the target branch switch 81 is a load that is powered by the portable battery 2 during a power outage. In buildings such as houses, power is distributed to each room by the distribution board 8, but the specific load 9 is selected from rooms with a high priority for power supply during a power outage (for example, the living room). In other words, power distribution work is carried out by installing the power outage countermeasure kit in the target branch switch 81 that supplies power to the room with a high priority for power supply during a power outage.

[0012] This power outage countermeasure set basically consists of a portable battery 2 connected in series between the target branch switch 81 and the specific load 9. Specifically, the input terminal 21 of the portable battery 2 is connected to the target branch switch 81 by the first main wiring 41, and the output terminal 22 of the portable battery 2 is connected to the specific load 9 by the second main wiring 42. Therefore, the portable battery 2 and the specific load 9 are in series, with the portable battery 2 being the upstream side.

[0013] The portable battery 2 is equipped with an AC 100V input terminal (hereinafter referred to as AC input terminal) 21 and an AC 100V output terminal (hereinafter referred to as AC output terminal) 22. An input AC cable 24 is connected to the AC input terminal 21, and an output AC cable 25 is connected to the AC output terminal 22. Furthermore, the portable battery 2 is equipped with a DC input terminal 23 for connecting the solar power generation panel 3. The portable battery 2 is also equipped with a power storage mode selection switch 20 that switches between power storage from the AC input terminal 21 (AC mode), power from the DC input terminal 23 (DC mode), or a hybrid (HB) mode that stores power from both. In hybrid mode, which stores power from both, priority is given to storage from the DC input terminal 23 in order to obtain energy saving effects. In hybrid mode, when power from the solar power generation panel 3 is depleted, such as at night, power is stored using AC power (grid power). As shown in Figure 1, the switch box 1 is provided with a battery input terminal 103 to which an input AC cable 24 extending from the portable battery 2 is connected, and a battery output terminal 104 to which an output AC cable 25 extending from the portable battery 2 is connected.

[0014] A switch 10 is installed inside the switch box 1. The switch 10 is provided with two selection terminals 11 and 12 and one common terminal 13. One of the selection terminals is the first selection terminal 11, which is connected to the target branch switch 81 via the main line terminal 100 and the first main wiring 41. The other is the second selection terminal 12, which is connected to the battery output terminal 104. As shown in FIG. 1, the first selection terminal 11 is connected to the main line terminal 100, and a battery input line 43 connected to the AC input terminal 21 of the portable battery 2 is connected thereto. The common terminal 13 of the switch 10 is connected to the specific load 9 via the load terminal 101 and the second main wiring 42. The switch 10 is in the state shown in FIG. 1 unless the portable battery 2 is removed. Hereinafter, this state is referred to as the normal state. The normal state is a state in which the switch 10 short - circuits the second selection terminal 12 and the common terminal 13.

[0015] The portable battery 2 has a so - called pass - through function. That is, the AC input terminal 21 and the AC output terminal 22 are internally configured such that they are always short - circuited regardless of the charge / discharge state and regardless of which input mode is selected. Therefore, when the switch 10 is in the normal state as shown in FIG. 1, the power from the target branch switch 81 reaches the second selection terminal 12 via the first main wiring 41, the first selection terminal 11, the AC input terminal 21, inside the portable battery 2, and the AC output terminal 22, and is supplied to the specific load 9 via the common terminal 13, the load terminal 101, and the second main wiring 42.

[0016] Incidentally, although not shown in the figure, the portable battery 2 includes a power failure detection circuit and an automatic power supply circuit. The power failure detection circuit detects that the received power voltage has become zero (detects a power failure) while the input - side AC cable 24 is connected to the AC input terminal 21, and also detects that the received power voltage has recovered after the power failure detection (detects the elimination of the power failure). The automatic power supply circuit is a circuit that automatically starts power supply (outputs AC 100V to the AC output terminal 22) when the power failure detection circuit detects a power failure. These functions are the same as those of a so - called uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

[0017] Furthermore, the portable battery 2 using the switch box of the first embodiment is equipped with a reverse power flow prevention circuit and has a reverse power flow prevention function. Reverse power flow prevention is a function that prevents the stored power from flowing in the reverse direction. In other words, it is a function that prevents power from flowing out of the AC input terminal 21. As a portable battery 2 having such configurations, for example, the DELTA2 sold by EcoFlow Technology Japan Co., Ltd. can be used.

