Smart recreational vehicle power center
View Patent ↗A smart power center is for use in controlling DC power in mobile living quarters, such as an RV, and has switched outputs that are controlled using a mobile device, such as smartphone or tablet. The switched outputs connect DC power from a DC power source to an accessory, such as a light, fan, or motor. Some accessories, such as landing gear or slide-out rooms, require the polarity from the power source to be reversed for proper function. These are connected to reversing outputs which connect DC power from the DC power source in one orientation for one direction and a reversed orientation for the other direction. Smart override switches can be wired to the smart power center in the event the user desires to control the switched outputs without the mobile device.
1. A smart power center for mounting to a recreational vehicle and controlling external electrical devices by an application on a mobile device, said smart power center comprising:
an AC input;
a DC input for connecting to a DC power source;
a power converter electrically connected to said AC input and said DC power source, said power converter for converting AC power to DC power;
a controller electrically connected to said DC power source, said controller having a wireless portion for communicating with said mobile device, said controller in electrical communication with a first and second relay, said first and second relays for switching power from said DC power source to said external electrical devices;
said first relay being a latching relay with a single output for connecting said DC power source to one of said external electrical devices;
said second relay being a momentary reversible relay with outputs having reversible polarity for connecting to another of said external electrical devices; and
said controller has a first input and a second input, said first and second inputs for wiring to smart override switches, said first input receiving a signal from a first said smart override switch, said second input receiving a signal from a second said smart override switch, said controller controlling said first and second relays in response to said signals from said first and second smart override switches.
2. The smart power center in claim 1 , wherein said application has virtual buttons, each said virtual button controls one of said relays through wireless communication.
3. The smart power center in claim 2 , wherein said virtual buttons are customizable.
4. The smart power center in claim 1 , wherein if said mobile device loses communication to said wireless interface, said controller will maintain said first relay output.
5. The smart power center in claim 1 , wherein if said mobile device loses communication to said wireless interface, said controller will disable said second relay output.
6. A smart power center for mounting to a recreational vehicle and controlling external electrical devices by an application on a mobile device, said smart power center comprising:
an AC input;
a DC input for connecting to a DC power source;
a power converter electrically connected to said AC input and said DC power source;
a controller electrically connected to said DC power source, said controller having a wireless portion for communicating with said mobile device, said controller in electrical communication with a first and second relay, said first and second relays for switching power from said DC power source to said external electrical devices;
said first relay being a latching relay with a single output for connecting said DC power source to one of said external electrical devices;
said second relay being a momentary reversible relay with outputs having reversible polarity for connecting to another of said external electrical devices; and
wherein if said mobile device loses communication to said wireless interface, said controller will maintain said first relay output.
7. The smart power center in claim 6 , wherein said application has virtual buttons, each said virtual button controls one of said relays through wireless communication.
8. The smart power center in claim 7 , wherein said virtual buttons are customizable.
9. The smart power center in claim 6 , wherein if said mobile device loses communication to said wireless interface, said controller will disable said second relay output.
10. A smart power center for mounting to a recreational vehicle and controlling external electrical devices by an application on a mobile device, said smart power center comprising:
a DC input for connecting to a DC power source;
a controller electrically connected to said DC power source, said controller having a wireless portion for communicating with said mobile device, said controller in electrical communication with a first and second relay, said first and second relays for switching power from said DC power source to said external electrical devices;
said first relay being a latching relay with a single output for connecting said DC power source to one of said external electrical devices;
said second relay being a momentary reversible relay with outputs having reversible polarity for connecting to another of said external electrical devices; and
said controller has a first input and a second input, said first and second inputs for wiring to smart override switches, said first input receiving a signal from a first said smart override switch, said second input receiving a signal from a second said smart override switch, said controller controlling said first and second relays in response to said signals from said first and second smart override switches.
11. The smart power center in claim 10 , wherein said application has virtual buttons, each said virtual button controls one of said relays through wireless communication.
12. The smart power center in claim 11 , wherein said virtual buttons are customizable.
13. A smart power center for mounting to a recreational vehicle and controlling external electrical devices by an application on a mobile device, said smart power center comprising:
a DC input for connecting to a DC power source;
a controller electrically connected to said DC power source, said controller having a wireless portion for communicating with said mobile device, said controller in electrical communication with a first and second relay, said first and second relays for switching power from said DC power source to said external electrical devices;
said first relay being a latching relay with a single output for connecting said DC power source to one of said external electrical devices; and
said second relay being a momentary reversible relay with outputs having reversible polarity for connecting to another of said external electrical devices; and
if said mobile device loses communication to said wireless interface, said controller will maintain said first relay output.
14. The smart power center in claim 13 , wherein if said mobile device loses communication to said wireless interface, said controller will disable said second relay output.
15. A smart power center for mounting to a recreational vehicle and controlling external electrical devices by an application on a mobile device, said smart power center comprising:
a DC input for connecting to a DC power source;
a controller electrically connected to said DC power source, said controller having a wireless portion for communicating with said mobile device, said controller in electrical communication with a first and second relay, said first and second relays for switching power from said DC power source to said external electrical devices;
said first relay being a latching relay with a single output for connecting said DC power source to one of said external electrical devices;
said second relay being a momentary reversible relay with outputs having reversible polarity for connecting to another of said external electrical devices; and
if said mobile device loses communication to said wireless interface, said controller will disable said second relay output.
16. The smart power center in claim 15 , wherein if said mobile device loses communication to said wireless interface, said controller will maintain said first relay output.