Pluggable power management module for a power distribution panel
View Patent ↗One aspect provides a pluggable power management module, comprising a module housing having input and output pluggable connectors extending therefrom configured to be couplable to a corresponding input and output terminals of a conventional, generic distribution panel, a controller interface located on or within the module housing and couplable to a controller, and a sensor located within the module housing and coupled to the controller interface and configured to produce a signal to the controller, that determines that a minimum or maximum threshold voltage or current of a source/load coupled to the pluggable power management module has been reached based on the signal.
1. A pluggable power management module, comprising:
a module housing having input and output pluggable connectors extending therefrom configured to be couplable to a corresponding input and output terminals of a distribution panel;
a controller interface located on or within the module housing and couplable to a controller; and
a sensor located within the module housing and coupled to the controller interface and configured to produce a signal to the controller that determines that a minimum or maximum threshold voltage or current has been reached based on the signal.
2. The module recited in claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a current sensor.
3. The module recited in claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes a battery contactor switch located within the module housing and coupled to the controller interface, the battery contactor operable to remove a load off or attach a load onto the distribution panel upon receiving a signal from a controller.
4. The module recited in claim 1 , wherein the module includes at least one set of input/output 100 amp pluggable connectors.
5. The module recited in claim 1 , further including a controller.
6. The module recited in claim 5 , wherein the controller is located within the module housing and coupled to the controller interface.
7. The module recited in claim 1 , wherein the housing module further includes an external controller interface configured to receive a connector for a controller.
8. A power management system, comprising:
a distribution panel having a plurality of input/output terminals located thereon and wherein at least a portion of the input/output terminals are connected to a source/load;
a power management controller; and
a pluggable power management module, comprising:
a module housing having input and output pluggable connectors extending therefrom configured to be couplable to corresponding ones of the input and output terminals;
a controller interface located on or within the module housing and coupled to the controller; and
a sensor located within the module housing and coupled to the controller interface and configured to produce a signal to the controller that determines that a minimum or maximum threshold voltage or current of the source/load has been reached based on the signal.
9. The system recited in claim 8 , wherein the sensor is a current sensor.
10. The system recited in claim 8 , wherein the source/load is at least one battery/load and the power management system further includes a battery/load contactor switch located within the module housing and coupled to the controller interface, the battery/load contactor operable to remove a battery/load from the source/load upon receiving a signal from the controller.
11. The system recited in claim 8 , wherein the module includes at least one set of input/output 100 amp pluggable connectors.
12. The system recited in claim 8 , wherein the load is a change in voltage of a load on the distribution panel.
13. The system recited in claim 8 , wherein the controller is located within the module housing and coupled to the controller interface.
14. The system recited in claim 8 , wherein the housing module further includes an external controller interface configured to receive a connector of the controller.
15. A method of manufacturing a pluggable power management module, comprising:
forming a module housing having input and output pluggable connectors extending therefrom configured to be couplable to a corresponding input and output terminals of a distribution panel;
locating a controller interface on or within the module housing that is couplable to a controller; and
locating a sensor within the module housing and coupling the sensor to the controller interface, the sensor configured to produce a signal to the controller that determines that a minimum or maximum threshold voltage or current has been reached based on the signal.
16. The method recited in claim 15 , wherein the sensor is a current sensor.
17. The method recited in claim 15 , locating the sensor includes locating a battery contactor switch within the module housing and coupling the battery contactor to the controller interface, the battery contactor operable to remove a load of the distribution panel upon receiving a signal from a controller.
18. The method recited in claim 15 , wherein the module includes at least one set of input/output 100 amp pluggable connectors.
19. The method recited in claim 15 , further including connecting a controller to the controller interface.
20. The method recited in claim 19 , wherein connecting the controller includes placing the controller within the module housing.