Controllable electrical outlet and a method of operation thereof
Controllable electrical outlets and systems and methods for controlling and disabling the electrical outlets. A controllable electrical outlet includes a current sensor, an electrical switch, and a microcontroller. When an electrical load is plugged into the electrical outlet, the current sensor senses the flow of current and a current sense event is reported from the electrical outlet to a central computer. The central computer provides timing and control of the electrical outlet. When a predetermined elapsed time has passed, as measured by the central computer, a timed-out event is communicated from the central computer to the electrical outlet triggering the electrical switch, opening the current path within the electrical outlet such that electrical current no longer flows to the electrical load. Communication between the central computer and an electrical outlet may occur, for example, via existing electrical wiring, wirelessly, or via dedicated communication wiring.
1. A method of electrically disconnecting an electrical outlet from an external electrical load, said method comprising:
sensing an electrical load plugged into an electrical outlet;
reporting said sensing of said electrical load from said electrical outlet to a central computer, said central computer being external to said electrical outlet, as a current sense event message;
starting a timing routine within said central computer in response to said current sense event message to count over a predetermined time interval;
sending a timed-out event message from said central computer to said electrical outlet after said predetermined time interval has elapsed; and
opening a conductive path within said electrical outlet in response to said timed-out event message, thereby stopping a flow of electrical current from said electrical outlet to said electrical load.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising converting AC electrical power to DC electrical power within said electrical outlet.
3. The method of claim 2 further comprising providing said DC electrical power to circuitry within said electrical outlet.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing DC electrical power to circuitry within said electrical outlet.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising closing said conductive path within said electrical outlet by manually activating a reset control on an external portion of said electrical outlet.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending a reset event message from said central computer to said electrical outlet to automatically close said conductive path within said electrical outlet.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein said reporting of said current sense event and said sending of said timed-out event are accomplished via wireless communication techniques.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein said reporting of said current sense event and said sending of said timed-out event are accomplished via electrical wires connected to said electrical outlet.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein said reporting of said current sense event and said sending of said timed-out event are accomplished via dedicated communication wires connected between said central computer and said electrical outlet.
10. An electrical outlet comprising: means for sensing an electrical load plugged into said electrical outlet; means for reporting said sensing of said electrical load to a central computer being external to said electrical outlet; means for starting a timing routine within said central computer in response to said reported sensing; means for receiving a timed-out message from said central computer; and means for opening a conductive path within said electrical outlet in response to said timed-out message, thereby stopping a flow of electrical current from said electrical outlet to said electrical load.
11. The electrical outlet of claim 10 further comprising means for converting AC electrical power to DC electrical power within said electrical outlet.
12. The electrical outlet of claim 10 further comprising means for providing said DC electrical power to at least one of said means for sensing, said means for reporting, said means for receiving, and said means for opening.
13. The electrical outlet of claim 10 further comprising means for providing DC electrical power within said electrical outlet to at least one of said means for sensing, said means for reporting, said means for receiving, and said means for opening.
14. The electrical outlet of claim 10 further comprising means for closing said conductive path within said electrical outlet via external manual activation.
15. The electrical outlet of claim 10 further comprising means for closing said conductive path within said electrical outlet in response to a reset message from said central computer.
16. The electrical outlet of claim 10 further comprising means for indicating to a user when said conductive path is open within said electrical outlet.