Abstract: A control unit of a system stabilizing device uses a fluctuation detecting block (70A) to determine fluctuation components included in the active component and reactive component currents of a system current. The fluctuation detecting block (70A) is composed of a low-pass filter (71) for noise removal having first order lag characteristics with a time constant of T1, a low-pass filter (72) for setting a fluctuation detection time having first order lag characteristics with a time constant of T2, a subtracter (73) which performs subtraction between the output signals of the filter (71) and the filter (72) and outputs the difference, an amplifier (74) for amplifying the output of the subtracter (73), a rating limiter (75) for limiting the output of the amplifier, and an overcompensation inhibiting unit (200) which changes T4 to a smaller value when the rating limiter (75) performs a limiter action.

Abstract: A control unit of a system stabilizing device uses a fluctuation detecting block 200 for determining current commands from a system current. A fluctuation detecting unit 300 determines, from an active component Isd of the system current, a common current command Irefd0 which is a fluctuation component of the active component Isd. A first current command creating unit 400 receives as an input the current command Irefd0, and outputs a current command Irefd1 whose signal width is as small as T4 and which instantaneously rises and then gradually decreases. A second current command creating unit 500 receives as an input the current command Irefd0, and outputs a current command Irefd2 which gradually increases for a time T4 and then gradually decreases for a time (T3-T4).

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises: a storage unit configured to store a power usage of each of one or more other printing apparatuses connected to a power supply system to which the printing apparatus is connected; and a print execution controller. The print execution controller is configured to: keep track of which of the other printing apparatuses are in printing operation; calculate, upon receipt of a print instruction from any of the external apparatuses, a total of power usages of the other printing apparatuses that are in printing operations; inhibit the printing apparatus from printing when an expected power exceeds a predetermined allowable value, the expected power is a sum of the calculated total of power usages and the power usage of the printing apparatus during the printing operation; and allow the printing apparatus to print when the expected power is equal to or below the predetermined allowable value.

Abstract: A system and method for adaptive control of power among a plurality of loads based on a categorization of the loads as either delayable or non-delayable, wherein the non-delayable loads are preferably supplied power over the delayable loads. In one aspect, the system may be used to allocate limited power from a backup power source.

Abstract: An intelligent electronic device having an audible and visual interface for providing audible and visual instructions to a user in an event of an alarm or trouble indication in the electrical power system. The intelligent electronic device includes at least one sensor configured for measuring at least one power parameter of an electrical circuit and generating at least one analog signal indicative of the at least one power parameter; at least one digital to analog converter for receiving the at least one analog signal and converting the at least one analog signal to at least one digital signal; a processor configured for receiving the at least one digital signal and detecting at least one event occurring in the electrical circuit; and an interface configured for providing instructions associated to the at least one detected event. The instructions may be in the form of text, audio and/or video.

Abstract: Power utilized in a local power network may be managed. The local power network may include a power management system. The power management system may communicate with one or more of a circuit controller, a switch controller, and/or an outlet controller in order to manage power utilization.

Abstract: A power distribution system (that can detect an unsafe fault condition where an individual or object has come in contact with the power conductors) regulates the transfer of energy from a source to a load. Periodically, the source controller opens an S1 disconnect switch, a and load controller opens an S2 disconnect switch. A capacitor represents the capacitance across the load terminals. If the capacitor discharges at a rate higher or lower than predetermined values after the S1 and S2 disconnect switches are opened, then a fault condition is registered, and the S1 and S2 switches will not be commanded to return to a closed position, thus isolating the fault from both the source and the load.

Abstract: An adaptive relaying control system and method is disclosed for adapting coordination of protective measures provided to an electric-energy distribution system as a function of at least an ambient weather condition. A weather sensor senses the ambient weather condition within a region adjacent to at least a portion of the electric-energy distribution system. A control unit is operatively coupled to the weather sensor to receive a weather signal indicative of the ambient weather condition and determine whether a storm condition exists based at least in part on the weather signal. The control unit establishes a suitable control philosophy for adapting coordination of the protective measures provided to the electric-energy distribution system based at least in part on whether the storm condition exists.

Abstract: An active power regulation process and system of a wind farm comprising an array of aerogenerators (AI), a communications network (RS), and a monitoring and control system (ST). The system of the invention comprises: means for connecting to said monitoring and control system (ST), means for receiving data relative to the apparent power Pout put out by the farm at all times, and data relative to variables and states of the aerogenerators (Ai) from said monitoring and control system (ST), means for comparing said output apparent power Pout with a preset apparent power set-point Pcons of the farm, means for continuously adjusting said output apparent power Pout, such that this output apparent power Pout approaches at all times the preset power set-point Pcons.

