BUS BYPASS OVERCURRENT PROTECTION
Devices and methods are described for connecting an alternative energy source (for example, solar, wind, or gas generator power) to power source lines of a utility company to back-feed power to the utility company at a circuit breaker panel. In some implementations, an over current protection device (OCPD) is electrically coupled to the source lines before the source lines are coupled to the main circuit breaker such that it can pass current from the alternative energy source to the source lines without using the busbars of the circuit breaker panel. In some implementations, the OCPD includes slots that are configured to receive the source lines when the OCPD is pushed down over the source lines. The OCPD also includes coupling structures that fit around at least a portion of the source lines, and includes one or more spike taps to electrically couple to the source lines.
1 . A device for electrically coupling two power source lines in a circuit breaker panel to an alternative power source, the source lines connected to a main circuit breaker in the circuit breaker panel and each providing power to the circuit breaker panel, to provide an electrical connection between the alternative power source and the power source lines that does not use busbars of the circuit breaker panel for the electrical connection, the device comprising:
means for electrically coupling including a first means for electrically coupling to a first source line configured to carry 120VAC phase A and a second means for electrically coupling to a second source line configured to carry 120VAC phase B power with two electrically distinct connections, the means for electrically coupling configured to be placed at least partially around the first and second source lines without cutting or disconnecting the first and second source lines, the means for electrically coupling configured to couple to the first and second source line at a location adjacent to the main circuit breaker in a circuit breaker panel and before the first and second source lines connect to the main circuit breaker;
terminals for connecting to an alternative power source, the terminals including at least a first terminal and a second terminal; and
means for protecting for an over-current condition electrically connected between the terminals and the means for electrically coupling.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the means for electrically coupling comprises:
a threaded slot connector having a slot that allows one of the source lines to pass through the slot and be disposed within the interior of the threaded slot connector, the threaded slot connector having external threads and having at least one tapping spike disposed in the interior of the threaded slot collector; and
a slotted nut having a slot that allows one of the source lines to pass through the slot and be disposed within the interior to the slotted nut, the slotted nut fitting onto the exterior threads of the threaded slot connector, the slotted nut and the threaded clot connector collectively configured to move the at last one tapping spike to electrically couple to a source line within the threaded slot connector when the slotted nut is wound onto the threaded slot connector.
3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the threaded slot connector comprises a tapered shape that deforms when the slotted nut is wound onto the exterior threads to push the at least one tapping spike into the source line.
4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the means for protecting for an over-current condition comprises at least one fuse.
5 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the means for protecting for an over-current condition comprises at least one circuit breaker that is not directly electrically connected to a busbar of the circuit breaker panel.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the means for coupling include two sets of one or more tapping spikes, each set of the one or more tapping spikes for electrically connecting to one of the first and second source lines.
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the means for electrically coupling comprises two sets of one or more tapping spikes, each set of the one or more tapping spikes arranged to at least partially surround one of the source lines when the means for coupling is placed on the source lines, configured to deform to move the one or more tapping spikes to be electrically coupled to the at least partially surrounded source line when the means for coupling is crimped around the source lines.
8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the means for protecting for an over-current condition comprises at least one fuse or at least one circuit breaker.
9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the means for electrically coupling comprises:
a source line receptacle configured to at least partially surround a source line passing through the means for electrically coupling, the source line receptacle including at least one tapping spike,
a clamping structure disposed along a lower portion of the source line receptacle to secure a source line in the source line receptacle; and
at least one connector coupled to the clamping structure and disposed to be actuated from an upper surface of the device, the connector extending from the upper surface of the device to the clamping structure, the connector and clamping structure collectively configured to move the clamping structure to a closed position to secure a source line into the source line receptacle and electrically coupling the at least one tapping spike to the source line when the clamping structure is moved to the closed position.
10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein
the first means for electrically coupling comprises:
a first source line receptacle configured to at least partially surround the first source line when the device is disposed over the first source line so that the first source line passes through the means for electrically coupling, the first source line receptacle including at least one tapping spike,
a first clamping structure disposed along a lower portion of the first source line receptacle to secure a source line in the first source line receptacle; and
at least one first connector coupled to the first clamping structure and disposed to be actuated from an upper surface of the device, the at least one first connector extending from the upper surface of the device to the first clamping structure, the at least one first connector and the first clamping structure collectively configured to move the first clamping structure to a closed position to secure the first source line into the first source line receptacle electrically coupling the at least one tapping spike to the first source line when the first clamping structure is moved to the closed position; and
the second means for electrically coupling comprises:
a second source line receptacle configured to at least partially surround the second source line when the device is disposed over the second source line so that the second source line passes through the means for electrically coupling, the second source line receptacle including at least one tapping spike,
a second clamping structure disposed along a lower portion of the second source line receptacle to secure a source line in the second source line receptacle, and
at least one second connector coupled to the second clamping structure and disposed to be actuated from an upper surface of the device, the at least one second connector extending from the upper surface of the device to the second clamping structure, the at least one second connector and the second clamping structure collectively configured to move the second clamping structure to a closed position to secure the second source line into the second source line receptacle electrically coupling the at least one tapping spike to the second source line when the second clamping structure is moved to the closed position.