[0018] In the configuration shown in Figure 1, when the portable battery 2 is removed, the switch 10 is operated. This point will be explained with reference to Figure 2. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the wiring state when the portable battery is removed. To remove the portable battery 2, first operate switch 10 to the state shown in Figure 2. That is, the first selection terminal 11 is short-circuited to the common terminal 13. Hereafter, this state will be referred to as the release state. By setting it to the release state, the portable battery 2 is disconnected from the specific load 9. Also, the grid power from the target branch switch 81 flows directly from the first selection terminal 11 to the common terminal 13 via switch 10 and is supplied directly to the specific load 9. After setting it to this state, disconnect the AC cables 24 and 25 that were connected to switch box 1 and remove the portable battery 2 from switch box 1. Note that if the solar power generation panel 3 is connected to DC input terminal 23, it is acceptable to leave it as is, but if you are taking the portable battery 2 outdoors, disconnect the DC cable 31 from DC input terminal 23.

[0019] The operation of this type of power outage preparedness kit is explained below. The power outage countermeasure set is installed as described above during the construction of the building. Specifically, one end of the first main wiring 41 is connected to the target branch switch 81, and the other end of the first main wiring 41 is connected to the main terminal 100 on the switch box 1. The second main wiring 42 has one end connected to the load terminal 101 on the switch box 1 and the other end connected to the specific load 9. The switch 10 is then set to the normal state. Furthermore, the portable battery 2 is attached to the switch box 1 by connecting the respective AC cables 24 and 25. In addition, the solar power generation panel 3 is connected to the DC input terminal 23 of the portable battery 2 using the DC cable 31. The power storage mode selection switch 20 on the portable battery 2 is often set to AC mode or hybrid mode.

[0020] Once the installation is complete as described above, the grid power from the target branch switch 81 flows through the first selection terminal 11 of the switch 10 into the portable battery 2, and is supplied to the specific load 9 via the second selection terminal 12 of the switch 10. At this time, the portable battery 9 is also charged. Furthermore, if the power storage mode selection switch 20 is set to hybrid mode or DC mode, the portable battery 9 is charged by the solar power generation panel 3 during sunny daytime hours.

[0021] In this situation, if a power outage occurs due to a large-scale disaster, the power supply from the grid to the distribution board 8 is interrupted, and the power supply from the target branch switch 81 is lost. The power outage detection circuit in the portable battery 2 detects this, and the automatic power supply circuit operates, generating an output voltage at the AC output terminal 22 and starting power supply. That is, power from the portable battery 2 is supplied to the specific load 9, and power supply to the specific load 9 (for example, the living room) continues. When the power outage is resolved, the power outage detection circuit of the portable battery 2 detects the restoration of power, and the automatic power supply circuit stops the output of stored power. Then, the pass-through function of the portable battery 2 resumes the supply of grid power to the specific load 9. Furthermore, if it is sunny during the daytime when there is a power outage, the solar power generation panel 3 will store power in the portable battery 2 in parallel. Therefore, the time until the portable battery 2 runs out of charge is extended.

[0022] To remove the portable battery 2 for outdoor use, switch 10 is changed from the steady state shown in Figure 1 to the released state shown in Figure 2. Then, AC cables 24 and 25 are unplugged, as well as the DC cable 31 connected to the solar power generation panel 3. This detaches the portable battery 2 from the switch box 1 and the solar power generation panel 3, making it possible to take it outdoors. In this example, since the solar power generation panel 3 is also portable, it is possible to take it outdoors together with the portable battery 2 and use it for solar power generation.

[0023] With this type of power outage preparedness kit, the portable battery 2, which is normally charged (when there is no power outage), supplies power to the specific load 9 during a power outage. Therefore, electricity can be used for the specific load 9 until the charge of the portable battery 2 runs out. This makes it possible to use the minimum necessary amount of electricity during a disaster. In this case, the idea is to supply power to selected specific loads 9 during a power outage, rather than to the entire load in the building. Therefore, there is no need to use large, expensive, high-capacity batteries, and thus inexpensive portable batteries 2 are used. Furthermore, since the installation is completed simply by attaching the switch box 1, to which the portable battery 2 and solar power generation panel 3 are connected, to the target branch switch 81 via the first main wiring 41, the installation is extremely inexpensive and can be completed in a short period of time. Moreover, because it is a set that combines the simple structure of the switch box 1 with the inexpensive portable battery 2 and solar power generation panel 3, the hardware cost can be made significantly cheaper. As a result, power outage countermeasures during disasters can be implemented at a low cost. Furthermore, there is no need to install a specially configured distribution board 8; a standard, off-the-shelf unit suffices. This also contributes to achieving low-cost power outage countermeasures.

