ENERGY HARVEST SPLIT CORE DESIGN ELEMENTS FOR EASE OF INSTALLATION, HIGH PERFORMANCE, AND LONG TERM RELIABILITY
A power line sensing device is provided that can include a number of features. In one embodiment, a power line sensing device includes a split-core transformer comprising a first core half having a first core face and a second core half having a second core face. The first core face and/or the second core face are covered with a protective film. The power line sensing device further includes a mechanism that, when the power line sensing device is installed, removes the protective film and joins the first core face to the second core face around a power line conductor.
1 . A power line sensing device, comprising
a split-core transformer comprising a first core half having a first core face and a second core half having a second core face, at least one of the first core face or the second core face being covered with a protective film; and
a mechanism that, when the power line sensing device is installed, removes the protective film and joins the first core face to the second core face around a power line conductor.
2 . The power line sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the first core face is covered with a first protective film, and the second core face is covered with a second protective film, and the mechanism is configured to remove both the first protective film and the second protective film.
3 . The power line sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the protective film comprises a paper sheet or a plastic sheet.
4 . The power line sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the protective film is attached to the first core face or the second core face by an adhesive.
5 . The power line sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the mechanism comprises a screw that when rotated winds up the protective film and joins the first core face to the second core face.
6 . The power line sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the protective film comprises a proximal portion through which a guide passes or is attached, and the mechanism pulls the guide to remove the protective film.
7 . The power line sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the mechanism comprises an external band clamp wrapped around an external perimeter of the split-core transformer.
8 . A power line sensing device, comprising:
a split-core transformer comprising a first core half having a first core face and a second core half having a second core face;
a clamping mechanism that, when the power line sensing device is installed, joins the first core face to the second core face around a power line conductor;
a first perimeter seal around an entire perimeter of the first core face; and
a second perimeter seal around an entire perimeter of the second core face.
9 . The power line sensing device of claim 8 , wherein the first perimeter seal comprises a recess, and the second perimeter seal comprises an o-ring.
10 . The power line sensing device of claim 8 , wherein the first perimeter seal and the second perimeter seal comprise semi-permanent adhesive seals.
11 . The power line sensing device of claim 8 , wherein the first perimeter seal and the second perimeter seal comprise gel sealing pads.
12 . The power line sensing device of claim 8 , wherein the clamping mechanism comprises an external band clamp wrapped around an external perimeter of the split-core transformer.
13 . The power line sensing device of claim 8 , wherein the first core face is covered by a first protective film, and the second core face is covered by a second protective film, and the power line sensing device further comprises a mechanism to remove the first protective film and the second protective film when the power line sensing device is installed.
14 . The power line sensing device of claim 13 , wherein the clamping mechanism comprises a screw that when rotated causes the first protective film and the second protective film to be removed.
15 . The power line sensing device of claim 13 , wherein the first protective film and the second protective film comprise a respective proximal portion through which a guide passes or is attached, and the mechanism pulls the guide to remove the first protective film and the second protective film.
16 . The power line sensing device of claim 13 , wherein the first protective film and the second protective film comprises a single length of protective film.
17 . A method for installing a power line sensing device around a power line conductor, the power line sensing device comprising a split-core transformer comprising a first core half having a first core face and a second core half having a second core face, at least one of the first core face or the second core face being covered with a protective film, the method comprising:
joining the first core face to the second core face around the power line conductor via a rotational motion of a hot stick; and
removing the protective film via the rotational motion of the hot stick.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the protective film comprises a proximal portion through which a guide passes or is attached, and the rotational motion of the hot stick pulls the guide to remove the protective film.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the rotational motion of the hot stick secures an external band clamp wrapped around an external perimeter of the split-core transformer.
20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the rotational motion of the hot stick rotates a screw that winds up the protective film and clamps the first core face to the second core face.