GB2456125A

GB2456125A - Electricity supply monitoring apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2456125A
Application number: GB0720934A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Anthony Callaghan
Original assignee: SENICAL Ltd
Current assignee: SENICAL Ltd
Priority date: 2007-10-23
Filing date: 2007-10-23
Publication date: 2009-07-08
Also published as: GB0720934D0

Abstract

Apparatus (1) for monitoring an electricity supply, comprising: measurement equipment (13) for measuring electricity use and a connector arrangement (14). The apparatus configured to be capable of providing a fuse capability for the supply and the connector arrangement being suitable for connection to an electricity supply. The apparatus may be located within a fuse box; and the connector arrangement may be configured to be connected to the contacts for a fuse within the fuse box.

Description

MONITORING APPARATUS

Field of invention

The present invention relates to apparatus and method for monitoring an electricity supply.

Summary of the invention

According to the first aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for monitoring an electricity supply comprising measurement equipment for measuring electricity use and a connector arrangement. The apparatus is configured to be capable of providing a fuse capability for the supply and the connector arrangement being suitable for connection to an electricity supply.

Brief description of the drawings

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic front perspective view of an electricity monitoring apparatus, Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1 Figure 3 is a block diagram of various components of the apparatus of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the apparatus of Figure 1 in use, and Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a network including the apparatus of Figure 1.

Description of exemplary embodiments

With reference initially to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown an electricity monitoring apparatus 1 which is designed to be connected to the electricity supply to a property or premises. In use, the apparatus 1 is configured to monitor the electricity consumed and to permit remote control of the electricity supply to the property.

The apparatus comprises a housing 2 that comprises a visual display unit 3, a sound emitter 4, a button 5 and a status LED 6. The apparatus further comprises a plurality of electrical connectors 7 which are adapted to be connected to the electricity supply.

Referring now to Figure 3 the apparatus 1 further comprises a data processor 10, a memory 11, a current measuring unit 13, and an electrical interface 14 for electrical connection to a fuse device 15, a relay device 16 and an emergency power supply 17. In addition the apparatus comprises various communication means including modem units 20 and 21 for communication to and from both wireless and wired telecommunication networks, and a Bluetooth TM device 22 for sending wireless signals to other Bluetooth TM enabled devices. The apparatus also comprises an interface 25 for communication with other monitoring devices, such as devices for monitoring the consumption of a gas supply.

Reference is now made to Figure 4 which shows how the apparatus is installed. A fuse 35 is first removed from its connections 37 in a fuse box 31. The fuse 35 is then located in electrical contact with the interface 14 of the monitoring apparatus 1. Then, the connections 7 are brought into electrical contact with the connections 37 of the fuse box 31.

It is noted that advantageously that the (existing) fuse 35 can be reused.

The apparatus 1 is mounted at or adjacent to the fuse box 35. The neutral connector 39 continues to be used and requires no adjustment or modification as a result of installing the monitoring apparatus 1.

Furthermore there is no need to remove or replace the existing electricity meter 30.

The monitoring apparatus 1 has essentially two principal modes of operation, namely a credit mode and a pre-pay mode. In the credit mode of operation the apparatus stores information in the memory 11 relating to electricity usage. The apparatus can store several sets of readings for different time periods in a twenty-four hour period. This allows for accounting models, such as Economy 7 Th or other peak time' price differences. Once the data is stored it can then be transmitted via a telecommunications network to the services provider 50, Figure 5 refers.

The data can also be transmitted to a local (ie within the property or premises) data processor and memory, such as a personal computer of the property owner. This data could conveniently be transmitted by way of short-range radio link, for example in accordance with the Bluetooth system. The owner of the property could then conveniently view electricity usage over a particular time period in different formats, such as tables, graphs etc. The apparatus 1 can be configured to determine when usage approaches or exceeds a pre-determined limit and once determined the apparatus can issue an alarm signal to a local device such as a personal computer. Alternatively or in addition, the apparatus 1 can issue an audible alarm.

The electricity consumption data can be uploaded to the service provider on a periodic basis. On receipt of the data for a billing period the service provider can then issue an invoice based on the information provided. In the situation that customer fails to pay the invoice in a timely fashion the service provider can discontinue the electricity supply remotely. This is achieved by the service provider sending a control signal to the apparatus 1 to engage the relay 16. Once engaged, the relay is operative to disconnect the electricity supply through the apparatus 1.

By way of telecommunication between the service provider and the Customer the service provider can transmit information to the apparatus 1 concerning changes in charging rates or any other information. Such information could conveniently be transmitted to the personal computer of the customer.

In the second mode of operation, the pre-pay mode, the customer is required to purchase credit in advance. In view of the connectivity of the apparatus 1 this could be achieved in a variety of ways. For example, the customer could use a suitable communication device, eg personal computer, a personal communication device (for example a mobile telephone, a Personal Digital Assistant), a suitably enabled autoteller machine, or visit an accredited agent (for example a bank or a post office), to effect a payment for credit. Details of the payment would then be sent to the service provider 50. The service provider would then remotely instruct the apparatus 1 to increase the credit available. This information would then be stored in the memory 11.

The apparatus 1 would monitor the electricity consumed. Should the available credit be depleted to a predetermined level then the apparatus 1 is operative to issue an alarm signal to alert the customer and send a message to the customer via the RF/Bluetooth unit 22. An audible signal would be issued by the apparatus as well as a signal being sent to the service provider. In turn the service provider would send a warning message to the customer (for example by way of text message or email).

Should the customer fail to replenish the credit in time, then the customer can obtain emergency credit by pressing the button 5. When the customer then makes a payment to purchase additional credit the emergency credit allowance used is deducted from the credits purchased.

Advantageously since the apparatus 1 is configurable to one of the two modes, the service provider has the option to decide which mode is appropriate for each customer.

An additional feature of the above embodiment is that it is capable of being interfaced to other types of utility monitoring apparatus, for example for a gas meter, and the usage information received therefrom can then be sent to the appropriate service provider by the apparatus 1.

In the above embodiment communication between the service provider 50 and the apparatus 1 is advantageously by way of the Short Message Service (SMS).

Claims

1. Apparatus for monitoring an electricity supply comprising measurement equipment for measuring electricity use and a connector arrangement, and the apparatus is configured to be capable of providing a fuse capability for the supply and the connector arrangement being suitable for connection to an electricity supply.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 which is configured to removably receive a fuse device.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or in claim 2 in which the connector arrangement is configured to be connected at or proximal to fuse box equipment.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which the connector arrangement is configured to be connected to the electrical contacts for a fuse device of the fuse box equipment.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claims which comprises telecommunication equipment.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 which is configured to receive control signals sent to the telecommunication equipment.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 which comprises a switch arrangement for regulating the electricity supply, and the apparatus is configured to control the switch arrangement in response to a received control signal.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim which comprises a data processor and a memory, and the apparatus being capable of processing and storing data relating to electricity consumption.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim which is selectively operable to operate in a mode in which an alert signal is issued when electricity use approaches, reaches or exceeds a pre-determined value.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim which comprises a power supply device which is operable to power the apparatus in the event of a lapse in the electricity supply.

11. A telecommunications network comprising the apparatus for monitoring an electricity supply of claim 1 and electricity service provider telecommunication apparatus which is configured to communicate with the apparatus of claim 1.

12. Apparatus substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.