[0024] Furthermore, the portable battery 2 can be detached and used for outdoor leisure activities, offering a double benefit. The portability of the battery also has another advantage: it can be taken to another location indoors during a power outage and used as needed. For example, if the toilet can only be flushed electrically and the power cable is plugged into an outlet, the portable battery 2 can be taken to the toilet, the power cable connected to the AC output terminal 22 of the portable battery 2, and the toilet can be flushed. In other words, it offers a triple benefit.

[0025] Furthermore, this power outage countermeasure kit is equipped with a solar power generation panel 3, which can store power in the portable battery 2. This allows for delaying the time it takes for the portable battery 2 to run out of charge during a power outage, making it particularly suitable for prolonged power outages. Moreover, since the solar power generation panel 3 is also portable, it can be taken outdoors and used together with the portable battery 2, extending the usage time (time until the portable battery 2 runs out of charge) outdoors. If the solar power generation panel 3 is not portable, it may be mounted on the roof or wall of a building such as a house.

[0026] Furthermore, since the portable battery 2 is equipped with a reverse power flow prevention function, it prevents the stored power from accidentally flowing into the grid. In Figure 1, if the stored power flows out from the AC input terminal 21 of the portable battery 2, it will reach the distribution board 8 via the first selection terminal 11 of the switch 10 and flow back into the grid. In this case, if the owner who installed the power outage countermeasure set has applied to the power company for power, the reverse power flow will be permitted as surplus power sold back to the power company. However, if no power application has been made, it is necessary to prevent the reverse power flow. In other words, this power outage countermeasure set is ideal because it allows for emergency power supply measures during power outages while using solar power generation panels as a completely self-consumption type power generation system, and it can be easily introduced as no power application is required.

[0027] In the configuration of the first embodiment described above, it is also conceivable to adopt an automatic switch configuration for the switch 10 that automatically deactivates when the portable battery 2 is removed. This point will be explained in more detail using Figure 3. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an automatic switch configuration.

[0028] In the example shown in Figure 3, a socket 71 to which the input AC cable 24 is attached is provided as a battery input terminal 103, and a swing rod 72 is provided as a component that is linked to the socket 71. A spring member 73 is fixed to the back of one end of the swing rod 72 (opposite the socket 71), and a switch 10 is connected to the other end. The swing rod 72 is able to swing around a rotation axis approximately in the center. The socket 71 is movable in the direction toward the spring member 73 within a retainer (not shown). Furthermore, a stopper 74 is attached to the retainer to prevent the socket 71 from coming out when it is installed.

[0029] When the input AC cable 24 is connected, the socket 71 is pushed out as shown in Figure 3(1) and its position is held by the stopper 74. In this state, the spring member 73 is compressed via the oscillating rod 72, and the oscillating rod 72 acts as a lever to pull the shorting plate of the switch 10, causing the shorting plate to short-circuit the first selection terminal 11 and the common terminal 13. When removing the input AC cable 24, manually release the stopper 74 before pulling out the input AC cable 24. This causes the swing rod 72 to swing in the opposite direction due to the action (restoring force) of the spring member 73, and the shorting plate of the switch 10 short-circuits the second selection terminal 12 and the common terminal 13.

[0030] In the example above, the socket 71 for the input AC cable 24 is equipped with an automatic switch, but the socket for the output AC cable 25 may also be equipped with an automatic switch, or both may be equipped with manual switches. If both are equipped with automatic switches, the input AC cable 24 and the output AC cable 25 may be made into a single unit such as a harness, and the socket to which it is attached may be equipped with the structure described above. In addition to the above, various other configurations of automatic switches are conceivable, and the switch may not be mechanical but may be operated electronically using sensors or the like. In any case, if it is not an automatic switch, if the portable battery 2 is removed without operating switch 10, the power supply to the specific load 9 will be cut off, resulting in a state similar to a tripped circuit breaker. However, if an automatic switch configuration is used, there is no need to worry about forgetting to operate switch 10, which is preferable.