Abstract: Centralized coordination of setting and adjusting trip settings of electronic circuit breakers in an electrical distribution system by monitoring short circuit current availability (SCCA) and adjusting trip settings based on received SCCA estimates from SCCA monitoring devices installed at main, feeder, and branch nodes of the distribution system. The SCCA monitoring devices are capable of automatically estimating the SCCA in the circuit or node at which the SCCA device is installed and transmitting SCCA estimates to a controller, which uses the SCCA estimates to coordinate adjustments to trip settings for the various circuit breakers. Depending on the node position of the circuit breaker and the corresponding SCCA at that node, the controller adjusts in real-time the short-circuit trip settings for the circuit breakers so that they are below the SCCA value. Optional user-inputted settings can affect the trip setting adjustments, such as transient loading conditions that can influence the SCCA estimates.

Abstract: A fault detection system is provided, and includes a generator, a power converter, a breaker, a current monitoring device, and a control module. The power converter is selectively connected to the generator and is selectively activated to produce a test voltage. The breaker is located between the generator and the power converter for selectively connecting the generator to the power converter. The breaker includes an open position and a closed position. The current monitoring device is located between the generator and the power converter. The current monitoring device measures a line current between the generator and the power converter. The control module is in communication with the current monitoring device and the power converter. The control module has a memory with a threshold current value.

Abstract: A system for controlling voltage on a distribution feeder includes a plurality of capacitor banks that can be connected to or disconnected from the distribution feeder. A first bank is configured to connect to the distribution feeder when a first voltage is below a first lower threshold value and to connect to the distribution feeder when the first voltage is above a first upper threshold value. The first upper threshold and first lower threshold are determined based off an operational set point. The system further includes a sensor configured to measure the first voltage and a controller in operable communication with the plurality of capacitor banks configured to determine the operational state of the first and second capacitor banks and, based on the first voltage, send a first instruction to the first capacitor bank, the first instruction causing the capacitor bank to vary the operational set point.

Abstract: A technique is provided for automatically controlling configuration of a power grid, which includes one or more stand-alone sub-grids. Each stand-alone sub-grid includes a power generator, and a load is associated with the stand-alone sub-grid(s). The technique includes: monitoring the power grid by monitoring power demand of a load associated with the stand-alone sub-grid(s) and the power generated by the power generator within each stand-alone sub-grid; automatically determining that a grid configuration change is required for the power grid based on the monitoring; and dynamically reconfiguring the power grid by automatically modifying a number of stand-alone sub-grids in the power grid without interrupting power to the load associated with the stand-alone sub-grid(s) of the power grid. In one implementation, the power grid is a mobile power grid, and the power generator of each stand-alone sub-grid is a portable power generator.

Abstract: A control system for an electric power system is provided. The control system includes a wireless communication system for tracking one or more electric vehicles and receiving a battery charge data of said electric vehicles. The control system also includes a load sensor for sensing load of the electric power system. The control system further includes a controller for operating one or more protection elements based on the battery charge data of the electric vehicles and the load data of the electric power system.

Abstract: An electronic control apparatus 100A is configured in such a way that a CPU 110A reads the conduction current of an opening/closing device 140n in an IPM 190A, by way of serial-parallel converters 114a and 114b and a second multi-channel A/D converter 116b; the opening/closing device 140n is opening/closing-controlled through a serial control signal SRn or a parallel control signal PWMn; and a reading timing control circuit 170n adjusts the reading timing in such a way that, regardless of the kind of the control signal, reading is performed during the period in which the opening/closing device 140n is driven to be closed. As a result, the serial-parallel converter can reduce the number of wiring leads between the IPM and the microprocessor, and the digital conversion value is accurately read, by adjusting the error between the serial-signal timing and the parallel-signal timing.

Abstract: An intelligent electronic device is operable to use a signal derived from an electrical power delivery system to effectively detect an islanding condition. The intelligent electronic device is configured to compare a frequency deviation (from nominal frequency) and a rate-of-change of frequency of the electrical power delivery system to a protection characteristic of the intelligent electronic device to quickly and securely detect islanding conditions thereby enhancing power protection, automation, control, and monitoring performance. The intelligent electronic device uses local measurements of the electrical power deliver system to provide reliable and economical means to properly separate a generation site from the remainder of the electrical power delivery system. Such may be useful to prevent reclosing out of synchronism.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus of detecting and compensating for DC residual fault currents on electrical systems. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus which is capable of accurately detecting one or more parameters of the fault current waveform and generating a compensation factor which compensates for specific pulsed DC fault components present. In this way, trip sensitivity is optimized for all types of fault current waveforms. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention operates by detecting one or more parameters of the encoded fault current waveform and generating a measure of symmetry comparing the mean squared values of negative and positive sections of said encoded fault current waveform. In use, various bands of the ratio of the mean squared sum of the positive and negative sections of said encoded fault current waveform are obtained, and a compensation factor is determined from a look-up table stored in a processing means.