11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the means for protecting for an over-current condition comprises at least one fuse or at least one circuit breaker.
12 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a power transfer bar electrically coupled to the means for electrically coupling and extending generally perpendicular to the first and second source lines to fit adjacent to one of more circuit breakers disposed beside the main circuit breaker, the power transfer bar including
a first conductive bus electrically coupled to the first means for electrically coupling and to the first terminal, and
a second conductive bus coupled to the second means for electrically coupling and the second terminal.
13 . A device for electrically coupling a first source line carrying 120VAC phase A power and a second source line carrying 120VAC phase B power to an alternative power source to feed power from the alternative power source to the first and second source lines without using busbars of a circuit breaker panel, the first and second source lines providing power to a main circuit breaker in a circuit breaker panel, the device comprising:
a source line coupler configured to couple to the first source line and the second source line in a circuit breaker panel at least partially around the first and second source lines without cutting or disconnecting the first and second source lines, the source line coupler including
a first source line receptacle for receiving the first source line when the device is placed over the first source line such that the first source line is disposed in the first line receptacle, the first source line receptacle including at least one first conductive tapping spike disposed to contact the first source line when the first source line is secured in the first source line receptacle;
a second source line receptacle for receiving the second source line when the device is placed over the second source line such that second source line is disposed in the second line receptacle, the second source line receptacle including at least one second conductive tapping spike disposed to contact the second source line when the second source line is secured in the second source line receptacle;
terminals for connecting to an alternative power source, the terminals including at least a first terminal and a second terminal; and
a first over-current protector and a second over-current protector that stop current from flowing at a predetermined threshold level, the first over-current protector electrically connected between at least one first tapping spike and the first terminal, and the second over-current protector electrically coupled between the at least one second tapping spike and the second terminal.
14 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the first and second over-current protectors are fuses.
15 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the first and second over-current protectors are circuit breakers.
16 . The device of claim 14 , further comprising a power transfer bar electrically coupled to the source line coupler and extending generally perpendicular to first and second source lines that are secured in the source line coupler, the power transfer bar configured to fit adjacent to one of more circuit breakers disposed beside the main circuit breaker, the power transfer bar including
a first conductive bus electrically coupled between the at least one first tapping spike and the first terminal, and
a second conductive bus electrically coupled between the at least one second tapping spike and the second terminal.
17 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the source line coupler comprises;
a first clamping structure disposed along a portion of the first source line receptacle to secure the first source line in the first source line receptacle; and
at least one connector coupled to the first clamping structure and disposed to be actuated from an upper surface of the device, the connector extending from the upper surface of the device to the first clamping structure, the connector and first clamping structure collectively configured to move the clamping structure to a closed position to secure the first source line into the first source line receptacle and electrically couple the at least one first tapping spike to the first source line when the first clamping structure is moved to the closed position.
18 . The device of claim 17 , wherein the first clamping structure is coupled to two connectors disposed to be actuated from the upper surface of the device, the two connectors extending from the upper surface of the device to the first clamping structure and coupled to the first clamping structure.
19 . The device of claim 18 , wherein the first clamping structure is configured to be adjusted using one or more of the two connectors coupled to the first clamping structure to change the size of the first source line receptacle.
20 . A method for installing a device to back feed energy from an energy source to source lines in a preexisting circuit breaker panel, the method comprising:
inserting a back feed device in a circuit breaker panel between a main circuit breaker and a utility meter, the back feed device dimensioned to couple to a first source line and a second source line and be disposed within the circuit breaker panel, the back feed device comprising:
a source line coupler configured to couple to the first source line and the second source line and at least partially around the first and second source lines, the source line coupler including
a first source line receptacle for receiving the first source line such that the first source line is disposed in the first line receptacle, the first source line receptacle including at least one first conductive tapping spike disposed to contact the first source line when the first source line is secured in the first source line receptacle;
a second source line receptacle for receiving the second source line, the second source line receptacle including at least one second conductive tapping spike disposed to contact the second source line when the second source line is secured in the second source line receptacle;
terminals for connecting to an alternative power source, the terminals including at least a first terminal and a second terminal; and
a first over-current protector and a second over-current protector that stop current from flowing at a predetermined threshold level, the first over-current protector electrically connected between the at least one first tapping spike and the first terminal, and the second over-current protector electrically coupled between the at least one second tapping spike and the second terminal; and
coupling the source line coupler to the first source line and the second source line.