FR3053849A1 - CONNECTED DERIVATION HOUSING - Google Patents

Abstract

Electrical connection housing (1) comprising a housing body in which first connecting means are mounted to a first power supply circuit, the housing body also comprises a control unit connected to the first connection means of the first circuit power supply and comprising switching means for selectively switching to an open or closed state respectively corresponding to an opening and closing of the first power supply circuit, the control unit being also connected to remote control means for control the state of the switching means.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of domestic electricity, and more particularly to the management of the energization of the power supply and lighting networks of buildings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A domestic electrical network conventionally comprises a central supply panel supplying electrical energy with several electrical supply circuits. Power circuits generally supply light fixtures or electrical outlets. Certain electrical outlets, known as controlled sockets, and almost all of the lighting circuits, are connected by control circuits to a switch generally placed on the phase and the actuation of which selectively closes or opens the supply circuit. The connection of the control circuit to the phase of the electrical supply circuit is generally made using “domino” type connectors within an electrical junction box. This electrical box also makes it possible to connect several sockets or luminaires to a single electrical supply circuit.

Such boxes have many drawbacks for building users. In fact, since all of the electrical conductors of the supply and control circuits are always on, they permanently generate electromagnetic fields which can have a negative impact on the health of building users and / or the operation of their electronic equipment. Switching on unused electrical outlets poses a risk to building users, especially young children. The control circuit switches are also connected to the supply voltage and are a direct source of electrification in the event of an accident or failure. Finally, equipment that is only used occasionally by users is constantly supplied with electrical energy, which impacts building consumption

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to improve the safety of an electrical installation in a building and the safety of its users.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To this end, an electrical connection box is provided which is intended to be connected to a domestic electrical installation, the box comprising a box body in which are mounted first means of connection to a first electrical supply circuit. According to the invention, the housing body also comprises a control unit connected to the first connection means of the first electrical supply circuit and comprising switching means for selectively entering an open or closed state corresponding respectively to an opening and a closing of the first electrical supply circuit. The control unit of the invention is also connected to remote control means for controlling the state of the switching means.

Thus, the control unit can manage scenarios to energize the first supply circuit only when the equipment connected to it is operated. When the equipment is not in use, the control unit switches off the supply circuit, which reduces the number of live conductors in the building and the emission of electromagnetic waves. Selective supply of equipment also allows energy savings. For example, the circuits in a home connected to the television, washing machine, dryer and light fixtures could usefully be deactivated at night when these are not in use, thereby reducing electrical consumption. In an office building, the control unit will be able to deactivate the circuits supplying copiers, computers, air conditioning and lights outside working hours in order to reduce electricity consumption, the risk of fire and the heating of the building. Finally, the control unit can activate certain circuits intermittently to perform a presence simulation and dissuade possible burglars from entering the building.

Advantageously, the housing body also comprises second connection means to a first electrical control circuit, these second connection means being connected to the control unit. The housing can thus also make it possible to control the first circuit, for example a controlled outlet, by direct action on the control circuit. The control circuit could usefully be a circuit not connected to the supply circuit, and traversed by lower voltage and current currents.

Advantageously, the housing body also comprises third means of connection to a second electrical supply circuit and fourth means of connection to a second electrical control circuit, the third and fourth connection means being connected to the control unit .

Advantageously also, the switching means comprise at least one 16 amp relay.

Preferably, the remote control means comprise a wireless communication module or an RJ4 connector 5.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing comprises a digital display, a temperature sensor and / or means for measuring the power consumed on the first and / or the second electrical supply circuit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference will be made to the appended figures, among which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective representation of a junction box according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the housing of Figure 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a control unit of the box of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the electrical connection box of the invention, generally designated 1, comprises a box body 2 and a cover 3.

Each side of the housing 1 comprises four cutouts 2.1 provided with cable glands 2.2 which can accommodate electrical conduits of ICTA type with a diameter which can vary from sixteen to twenty millimeters.

