RV Power Meter Switching for Remote Billing and Load Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current power distribution systems in recreational vehicle parks and similar facilities lack smart metering and control capabilities, leading to inefficiencies in power usage tracking and billing, as well as the inability to manage varying power demands across different types of vehicles and devices, often requiring expensive infrastructure upgrades and manual intervention.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a smart power management system that includes electrical power meters with network interfaces and electrically controlled switches, allowing remote control and monitoring via a mobile application, enabling users to select and pay for power based on specific current requirements and facilitating retrofitting of existing infrastructure with IoT devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional power distribution systems are used in recreational vehicle parks, then infrastructure costs are reduced, but smart metering and control capabilities are lacking, leading to inefficiencies in power usage tracking and billing
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated power usage tracking and billing through smart meters that self-report consumption data to the cloud platform, eliminating the need for manual meter reading and intervention. Users can self-monitor their power consumption through mobile applications, and the system automatically handles billing calculations based on actual usage.
Solution Approach 2:
A cloud-based platform serves as an intermediary between the physical power distribution infrastructure and the digital monitoring/billing system. The platform receives data from smart meters, processes billing information, and communicates with user devices, thereby adding smart metering capabilities without requiring direct modification of the existing power distribution hardware.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional power distribution systems are used, then infrastructure upgrade costs are minimized, but the ability to manage varying power demands across different types of vehicles and devices is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts power allocation and monitoring based on real-time demands from different vehicle types and devices. The cloud platform processes varying power requirements and communicates appropriate control signals to smart meters, enabling flexible management of power distribution without requiring pre-configured dedicated infrastructure for each vehicle type.
Solution Approach 2:
The smart meter and cloud platform system serves multiple functions: power usage tracking, billing calculation, demand management, and user communication. This multi-functional approach allows a single system to handle diverse power demands from RVs, boats, and other vehicles without requiring separate specialized systems for each application.
3Productivity
If manual intervention is used in traditional power distribution systems, then system simplicity is maintained, but operational efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical processes (physical meter reading, manual billing calculations, hand-written records) with automated electronic systems. Smart meters automatically measure power consumption, the cloud platform automatically calculates billing information, and mobile applications automatically notify users, thereby significantly improving operational efficiency through automation.
4Measurement precision
If smart power management systems are implemented, then precise power allocation and billing is enabled, but infrastructure costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the power management functionality into separate components: smart meters at individual locations for precise local measurement, a centralized cloud platform for data processing and billing, and mobile applications for user interaction. This segmentation allows precise power allocation through distributed smart meters while keeping the complex processing functions in the cloud, thereby reducing the burden on local infrastructure.
5Ease of operation
If remote control capabilities are added to power distribution systems, then user convenience is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cloud platform acts as an intermediary that handles complex remote control operations. User devices send simple commands through the cloud platform, which then translates and executes appropriate control signals to smart meters. This approach provides users with convenient remote access to power control while keeping the complexity of control logic centralized in the cloud rather than distributed across multiple user devices.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a system, comprising: an electrical power meter comprising: a network interface; electrical power inputs configured to receive electrical power from a power-distribution system of a vehicle facility configured to host a plurality of vehicles; first and second electrically controlled switches coupled to vehicle power connectors; and a client-side processor configured to communicate with a remote server system; and the remote server system, configured to: cause a user-computing device of a user to display a user interface by which power-delivery is configurable; receive a request to deliver electrical power via a vehicle power connector; and in response, transmitting, to the electrical power meter, a command that causes the client-side processor to adjust the electrically controlled switch.