Abstract: An arrangement for protecting equipment of an AC electrical power system comprises first means configured to measure the frequency of the current and voltage at at least one location in the electrical power system along an interconnection between two theoretical electric machines of an equivalent two machine system. Fourth means are configured to use the values of the frequency of the current and voltage measured to determine whether a power swing has occurred and if an occurrence of a power swing has been determined determine whether the measuring location is located on a motor side or a generator side of a potential pole slip electrical centre along said interconnection, the electrical centre being defined as the location where the voltage becomes zero during a pole slip, and send this information further to third means for use in a control for protecting equipment of the electrical power system.

Abstract: The subject specification comprises enhanced power system balance control for a multi-tier hierarchical electrical distribution network (EDN). The EDN comprises a specified number of distribution network node controller (DNNC) components employed to desirably control power system balance, data communications, and power distribution between respective tiers of the EDN to facilitate efficient power distribution. In each tier, a power system balance component (PSBC), associated with a DNNC component, can monitor power system balance, such as load phase balance, associated with multi-phase power distribution for its tier, and detect power system imbalances in that tier. A power balance correction action can be identified and executed (e.g., automatically) in response to the detected power system imbalance to rectify the imbalance, wherein the correction action can include dynamic switching of loads between phases and/or filtering of the power signal.

Abstract: In a controller for a windfarm including a plurality of wind turbine generators controllable in rotation frequency and pith of blades of the wind turbine generators, coupled to a grid through a transmission line, an anemometer is provided to each wind turbine generator to transmits wind direction and wind speed data to a central controller which process the wind direction and wind speed data to transmit an output command each wind turbine generator. The central controller predicts, on the basis of the wind speed detected by the upstream wind turbine generator, variation in wind speed at other wind turbine generators to control the output of the windfarm. The output power may be limited or charging energy as rotation energy of blades and discharging the rotation energy as output power in addition to a battery unit for averaging.

Abstract: A protection system for a power distribution system includes a bus voltage sensing unit to measure a bus voltage or a load voltage and a demand response module for estimating available demand resources on the distribution system for a period of interest. A distribution system analyzer is provided in the system for analyzing the bus voltage or the load voltage and system parameters to obtain voltage trip points for the available demand resources. A load control circuit controls the available demand resources based on the voltage trip points.

Abstract: In the present invention, in a case where a stable equilibrium point calculation is not calculable by using a Newton method, a damping factor of a mechanical system differential equation of a generator is set to be greater than an actual value of the generator of the power system. By applying pseudo-transient simulation to the nonlinear differential algebraic equation of the power system including the mechanical system differential equation of the generator, in which the damping factor is set, a norm of a mechanical system equation is found. If the found norm meets a predetermined condition, variable values of the power system at a time when the norm is found are set as initial values of the nonlinear differential algebraic equation of the power system. A stable equilibrium point is determined by applying the Newton method to the nonlinear differential algebraic equation in which the initial values are set.

Abstract: An electronic control apparatus is provided in which a supervisory control circuit part capable of mutual communication with a main control circuit part, which is operated by a high speed clock signal of high precision, is operated by a medium speed clock signal, which is low in cost and precision, such that they can operate mutually independently of each other. The main control circuit part supplies a medium speed communication synchronization signal frequency divided to the supervisory control circuit part. The supervisory control circuit part is operated by the medium speed clock signal to supervise the control operation of the main control circuit part. An error measuring circuit calculates an error correction coefficient which is the ratio of the signal cycle of the communication synchronization signal to that of the medium speed clock signal. The value of the error correction coefficient is reversely supervised by the main control circuit part.

Abstract: A method and system for programming and implementing automated fault isolation and restoration of high-speed fault detection of circuits in power distribution networks using sequential logic and peer-to-peer communication is provided. High-speed fault detection of circuits in power distribution networks uses protective relay devices (14) segmenting a distribution line (11) having Intelligent Electronic Devices (IED) (22) associated with switching devices (20) communicating peer-to-peer via a communication system (30) to provide fast and accurate fault location information in distribution systems with sequential logic.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for processing utility data of a power grid is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a datamart comprised of a plurality of physical databases storing utility data, a plurality of applications comprising an automated meter application configured to process power usage data from a plurality of automated meters, a power outage application configured to identify a location of a power outage, and a power restoration application configured to identify a location of a power restoration. The system may include an analysis engine comprising a plurality of analysis objects with each analysis object configured to process data to provide a specific analysis, wherein said analysis engine is accessible via one or more of the plurality of applications, and the system may include a report module configured to receive an output from the analysis engine and to output a report.

Abstract: An arc detection and intervention system for a solar energy system. One or more arc detectors are strategically located among strings of solar panels. In conjunction with local management units (LMUs), arcs can be isolated and affected panels disconnected from the solar energy system.