The housing body 2 comprises:

- First connection means, in the form of two screw terminals 10 and it, to a first electrical supply circuit 12, here a wall outlet circuit 13 supplied by a first circuit breaker 14

- second connection means, in the form of two screw terminals 15 and 16 to a first electrical control circuit 17 comprising a switch 18

- Third connection means, in the form of two screw terminals 20 and 21, to a second electrical supply circuit 22, here a luminaire circuit 23 supplied by a second circuit breaker 24

- fourth connection means, in the form of two screw terminals 25 and 26 to a second electrical control circuit 27 comprising a switch 28,

- a wireless communication module, here a WiFi module 30;

- means of connection to a wired network, here an RJ45 connector 31;

a temperature sensor 32 of the resistive type;

- a digital display 35, here in 132 x 64 format.

- First means for measuring the power consumed on the first electrical supply circuit 12, here in the form of a Wattmeter 33;

second means for measuring the power consumed on the second electrical supply circuit 22, here in the form of a Wattmeter 34.

The first means of connection 10 and 11 to the first circuit 12 of wall sockets 13 include three screw-in input terminals 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3 respectively connected to phase 12.1, to neutral 12.2 and to earth

12.3 of circuit 12 as well as three screw-down output terminals 11.1, 11.2 and 11.3 respectively connected to phase 13.1, neutral 13.2 and earth 13.3 of the wall outlet circuit 13.

The third connection means 20 and 21 to the second electrical supply circuit 22 of luminaires 23 comprise three screw-in input terminals 20.1, 20.2 and

20.3 respectively connected to phase 22.1, neutral 22.2 and earth 22.3 of circuit 22 as well as three screw output terminals 21.1, 21.2 and 21.3 respectively connected to phase 23.1, neutral 23.2 and earth 23.3 of the circuit light fixtures 23.

All of this equipment is connected to a control unit 40 using tracks 41 printed on a PCB 42 on which the equipment is mounted.

With reference to FIG. 3, the control unit 40 includes an FPGA 42 connected to a 230V - 5V transformation module 43 itself connected to a pin connector 44 for power supply. The control unit 40 also comprises a first relay 45 sixteen amperes whose output is connected to terminals 10 and 11 as well as a second relay 46 sixteen amperes whose output is connected to terminals 20 and 21.

Under the control of FPGA 42, the first and second relays 45 and 46 respectively make it possible to selectively control the opening and closing respectively of the first supply circuit 12 of wall sockets 13 and of the second supply circuit 22 of luminaires 23.

During assembly, the box 1 is connected to a domestic electrical installation, and therefore receives electrical sheaths coming from the circuit breakers 14 and 24, sockets 13 (via the first supply circuit 12), light fixtures 23 (via the second supply circuit 18 and 28 respectively via the first and second control circuits 17 and 27.

In operation, when the housing 1 is powered up, the control unit 42 controls the closing of the relays 45 and 46. The circuits 12 and 22 are closed and the wall sockets 13 and the lights 23 are supplied.

The control unit 42 is arranged to selectively control the opening and closing of the first relay 45 according to the state of the switch 18. But the control unit 42 controls the state of the first relay 45 also according to instructions received by remote control means 50 communicating with the box 1 via the Wi-Fi module 30 and / or an Ethernet network to which the box 1 is connected by the connector 31. The control unit 42 can therefore be freely programmed to carry out scenarios of powering up or not the first supply circuit 12, depending or not on the state of the first switch 18. Scenarios of presence simulation, disconnection of equipment over given time periods or the like can be then considered.

The control unit 42 also controls the opening and closing of the second relay 46 in the same way. The control unit 42 is arranged to memorize the last state of the relays 45 and 46 and to reproduce it during a reset. energized after switching off. The presence of wireless communication means is however optional since the programming of the box 1 can be carried out in the factory.

The temperature sensor 32 makes it possible to measure the temperature inside the housing 1 to prevent various problems of raising the temperature inside or outside the housing 1 such as for example:

-a malfunction of the housing 1;

-a high attic temperature due to too much sunshine;

- a fire start.

The presence of a temperature sensor is however optional.

The digital display 35 is a tool for indicating the operation of box 1. It allows the display of useful information for the installer (IP address, operating mode, help setting the operating mode, operating status, help fault diagnosis, temperature display, status of outlet and fixture outputs). The presence of such a display is however optional.