[0031] Next, we will describe a power outage countermeasure set that uses the portable battery switch box of the second embodiment. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a power outage countermeasure set that uses the portable battery switch box of the second embodiment. The power outage countermeasure set shown in Figure 4 differs from the one shown in Figure 1 in that it includes a reverse power flow detection unit 5 and a cutoff unit 6. Otherwise, it is almost the same as the one shown in Figure 1. The reverse power flow detection unit 5 is a detection unit that detects when stored power is output as reverse power flow from the AC input terminal 21 of the portable battery 2. In this example, the reverse power flow detection unit 5 is provided on the first main wiring 41.

[0032] The circuit breaker 6 uses a switch 61 that mechanically opens (breaks) the circuit by automatic external control, similar to a circuit breaker. In the configuration shown in Figure 4, the switch 61 is installed on the line between the first selection terminal 11 and the AC input terminal 21 of the portable battery 2. A control circuit 62 is provided that outputs an open signal to the switch 61. The control circuit 62 is a circuit that outputs an open signal to the switch 61 when a signal indicating the detection of reverse power flow is sent from the reverse power flow detection unit 5. The switch 61 automatically opens (breaks) upon receiving the open signal, but it must be closed manually. For example, a reverse power relay with CT detection that detects reverse power can be used to constitute such a reverse current detection unit 5 and circuit breaker 6. The reverse power flow detection location may also be on the line between the first selection terminal 11 and the AC input terminal 21, and a configuration in which a reverse power relay with CT detection is installed at this location can also be adopted.

[0033] This type of power outage countermeasure set is basically installed by being interposed between the target branch switch 81 and the specific load 9, similar to the one described above. It is equipped with a switch box 1 and a portable storage battery 2, and a reverse power flow detection unit 5 is installed on the first main wiring 41. The switch 61 in the circuit breaker 6 inside the switch box 1 is closed when operation begins.

[0034] Furthermore, if a battery without a reverse power flow prevention function is used as the portable battery 2 and power flows in reverse from the AC input terminal 21, the reverse power flow detection unit 5 detects this and the interruption unit 6 operates. That is, the control circuit 62 sends an open signal to the switch 61, and the line is interrupted. This prevents the reverse power flowing through the target branch switch 81 into the grid. At this time, the power supply circuit via the portable battery 2 to the specific load 9 is interrupted, and power is no longer supplied. In this case, the user operates the switch 10 to release it. When this is done, the first selection terminal 11 is directly short-circuited to the common terminal 13 (without going through the portable battery 2), and power supply to the specific load 9 is resumed. The switch box 1 may be equipped with lamps or displays to prompt the user to operate the switch 10.

[0035] In the configuration shown in Figure 4, a reverse power flow detection unit 5 and a cutoff unit 6 are provided, so even if the portable battery 2 does not have a reverse power flow prevention circuit, reverse power flow will not flow to the grid. Therefore, with this power outage countermeasure set, it is possible to use the solar power generation panel 3 as a fully self-consumption type power generation facility and implement emergency power countermeasures during power outages without having to worry about what type of portable battery 2 is, and it can be easily introduced as no power application is required. For example, even if the portable battery 2 was equipped with a reverse power flow prevention circuit when it was initially installed, but the user later replaced it and connected one that does not have a reverse power flow prevention circuit, power outage countermeasures can still be implemented without releasing reverse power flow into the grid.

[0036] Although the purpose of preventing reverse power flow can be achieved even if the interruption unit 6 is configured to interrupt the first main wiring 41, the above configuration in which the interruption is performed on the line between the first selection terminal 11 and the AC input terminal 21 of the portable battery 2 is superior. Even if the switch 61 is installed on the first main wiring 41, reverse power flow to the grid side is prevented, but if the switch 61 is manually closed in order to restore power supply to a specific load 9, the interruption unit 6 will immediately operate and open the switch 61 if the reverse power flow from the portable battery 2 has not been resolved. In this case, the portable battery 2 must be removed from the switch box 1 before closing the switch 61, which is cumbersome. The configuration in which the interruption is performed between the first selection terminal 11 and the AC input terminal 21 of the portable battery 2 (on the battery input line 43) is superior in that it does not involve such cumbersome procedures.

