GB2489269A - Power saving socket - Google Patents

Abstract

A system to control the power consumed by portable electrical appliances is triggered by a device such as a switch, a wireless key fob or an alarm system that is set upon vacation from a building or an area thereof. The isolation provided by a plug socket can be modified using a toggle switch of the socket to over-ride isolation and provide a continuous supply to appliances such as fridges, freezers, severs and medical equipment. The type of control applied to each appliance can be indicated using coloured indicators. The system saves power by switching off appliances such as televisions while a building or an area thereof is unoccupied.

Description

The Power Saving Plug Socket (PSPS) The following document describes a device that is intended to significantly reduce the energy consumed within buildings in both the residential and commercial sector.

Background

Wdhin the modem home, office and commercial environment it is sometimes difficult to keep track of all the electronic equipment that is switched on or off. It is often the case that appliances are left on often by pure accident or retained on standby if used frequently.

This is particularly the case in commercial buildings as many employees do not properly shutdown their computers; instead opting to tum just the monitors off. In addition printers and charging devices are also left on to wait the next time they are required.

In an attempt to conserve energy it is usual for people to switch their equipment onto standby mode in an effort to save at least some of the energy compared to simply leaving it on. It has however been well documented in the media that some electronic equipment uses as much energy when on standby as when switched on.

The above is especially prevalent for televisions and stereo equipment. It is the case that heating, lighting and entertainment in households alone are responsible for 27% of the energy used in Britain.

Below is a summary of energy wastage due to electronic equipment within the modem home.

SThTi1thiJ]Y Stereo Equipment -290 Video Recorders 175 Televisftrns 88 Games Consoles 70 Mobile Phone Chargrs 47 Computer Monitors 41 DVD Plyers 19 Set Top Boxes 11 Source: Sunday Times (Standby buttons face axe to curb energy waste) July 9, 2006 To isolate one of the above items; mobile phones, the chargers for these devices waste an estimated £47 Million annually in electricity, this is the equivalent to powering 66000 homes a year. Recent surveys have concluded that with the advent of new electronic gaming consoles and entertainment devices the figures quoted above are expected to rise year on year.

Following a recent report from Scottish Power, measures to ensure manufactures remove standby buttons from their appliances has been ruled out by the government which has meant altemative means of saving energy are required.

From the above information it is clear that to even reduce one of the items described in the above list would result in considerable cost and environmental benefit.

Introduction

It is considered that a system is required that ensures all appliances, where appropriate, are temporarily switched off when nobody is in the property to use them. It should be a system that does not require particular consideration to set or maintain once it has been set up for both ease and practicality. The operation however should be fully adjustable with ease to suit to the arrangement of any existing electrical items and new items should they be connected.

The Solution To ensure that the above criteria can be met, attention was focused on the one standard item that all portable appliances are connected to, the standard 240v plug socket.

The system relating to this patent application is an enhanced 240v plug socket that allows the power to be temporarily shut off during periods when it is not required, thus saving energy within, but not limited to, buildings.

This application is proposing that such a system can be installed to new and existing buildings.

The Operation and Installation It is the purpose of the following to demonstrate the installation and connectivity of the system.

Although the main purpose of the power saving plug socket is to reduce as much energy consumption as possible, it is understood that there are certain appliances that are required to be in permanent operation i.e. fridges, freezers, office servers and medical equipment etc. It is considered therefore that a means of choosing to allow power to remain is factored into the design.

The system is set via a trigger emitted from a device such as a household alarm system, push button/switch or wireless key fob and shuts down power to devices that no longer require it, leaving only essential items being maintained with power. It is also the intention that the device is to be able to be set remotely the internet and with connection to a telephone point or wifi point.

Colour is used to determine whether the power to that a particular plug will be retained when the system is triggered or is temporarily removed. This is done by the use of a toggle' switch that by simply pressing the button toggles between the two colours and therefore the two power arrangements.

Example One -Please refer to figure 1 The plug socket in figure 1 indicates the two colours available with each plug. In this instance there could be a fridge plugged into the Plug I (shown red) and a television plugged into Plug 2 (shown blue). If the system was now to be triggered the plug socket servicing the fridge would have its power maintained but the socket connecting the television would be deactivated.

Example Two -Please refer to Figures 2 and 3 It may be the case that there is the need to retain all power to a socket, for instance if the plugs are connected to a separate fridge and freezer, in which case the buttons above the switch would be pressed accordingly to change the type of colour allocated to that plug.

Figure 2 indicates the power being maintained once the system is triggered. Figure 3 however indicates the power temporarily shutdown, again once the system has been activated.

In essence, the colour can be changed to suit the needs of that particular room. The examples above depict a double plug socket, however the same system can and is to be designed to be used in single sockets and could even be used in extension leads.

It is to be made clear that it is to be the intention and therefore a particular of this patent application that any changes to the classification to each plug can be made at any time, safety features built into the circuitry will accommodate any power surging as per British Standards.

The Operation The diagram below shows the system being incorporated with a domestic property. In this instance the control panel has been connected to a household alarm system to provide the trigger, upon setting the alarm a trigger is sent to the control panel and the shutdown begins.

The Operation -please refer to Figure 4.

1. At this point the alarm has been activated and the PIR (Passive Infrared) sensors are monitoring the building for movement.

2. Upon the alarm setting a trigger is expelled from the alarm system to the control panel to begin the shutdown of the appropriate plugs within the building.

3. The downstairs plugs are deactivated as appropriate.

4. The upstairs plugs are deactivated as appropriate.

In the above instance, upon deactivation of the alarm the power to all of the plugs within the house is returned. The building is now operating on a reduced energy consumption rate.

Different consumption rates are achievable depending on size of building and building use.

Diagram one is simply an example of intended operation; additional floors and buildings would may require an amended circuit layout. The shutdown cycle of floors is also shown indicative.

lnstallation The intended installation is summarised in the following.

* The system is designed primarily for installation within new build or existing domestic properties but has the ability to be easily adapted for use within commercial buildings.

* The system is designed to accommodate conventional household circuitry arrangements and has the ability to be connected to multiple ring mains leading from a standard RCD (Residual current Device or fuse box).

* The system relies on one additional connection from the control unit per plug socket to ensure the trigger signal is relayed to each plug socket.

* The dimensions of the plug socket will be the same a current plug sockets to conform to the latest relevant British Standards.

Claims (5)

1. SCLAIMS1. A system that controls electrical portable appliances within a building via a control device triggered upon vacation from a building or area of the building. The isolation is predefined by the user or dedicated installer prior to connection of the system, but is fully modifiable using the toggle switch located on each plug for an adaptable and fail-safe operation.
2. 2. A system that controls electrical portable appliances as claim 1; in which adjustable visual demarcation relates directly to the type of control measure required.
3. 3. A system that controls electrical portable appliances as claim 1; that can be installed as an integral element of the building's design and construction or fitted retrospectively.
4. 4. A system that controls electrical portable appliances as claim 1; but can be adapted to any building containing electrical appliances.
5. 5. A system that controls electrical portable appliances as claim 1; but can accommodate changes to the system via the plug toggle switches.