Multi-node electrical power monitoring, analysis, and related services
View Patent ↗The operation of electrical appliances receiving electrical power from an electrical system may be indirectly monitored using monitoring units engaged with outlets on branch circuits of the electrical system. Electrical systems providing power to appliances to be monitored in accordance with the present invention may comprise split phase alternating current systems, tri-phase systems, or any other type of electrical system. Known loads may be applied to calibrate the monitoring system. The monitoring system may measure the power consumption of appliances operating on the electrical system and/or detect possible fault conditions. The application of a known load to each phase of the electrical system for calibration permits different portions of the electrical system to be isolated and, therefor, provides improved accuracy in monitoring power consumption and detection of potential fault conditions.
1. A method of monitoring electrical appliances operating on an electrical system, the method comprising:
calibrating a monitoring unit with an outlet of an electrical system;
after calibrating the monitoring unit with the outlet of the electrical system, measuring voltage between lines at the outlet engaged by the monitoring unit;
based on measuring the voltage between lines at the outlet, detecting a voltage change between the lines of the outlet;
based on detecting the voltage change between the lines of the outlet, recording voltage information measured by the monitoring unit, the recorded voltage information describing at least one of voltage measurement or voltage change;
based on the recorded voltage information, identifying a voltage or power signature of an appliance operating by receiving power from the electrical system and causing observed changes in voltage;
based on identification of the voltage or power signature of the appliance, comparing performance data for the appliance to expected performance data for the appliance;
based on the comparison of the performance data for the appliance to the expected performance data for the appliance, determining whether the performance data for the appliance is within an expected range;
based on a determination that the performance data for the appliance falls outside of the expected range, identifying a fault condition for the appliance; and
based on identification of the fault condition for the appliance, issuing, via a computing device, an alert.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein calibrating the monitoring unit with the outlet of the electrical system comprises applying a calibration load having known electrical properties to the electrical system and measuring resulting changes in voltage between the lines of the outlet.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein calibrating the monitoring unit and measuring voltage occurs for each of multiple phases of alternating current of the electrical system.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein calibrating the monitoring unit with the outlet of the electrical system comprises receiving information describing topology of the electrical system and calibrating the monitoring unit based on the received information describing topology of the electrical system.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring voltage between lines at the outlet engaged by the monitoring unit comprises measuring voltage between a hot and neutral line and between a neutral and ground line the outlet.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the voltage or power signature of the appliance comprises determining the voltage or power signature of the appliance based on calculations performed on collected voltage or power data.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the voltage or power signature of the appliance comprises comparing collected voltage data or power data to anticipated voltage or power signatures of particular types of appliances.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein comparing performance data for the appliance to expected performance data for the appliance comprises comparing performance data for the appliance to historical information regarding operation of the appliance.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein comparing performance data for the appliance to expected performance data for the appliance comprises comparing performance data for the appliance to anticipated or common voltage or power signatures of fault conditions in appliances.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein comparing performance data for the appliance to expected performance data for the appliance comprises accounting for ancillary information including internal temperature, external temperature, and presence of individuals inside of a monitored property.
11. A system configured to monitor electrical devices, the system comprising:
a monitoring unit configured to monitor voltage between lines of an outlet of an electrical system; and
at least one processor configured to:
calibrate the monitoring unit with the outlet of the electrical system;
after calibrating the monitoring unit with the outlet of the electrical system, measure voltage between lines at the outlet engaged by the monitoring unit;
based on measuring the voltage between lines at the outlet, detect a voltage change between the lines of the outlet;
based on detecting the voltage change between the lines of the outlet, record voltage information measured by the monitoring unit, the recorded voltage information describing at least one of voltage measurement or voltage change;
based on the recorded voltage information, identify a voltage or power signature of an appliance operating by receiving power from the electrical system and causing observed changes in voltage;
based on identification of the voltage or power signature of the appliance, compare performance data for the appliance to expected performance data for the appliance;
based on the comparison of the performance data for the appliance to the expected performance data for the appliance, determine whether the performance data for the appliance is within an expected range;
based on a determination that the performance data for the appliance falls outside of the expected range, identify a fault condition for the appliance; and
based on identification of the fault condition for the appliance, issue, via a computing device, an alert.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to calibrate the monitoring unit with the outlet of the electrical system by applying a calibration load having known electrical properties to the electrical system and measuring resulting changes in voltage between the lines of the outlet.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to calibrate the monitoring unit and measure voltage for each of multiple phases of alternating current of the electrical system.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to calibrate the monitoring unit with the outlet of the electrical system by receiving information describing topology of the electrical system and calibrating the monitoring unit based on the received information describing topology of the electrical system.
15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to measure voltage between lines at the outlet engaged by the monitoring unit by measuring voltage between a hot and neutral line and between a neutral and ground line the outlet.
16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to identify the voltage or power signature of the appliance by determining the voltage or power signature of the appliance based on calculations performed on collected voltage or power data.
17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to identify the voltage or power signature of the appliance by comparing collected voltage data or power data to anticipated voltage or power signatures of particular types of appliances.
18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to compare performance data for the appliance to expected performance data for the appliance by comparing performance data for the appliance to historical information regarding operation of the appliance.
19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to compare performance data for the appliance to expected performance data for the appliance by comparing performance data for the appliance to anticipated or common voltage or power signatures of fault conditions in appliances.
20. The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to compare performance data for the appliance to expected performance data for the appliance by accounting for ancillary information including internal temperature, external temperature, and presence of individuals inside of a monitored property.