Shared power for power distribution modules
A power distribution module (PDM) can include an input portion configured to receive high-voltage (HV) power from a power source. The PDM can also include a power transfer device electrically coupled to the input portion, where the power transfer device is configured to generate at least one low-voltage signal using the HV power. The PDM can further include an output section electrically coupled to the power transfer device and including a number of output channels. The PDM can also include at least one switch disposed between the output section and the power transfer device, where the at least one switch has an open position and a closed position. The PDM can further include a controller communicably coupled to the at least one switch, where the controller operates the at least one switch between the closed position and the open position based on a power demand measured at the output section.
1. A power distribution module, comprising:
an input portion configured to receive high-voltage (HV) power from a power source;
a power transfer device electrically coupled to the input portion, wherein the power transfer device is configured to generate at least one low-voltage (LV) signal using the HV power;
an output section electrically coupled to the power transfer device and comprising a plurality of output channels, wherein each output channel of the plurality of output channels of the output section is configured to deliver the at least one LV signal for use by at least one electrical device;
at least one switch disposed between the output section and the power transfer device, wherein the at least one switch has an open position and a closed position, wherein the at least one LV signal flows from the power transfer device to the output section when the at least one switch is in the closed position, and wherein the at least one LV signal is prevented from flowing from the power transfer device to the output section when the at least one switch is in the open position; and
a controller communicably coupled to the at least one switch, wherein the controller is configured to:
determine a total power demand of the output section, wherein the total power demand comprises an actual demand of the at least one electrical device for each output channel at a first time;
determine that the total power demand is greater than a rated capacity of the output section; and
operate the at least one switch between the closed position and the open position to adjust the actual demand to an adjusted actual demand so that the adjusted actual demand falls below the rated capacity at the first time.
2. The power distribution module of claim 1 , wherein the power transfer device comprises at least one alternating current-to-direct current (AC/DC) converter and at least one direct current-to-direct current (DC/DC) converter.
3. The power distribution module of claim 1 , wherein each output channel of the plurality of output channels has a peak power demand that corresponds to the at least one electrical device coupled to each output channel.
4. The power distribution module of claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises an energy metering module that measures the actual demand of each output channel of the plurality of output channels of the output section.
5. The power distribution module of claim 4 , wherein the controller operates the at least one switch based on measurements made by the energy metering module at the first time.
6. The power distribution module of claim 5 , wherein the controller further operates the at least one switch based on the adjusted actual demand relative to the rated capacity at a second time.
7. The power distribution module of claim 6 , wherein operating the at least one switch reduces an amount of power delivered to the at least one electrical device of at least one output channel.
8. The power distribution module of claim 1 , wherein operating the at least one switch cuts off power delivered to the at least one electrical device of at least one output channel.
9. The power distribution module of claim 1 , wherein each output channel of the output section is configured to receive an electrical cable, wherein the electrical cable is coupled to the at least one electrical device.
10. The power distribution module of claim 9 , wherein the electrical cable is a Class 2 cable.
11. A distributed low voltage power system, comprising:
a power source generating line voltage power;
a line voltage cable comprising a first line voltage end and a second line voltage end, wherein the first line voltage end is coupled to the power source, wherein the line voltage power flows through the line voltage cable;
a power distribution module (PDM) coupled to the line voltage cable, wherein the PDM comprises:
at least one input channel coupled to the second line voltage end of the line voltage cable;
a power transfer device electrically coupled to the at least one input channel, wherein the power transfer device receives the line voltage power from the at least one input channel, wherein the power transfer device generates a first low-voltage (LV) signal from the line voltage power;
at least one first output channel coupled to the power transfer device, wherein the at least one first output channel receives the first LV signal from the power transfer device; and
a controller operatively coupled to the power transfer device and the at least one first output channel, wherein the controller:
determines a total power demand of the at least one first output channel, wherein the total power demand comprises an actual demand of at least one first electrical device coupled to the at least one first output channel;
determines that the total power demand is greater than a rated capacity of the at least one first output channel; and
operates at least one switch between a closed position and an open position to reduce a first amount of the first LV signal to adjust the actual demand to a first adjusted actual demand so that the first adjusted actual demand falls below the rated capacity; and
the at least one first electrical device coupled to the at least one first output channel, wherein the at least one first electrical device operates using a first adjusted amount of the first LV signal.
12. The distributed low voltage power system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a LV cable comprising a first LV end and a second LV end, wherein the first LV end is coupled to the first output channel of the PDM, and wherein the second end is coupled to the at least one first electrical device, wherein the at least one first electrical device receives the first LV signal from the first PDM through the LV cable.
13. The distributed low voltage power system of claim 11 , further comprising:
at least one second electrical device coupled to at least one second output channel, wherein the at least one second electrical device operates using a second amount of a second LV signal generated by the first PDM, wherein the controller:
determines a second total power demand of the at least one second output channel;
determines that the second total power demand is greater than the rated capacity of the at least one second output channel; and
operates the at least one switch between the closed position and the open position to reduce the second amount of the second LV signal to adjust the actual demand to a second adjusted actual demand so that the second adjusted actual demand falls below the rated capacity.
14. The distributed low voltage power system of claim 13 , wherein the controller, by operating the at least one switch, adjusts the first amount of the first LV signal in a first direction when the second amount of the second LV signal is adjusted in a second direction, wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction.
15. The distributed low voltage power system of claim 11 , wherein the controller further monitors an entire load coupled to the at least one first output channel and controls the first LV signal generated by the power transfer device based on monitoring the entire load.
16. The distributed low voltage power system of claim 11 , wherein the first LV signal is direct current power.
17. The distributed low voltage power system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one first electrical device qualifies as a Class 2 device.
18. The distributed low voltage power system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one first electrical device is used for lighting applications.
19. The distributed low voltage power system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one switch is disposed between the at least one first output channel and the power transfer device of the PDM, wherein the at least one LV signal flows from the power transfer device to the at least one first output channel when the at least one switch is in the closed position, and wherein the at least one LV signal is prevented from flowing from the power transfer device to the at least one first output channel when the at least one switch is in the open position.
20. A controller comprising:
an energy metering module configured to measure at least one power parameter associated with at least one electrical device; and
a control engine coupled to the energy metering module, wherein the control engine is configured to:
determine, as measured by the energy metering module, a total power demand of an output section of a power distribution module (PDM), wherein the total power demand comprises an actual demand of a plurality of electrical devices coupled to the output section of the PDM;
determine that the total power demand is greater than a rated capacity of the output section of the PDM; and
operate, based on the at least one power parameter measured by the energy metering module, at least one switch between a closed position and an open position to reduce an amount of power delivered to the output section of the PDM so that the actual demand falls below the rated capacity.