[0037] Next, we will describe a power outage countermeasure set using the portable battery switch box shown as an example. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a power outage countermeasure set using the portable battery switch box shown as an example. This power outage countermeasure set is also installed between the target branch switch 81 and the specific load 9 in the distribution board 8 of a house, etc., and includes the switch box 1 shown as an example, a portable battery 2, and a solar power generation panel 3. What distinguishes this power outage countermeasure set from those shown in Figures 1 and 4 is that when charging, the portable battery 2 is in a parallel relationship with the specific load 9.

[0038] As shown in Figure 5, in this example, the box-internal main line 411 and the battery input line 43 are provided by branching off from the first main wiring line 41. The box-internal main line 411 extends from the branching point and is connected to the load terminal 101 via a switch 14. The battery output terminal 104 is also connected to the load terminal 101 via a switch 14. The switch 14 normally shorts the box-internal main line 411 and the load terminal 101 (hereinafter referred to as the battery off state) when there is no power outage, and in the event of a power outage, it disconnects the box-internal main line 411 from the load terminal 101 and shorts the battery output terminal 104 to the load terminal 101 (hereinafter referred to as the battery on state).

[0039] As can be seen from Figure 5, when switch 14 is in the battery ON state, the portable battery 2 and the specific load 9 are in series. That is, the portable battery 2 is in parallel with the specific load 9 when charging, but is in series with the specific load 9 when discharging. The portable battery 2 is connected to the target branch switch 81 on the input side, but in the event of a power outage, the power supply becomes zero to detect the power outage, and power is output from the AC output terminal 22 and supplied to the specific load 9. Note that switch 14 is a manual switch such as a rotary switch, but it may also be a switch that automatically turns on and off based on a signal from a sensor that detects power outages. The power outage detection sensor can be installed inside the distribution board 8 or on the first main wiring 41.

[0040] As shown in Figure 5, even in the example configuration, a reverse power flow detection unit 5 and a circuit breaker unit 6 are provided to consider the possibility that the portable battery 2 may not have a reverse power flow prevention function. In the example in Figure 5, the reverse power flow detection unit 5 is on the first main wiring 41, but it may also be on the battery input line 43. The switch 61 included in the circuit breaker unit 6 is provided on the battery input line 43. If reverse power flow occurs when the portable battery 2 does not have a reverse power flow prevention function, the circuit breaker unit 6 opens the switch 61 to interrupt the power flow, even in the example configuration. Therefore, reverse power flow will not flow to the grid. If the portable battery 2 has a reverse power flow prevention function, the reverse power flow detection unit 5 and the circuit breaker unit 6 are unnecessary, as shown in Figure 1.

[0041] In each of the above configurations, the portable battery 2 is equipped with a DC input terminal 23 and is directly connected to the solar power generation panel 3. However, portable batteries without a DC input terminal 23 can also be used. When using a portable battery without a DC input terminal 23, an inverter is installed in between to convert the DC voltage output from the solar power generation panel 2 to AC 100V AC, and the inverter is connected to the switch box 1. Inside the switch box 1, there is a power storage changeover switch that switches between storing power in the portable battery 2 or in the solar power generation panel 3 using grid power.

[0042] In the above case, if the portable battery 2 is connected in series with a specific load 9 as shown in Figures 1 and 4, operating the power transfer switch to connect the portable battery 2 to the solar power generation panel 2 will interrupt the power supply to the specific load 9. Therefore, a bypass line is provided connecting the first main wiring to the second main wiring, and a switch on this bypass line is set to turn on in conjunction with the power transfer switch. However, when AC charging the portable battery 2 using grid power and the solar power generation panel 3 simultaneously, the power transfer switch is not provided, and the bypass line and the switch on the bypass line are unnecessary.

[0043] In the power outage countermeasures sets for each of the above configurations, it was explained that there is only one specific load 9, but there may be multiple specific loads 9. That is, the second main wiring 42 may branch into multiple branches, and the loads connected to each of them may be specific loads 9. Furthermore, in both cases where there is one specific load 9 or multiple loads, a circuit breaker (overcurrent protection device) may be added to the specific load 9 side. An example of this configuration will be explained with reference to Figure 6. Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a configuration in which a circuit breaker is added to the specific load side.

[0044] In recent years, energy-saving equipment (energy-saving home appliances, etc.), including LED lighting, has become widespread, resulting in lower power consumption at the load. Therefore, each power outage protection set can be used to supply multiple loads. An example of this is shown in Figure 6. Figure 6(1) shows an example of wiring when no power outage protection set is installed. In this example, the first wiring 911 for the living room lighting (first load 91) is connected to the first branch switch 82, and the second wiring 92 for the living room outlet (second load 92) is connected to the second branch switch 83.