Wattmeters 33 and 34 measure the respective electrical consumptions of the first and second supply circuits 12 and 22. They make it possible to detect abnormal peaks in consumption and the control unit 42 can then command the sending of a message of alert via the Wi-Fi 30 module or the Ethernet network The data collected can be transmitted to a server via the Wi-Fi 30 module and / or the Ethernet network and processed in order to extract information on the power consumption and then propose ways to reduce it. The presence of Wattmeters is however optional.

The box 1 can be controlled using equipment connected to the remote control means 50 (for example via the Internet). It is thus possible, using a smartphone, to control the lighting of the luminaires or the switching on or off of a set of sockets.

The switches 18 and 28 are standard switches which makes it possible to install the box 1 in an existing electrical installation while limiting the modifications to be made. The switches 18 and 28 no longer switch from the 230V mains, but a low voltage logic signal. This provides more safety at the switches and eliminates sparks during switching, thereby reducing the risk of fire.

The box 1 is easily integrated into an existing installation as in a new construction.

During its installation, the box 1 is placed in a standard operating mode, corresponding to a supply voltage supply respectively and second circuit controlled exclusively by switch 18 and the first and 22 by the first second switch 28. This mode allows for example to check that everything is well wired. Switching to piloted mode is done by removing several physical switches (for example jumpers placed on PCB 42). It is always possible to return to standard mode by resetting the jumpers.

According to a second embodiment not shown, the second control circuit 27 comprises two switches 28 and 29 wired back and forth.

The control module 42 then creates a three-way back-and-forth mode with the switches 28 and 29 and the remote control means 50. the operation of this three-way back-and-forth mode is described in the table input / output below.

state state state means State of light switch light switch from steering to relay 46 28 29 distance 50 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1

ίο

Obviously, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described but encompasses any variant coming within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

In particular,

- although here the first electrical supply circuit is connected to the housing using two screw terminals 10 and 11, the invention also applies to other types of first connection means such as for example blade terminals or solder pads;

- although here the housing is connected to a first electrical switch control circuit, the invention housing not comprising also comprising control, one or more wire applies circuit several control circuits, or circuits non-wired controls such as for example radio, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, infrared or ultrasonic control circuits;

- although here the box 1 comprises a Wi-Fi module and / or an RJ45 connector, the invention also applies to other remote control means such as for example a communication module by carrier currents, by radio , Bluetooth or infrared;

- Although here the control unit includes an FPGA connected to a power transformer, the invention also applies to other types of control units such as for example a microcontroller or wired logic gates. The control unit can also be powered using other power means such as for example a battery or a battery;

- although here the box includes 16 Amp relays, the invention also applies to other switching means such as controlled switches, or ίο 8 or 32 Amp relays;

- although here the housing comprises four cable glands per sidewall, the invention also applies to a housing comprising a different number of cable glands such as for example a single cable gland or more than two. The cable glands can take the form of elastomeric lids, elastomeric seals or declination allowing a possibly sealed connection to the housing;

- although here the measurement of consumed power is carried out using Wattmeters, the invention also applies to other means of measuring the consumed power, such as for example a current measurement by Hall effect sensor ;

any other mechanical

Claims (10)

1. Box (1) for electrical connection intended to be connected to a domestic electrical installation, the box (1) comprising a box body in which are mounted first means of connection to a first electrical supply circuit; characterized in that the housing body also comprises a control unit connected to the first connection means of the first electrical supply circuit and comprising switching means for selectively entering an open or closed state corresponding respectively to an opening and a closing of the first electrical supply circuit, the control unit also being connected to remote control means for controlling the state of the switching means. 2. An electrical connection box according to claim 1, in which the box body also comprises second connection means to a first electrical control circuit, these second connection means being connected to the control unit. 3. Electrical connection box according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the box body also comprises third means of connection to a second electrical supply circuit and fourth means of connection to a second electrical control circuit, the third and fourth connection means being connected to the control unit. 4. Connection box according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the switching means comprises at least one 16 amp relay. 5. Housing according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the remote control means comprise a wireless communication module. 6. Housing according to any one of the preceding claims, the housing comprising a cover comprising a digital display. 7. Housing according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the remote control means comprise an RJ45 connector. 8. Housing according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a temperature sensor. 9. Housing according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising means for measuring the power consumed on the first electrical supply circuit. 10. Housing according to claim 3 and any one of claims 4 to 9, comprising means for measuring the power consumed on the second electrical supply circuit.