Combination GFCI/AFCI receptacle with class 2 power units
A combination AC receptacle and low voltage class 2 power units are provided in a standard single strap flush wall-mount outlet so that portable battery operated electronic devices may be charged without having to use a special AC charger. Ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) and/or arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) capabilities are also provided so that this combination AC receptacle and low voltage class 2 power units, e.g., USB receptacles, may used in occupancy locations requiring such protections under current electrical building codes. A standard wall cover plate is used to finish off installation of this flush wall-mount outlet into a wall outlet box. Also a data interface may be provided to allow a PDA or PC to control smart wiring systems through the USB receptacle.
1. A wiring device having line voltage alternating current (AC) and low voltage class 2 power receptacles, comprises:
an electrically insulated housing;
a mounting strap attached to the electrically insulated housing and adapted to secure the housing to a branch circuit outlet box;
an AC receptacle having a hot contact coupled to a hot AC connection terminal, a neutral contact coupled to a neutral AC connection terminal, and a ground contact coupled to a ground AC connection terminal in the insulated housing;
a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) coupled between the AC receptacle and the AC connection terminals so that if a ground fault event occurs the GFCI will disconnect the AC receptacle from a source AC voltage connected to the AC connection terminals;
an AC line to low voltage direct current (DC) power supply having an AC input coupled to the AC receptacle and a low voltage DC output;
at least one class 2 power receptacle coupled to and receiving power from the low voltage DC output of the AC to low voltage DC power supply, wherein the at least one class 2 power receptacle provides voltage and current for charging a battery in a portable battery operated electronic device; and
a sleep mode circuit for placing the AC line to low voltage DC power supply, that supplies power to the at least one class 2 power receptacle and is coupled to the at least one class 2 power receptacle, into a low power sleep mode when substantially no current is being drawn through the at least one class 2 power receptacle to substantially reduce vampire power drawn by a load coupled to the at least one class 2 power receptacle.
2. The wiring device according to claim 1 , further comprising an arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) coupled between the AC receptacle and the AC connection terminals so that if an arc-fault event occurs the AFCI will disconnect the AC receptacle from the source AC voltage.
3. The wiring device according to claim 1 , wherein the AC line to low voltage DC power supply is a switch mode power supply (SMPS).
4. The wiring device according to claim 3 , wherein the SMPS is controlled with a pulse width modulated signal from a digital processor.
5. The wiring device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one class 2 power receptacle is at least one Universal Serial Bus (USB) receptacle.
6. The wiring device according to claim 1 , further comprising a carrier current interface coupled between data contacts of the at least one class 2 power receptacle and the AC connection terminals.
7. The wiring device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one class 2 power receptacle is located above the AC receptacle.
8. The wiring device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one class 2 power receptacle is located below the AC receptacle.
9. The wiring device according to claim 1 , wherein a standard wall cover plate is used to finish installation of the wiring device in a wall outlet box.
10. The wiring device according to claim 1 , further comprising an indicator light that indicates:
data communication, when the at least one class 2 power receptacle is being used for data communication, and
a class 2 power supply based charging, when the at least one class 2 power receptacle is being used for charging a device coupled to the at least one class 2 power receptacle.
11. A wiring device having line voltage alternating current (AC) and low voltage class 2 power receptacles, comprises:
an electrically insulated housing;
a mounting strap attached to the electrically insulated housing and adapted to secure the housing to a branch circuit outlet box;
an AC receptacle having a hot contact coupled to a hot AC connection terminal, a neutral contact coupled to a neutral AC connection terminal, and a ground contact coupled to a ground AC connection terminal in the insulated housing;
an arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) coupled between the AC receptacle and the AC connection terminals so that if an arc-fault event occurs the AFCI will disconnect the AC receptacle from a source AC voltage connected to the AC connection terminals;
an AC line to low voltage direct current (DC) power supply having an AC input coupled to the AC receptacle and a low voltage DC output;
at least one class 2 power receptacle coupled to and receiving power from the low voltage DC output of the AC to low voltage DC power supply, wherein the at least one class 2 power receptacle provides voltage and current for charging a battery in a portable battery operated electronic device; and
a sleep mode circuit for placing the AC line to low voltage DC power supply, that supplies power to the at least one class 2 power receptacle and is coupled to the at least one class 2 power receptacle, into a low power sleep mode when substantially no current is being drawn through the at least one class 2 power receptacle to substantially reduce vampire power consumption.