[0045] On the other hand, when installing the power outage countermeasure set, the first wiring 91 is disconnected from the first branch switch 82, and the second wiring 92 is disconnected from the second branch switch 83, and the two are connected to each other. In this example, as shown in Figure 6(2), the power outage countermeasure set is equipped with an additional breaker 421 on the second main wiring 42, and the first and second wirings 91 and 92 are connected to the additional breaker 421. That is, the second main wiring 42 is connected to multiple loads 91 and 92 via the additional breaker 421. The additional breaker 421 is a device that interrupts the circuit when a current exceeding a limit flows. Note that the example in Figure 6(2) is an example in which an additional breaker 421 is provided in the series arrangement configuration shown in Figures 1 and 4, but an additional breaker 421 can also be provided in the parallel arrangement configuration shown in Figure 5.

[0046] The additional circuit breaker 421 has several roles. One is to protect the portable battery 2 from overcurrent. If a short circuit occurs on the load 91, 92 side, an overcurrent will flow through the portable battery 2, so the additional circuit breaker 421 prevents this. Even in the parallel configuration shown in Figure 5, if a short circuit occurs while the portable battery 2 is being used during a power outage, the portable battery 2 may be damaged, so the additional circuit breaker 421 prevents this. Another role is to facilitate the detection of leakage currents on loads 91, 92, and to make it easier to perform maintenance work on equipment on loads 91, 92 by cutting off the power supply. Thus, each power outage countermeasure set can be constructed to handle multiple loads, and in both the case of multiple loads or single loads, the configuration includes additional circuit breakers between the loads.

[0047] Furthermore, each power outage protection set may be interposed between multiple target branch switches and multiple target loads. That is, a first power outage protection set may be interposed between one target branch switch and one target load, and a second power outage protection set may be interposed between another target branch switch and another target load. In this case, the solar power generation panel may be shared by the first and second power outage protection sets. It may be configured to split the power supply line from one solar power generation panel into two to supply power to each portable battery, or a switch may be provided on one solar power generation panel to select and supply power to one of the portable batteries 2.

[0048] The power outage countermeasure kits described above can be suitably used not only in ordinary homes but also in offices and government offices. For example, government offices that play a central role in responding to disasters need to ensure that a minimum amount of power (such as power for communication with relevant parties) is available even during a power outage. The power outage countermeasure kits can be implemented for this purpose. Furthermore, while it was explained that the power outage countermeasures sets described above are installed during the building's construction, it is also possible to install them retrofitting after construction. For example, they can be retrofitted to existing distribution boards in detached houses or apartment buildings after their construction. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0049] 1 Switch box 101 Load terminal 102 Panel terminals 103 Battery input terminal 104 Battery output terminal 10 switches 11 First selection terminal 12 Second selection terminal 13 Common terminals 14 switches 2 Portable battery 3. Solar power panels 41. First main wiring 411 Main line inside box 42 Second main wiring 43 Battery input line 44 Battery output line 8 Distribution board 81 Target branch switch 9 Specific load

Claims

1. A portable battery switch box used when attaching a portable battery to a target branch switch, which is a branch switch in a distribution panel installed in a building and is installed for supplying power to a specific load, It has a built-in switch, The switch has a common terminal connected to a specific load, a first selection terminal connected to the target branch switch, and a second selection terminal connected to the portable battery. A switch box for a portable battery, which switches between a first state in which the first selection terminal is disconnected from the common terminal and the second selection terminal is short-circuited to the common terminal, and a second state in which the second selection terminal is disconnected from the common terminal and the first selection terminal is short-circuited to the common terminal, wherein in the first state the portable battery is interposed between the target branch switch and the specific load and is connected in series with the specific load, and in the second state the specific load is connected to the target branch switch without going through the portable battery.

2. The system is provided with a main line terminal connected to the target branch switch, a load terminal connected to a specific load, a battery input terminal connected to the input terminal of a portable battery, and a battery output terminal connected to the output terminal of a portable battery. The aforementioned common terminal is connected to the load terminal. The aforementioned first selection terminal is connected to the main line terminal and also to the battery input terminal. The portable battery switch box according to claim 1, characterized in that the second selection terminal is connected to a battery output terminal.

Images