Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method having one or more networked modular sensors Nodes and a data processing/display for use to monitor and control electrical appliance loads at a premises. The modular sensor Nodes and the processing/display system detect, process, and manage real-time and historic electrical energy usage data for the premises, allowing the management of energy usage by a user of the system through manual and automated usage controls. The sensor Nodes are integrated into the standard form-factors (i.e., the standard physical configuration) of components typical of household and commercial electrical interfaces, such as circuit breakers, wall outlets, light switches, plug ends, power strips. The Nodes are configured in the standard form-factor of typical electrical interfaces to allow them to be substituted for the existing electrical interfaces and used with appliances or other load devices already existing or to be added at the premises.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method consisting of one or more networked modular sensors Nodes and a data processing/display system for use to monitor and control electrical appliance loads at a premises. Together, the modular sensor Nodes and the processing/display system to detect, process, manage and present both real-time and historic electrical energy usage data for the premises, thus allowing the intelligent management of energy usage by a user of the system through both manual and automated usage controls. The sensor Nodes are integrated into the standardized form-factor (i.e., the standard physical configuration) of components typical of household and commercial electrical interfaces, such as circuit breakers, wall outlets, light switches, plug ends, power strips, etc.

Abstract: Disclosed is power management system based on a “smart” wire-device installable in an electric power line (i.e., the “drop-grid” or “micro-grid”) at a premises, such as a business or residence. The “smart” wire-device includes a management node integrated into the form of a typical electrical power outlet, circuit breaker or switch as would be found in such a premises, and is installable in the power line in a manner similar to existing wire-device. The “smart” wire-device requires no special skill to install beyond that of an ordinary skilled electrician. The present wire-device is “smart” in that the node has a detector circuit that senses the electrical characteristic(s) of the power line at the point at which it is installed. The node's communications circuit signals what it detects to a spatially separated remote controller device, and receives instructions from one or more spatially separated remote controller devices.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for analyzing time-base electrical load characteristics of an electrical appliance on a micro-grid, to identify the type of the appliance and to monitor its utility usage and operational condition. The apparatus has a signal conditioner; a signature engine; an ID-engine; and a database. A system manager provides control and external communications. The signal conditioner receives load character input signals, and generates a conditioned signal containing the load's electrical characteristics and sends the signal to the signature engine. The signature engine generates a signature signal based on the conditioned signal. The ID-engine takes the signature signal, analyzes it in view of signature ID criteria stored in the database to identify the type of the attached electrical appliance, and stores the identity in the database. The database can be utilized to identify the type of other appliances and to monitor their utility usage and operational condition.