Electrical Panel Relay Control for Grid and Auxiliary Power Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing energy demands from electric vehicles and auxiliary electrical devices in homes lead to higher power usage, resulting in increased energy bills and potential disruptions due to power outages or fluctuations, necessitating improved electrical power monitoring and management systems.
Innovation Solution
An electrical power control device with a main relay, auxiliary relay, and data collection and control module that selectively opens and closes these relays based on whether the auxiliary device functions as a current load or source, managing power flow and distribution to prioritize main disconnect panels and reduce the risk of tripping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If auxiliary devices (e.g., EV chargers) are connected to the electrical system, then power monitoring and control capability is improved, but the complexity of the electrical system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device is nested within the electrical panel structure, with the housing containing the relay assembly and circuit board integrated into the panel. This nesting approach allows the monitoring and control functionality to be incorporated without adding separate external devices, thereby improving adaptability while managing system complexity through integrated design.
2Ease of operation
If multiple relays and control modules are added to manage power flow, then power distribution control is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional components are merged into a single integrated device: the first relay for main panel power control, the second relay for auxiliary device power control, and the circuit board for monitoring and coordination are all combined within one housing. This merging enables improved power distribution control through coordinated relay operation while managing complexity by consolidating components rather than using separate standalone devices.
3Loss of energy
If the control device selectively opens and closes relays based on load/source detection, then energy efficiency is improved, but the measurement and detection requirements become more stringent
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit board continuously monitors the electrical characteristics of the auxiliary device and uses this feedback to determine whether the device is operating as a load or a source. Based on this detection, the control device selectively opens or closes the relays to optimize power flow. This feedback mechanism enables improved energy efficiency through intelligent relay control while managing detection requirements by using standard electrical measurements rather than complex sensing.
Data Source
AI summary
Electrical power control devices may include a main relay coupled to an input power connection, a main power connection for transmitting electrical power from the main relay to a disconnect panel, an auxiliary power connection for transmitting electrical power from the main relay to an auxiliary device that can function as a current load or a current source, an auxiliary relay coupled to the auxiliary power connection, and a data collection and control module coupled to the main relay and the auxiliary relay. The data collection and control module may be configured to selectively open and close the main relay and to selectively open and close the auxiliary relay depending on whether the auxiliary device functions as a current load or a current source. Various other related devices, systems, and methods are also disclosed.