12. The wiring device according to claim 11 , further comprising a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) coupled between the AC receptacle and the AC connection terminals so that if a ground-fault event occurs the GFCI will disconnect the AC receptacle from the source AC voltage.
13. The wiring device according to claim 11 , wherein the AC line to low voltage DC power supply is a switch mode power supply (SMPS).
14. The wiring device according to claim 13 , wherein the SMPS is controlled with a pulse width modulated signal from a digital processor.
15. The wiring device according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one class 2 power receptacle is at least one Universal Serial Bus (USB) receptacle.
16. The wiring device according to claim 11 , further comprising a carrier current interface coupled between data contacts of the at least one class 2 power receptacle and the AC connection terminals.
17. The wiring device according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one class 2 power receptacle is located above the AC receptacle.
18. The wiring device according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one class 2 power receptacle is located below the AC receptacle.
19. The wiring device according to claim 11 , wherein a standard wall cover plate is used to finish installation of the wiring device in a wall outlet box.
20. The wiring device according to claim 11 , further comprising an indicator light that indicates:
data communication, when the at least one class 2 power receptacle is being used for data communication, and
a class 2 power supply based charging, when the at least one class 2 power receptacle is being used for charging a device coupled to the at least one class 2 power receptacle.
21. A wiring device having line voltage alternating current (AC) and low voltage class 2 power receptacles, comprises:
an electrically insulated housing;
a mounting strap attached to the electrically insulated housing and adapted to secure the housing to a branch circuit outlet box;
an AC receptacle having a hot contact coupled to a hot AC connection terminal, a neutral contact coupled to a neutral AC connection terminal, and a ground contact coupled to a ground AC connection terminal in the insulated housing;
an AC line to low voltage direct current (DC) power supply having an AC input coupled to the AC receptacle and a low voltage DC output;
at least one class 2 power receptacle coupled to and receiving power from the low voltage DC output of the AC to low voltage DC power supply, wherein the at least one class 2 power receptacle provides voltage and current for charging a battery in a portable battery operated electronic device;
a data over power wiring interface coupled between data contacts of the at least one class 2 power receptacle and the AC connection terminals; and
a sleep mode circuit for placing the AC line to low voltage DC power supply, that supplies power to the at least one class 2 power receptacle and is coupled to the at least one class 2 power receptacle, into a low power sleep mode when substantially no current is being drawn through the at least one class 2 power receptacle to substantially reduce a vampire power consumption associated with a load coupled to the at least one class 2 power receptacle.
22. The wiring device according to claim 21 , wherein the AC line to low voltage DC power supply is a switch mode power supply (SMPS).
23. The wiring device according to claim 22 , wherein the SMPS is controlled with a pulse width modulated signal from a digital processor.
24. The wiring device according to claim 21 , wherein the at least one class 2 power receptacle is at least one Universal Serial Bus (USB) receptacle.
25. The wiring device according to claim 21 , wherein the at least one class 2 power receptacle is located above the AC receptacle.
26. The wiring device according to claim 21 , wherein the at least one class 2 power receptacle is located below the AC receptacle.
27. The wiring device according to claim 21 , wherein a standard wall cover plate is used to finish installation of the wiring device in a wall outlet box.
28. The wiring device according to claim 21 , further comprising an indicator light that indicates:
data communication, when the at least one class 2 power receptacle is being used for data communication, and
a class 2 power supply based charging, when the at least one class 2 power receptacle is being used for charging a device coupled to the at least one class 2 power receptacle.