Abstract: A motor control center comprises a plurality of bays in which switchgear components, circuit protective components, automation components and power electronic components are disposed for driving motors and other loads. Network optical conductors are routed through one or more wireways adjacent to the bays. Distribution nodes are coupled to the conductors and are interconnected with respective network terminals within the bays. Components within individual bays for which EtherNet and/or Internet connectivity is desired are coupled to the network terminals. The conductors may comprise plastic optical fibers and may be designed to operate in the relatively high voltage environment of the motor control center bays.

Abstract: A method, device and system for responsive load management using frequency regulation credits. The method includes using an AC frequency measuring device, measuring a current AC frequency on an AC power line; using a power consumption measuring device, measuring a current power consumption on the AC power line over a period of time equal to a sampling interval; calculating a power consumption moving average of a last N power current power consumptions measured, where N is a positive integer greater than 1; generating credits or debits based on the current power consumption, the current AC frequency and the power consumption moving average; adding the credits or debits to a frequency regulation credit; and for each next sampling interval repeating measuring the current AC frequency, measuring current power consumption, calculating the power consumption moving average, generating the credits or debits, and adding the credits or debits to the frequency regulation credit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus measures electrical power usage and quality, while mitigating the effects of noise on measured signals or parameters. Specifically, a digital electrical power and energy meter employs a method in which a processor averages a parameter, such as voltage or current, over a plurality of cycles of a time-varying signal, such as an AC electrical signal. The method employed by the meter samples a parameter over the plurality of cycles and computes the average of the samples corresponding to the same phase angle of the signal to produce an average signal.

Abstract: Systems for reducing power usage and/or wastage use sensors to gather information about a circuit and its usage. Triggers are identified based on the information from the sensors, and subsequently used to control power delivery by reversibly effectuating energization and deactivation of particular circuits through smart nodes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a voltage level of a power supply grid operationally connected to a source of electrical power, the method comprising the steps of determining a short circuit impedance of the power supply grid at a point of common coupling, calculating, using the determined short circuit impedance, a gain value of the power supply grid, and controlling the grid voltage level in accordance with the calculated gain value by applying said gain value as a gain parameter in a voltage controller. The method according to the present invention may be implemented as a method for configuring a voltage controller once and for all, or it may be implemented as a method for adaptively adjusting a gain of a voltage controller.

Abstract: A distribution control system (DCS) control module for a transformer in nuclear power engineering, includes: an input command processing logic unit (1), a malfunction processing logic unit (2), a state processing logic unit (3), an output command generating logic unit (4) and a 6.6 kV switchgear of the transformer. The DCS control module utilizes the DCS integral with the power units to realize the control of 6.6 kV transformer switch, the sharing of the operator station with the power unit control system, and the overall monitoring, and the operation reliability of the power units is improved.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided an executive monitoring and control system for monitoring and controlling a power generation output of each dispersed power source and a load of each demand facility in a smart grid or a micro grid. An abnormal-time interchange procedure formation unit forms, when a fault occurs in a system, an interchange procedure of matching the total power generation output amount of dispersed power sources with the total loading of demand facilities, by using at least the information acquired by the measurement value monitoring unit and the information managed by the customer information management unit.

Abstract: In a load monitoring unit capable of monitoring power usage of an electrical device, a method of detecting a possible security breach is described herein. In one arrangement, the method can include the steps of setting a power threshold in the load monitoring unit in which the power threshold corresponds to the electrical device and monitoring power usage of the electrical device through the load monitoring unit. The method can also include the step of generating a security breach signal if the power usage of the electrical device reaches the power threshold.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention a method is provided comprising: providing a model for a predetermined location within an electrical power system having therein distributed resources (DR), the model based on known system conditions, the model indicative of first sensed characteristics of the electrical power system at the predetermined location; sensing at the predetermined location characteristics of the electrical power system corresponding to at least some of the first sensed characteristics; determining a status of the electrical power system network indicative of an islanding event in dependence upon sensing and other than in dependence upon other sensed data sensed remotely from the predetermined location; and, controlling a distributed resource in dependence upon the status.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring power devices that are connecting in a loop to a main power line are provided. A plurality of power devices that are connected in a loop to a power grid line may be provided. The loop may include a plurality of power lines. A disturbance within the plurality of power devices may be identified, and an impact of the identified disturbance on the plurality of power lines may be determined. A power output of one or more of the plurality of power devices may be adjusted based at least in part on the determined impact.

Abstract: A load shedding system for operating at least one circuit breaker positioned within an enclosure is described. The load shedding system includes a processor configured to receive a demand signal and to provide a predetermined load shedding signal. The load shedding system also includes at least one load shedding apparatus configured to receive the load shedding signal from the processor. The load shedding apparatus is configured to be coupled to a door of the enclosure. The load shedding apparatus is further configured to be operatively coupled to the at least one circuit breaker and further configured to actuate the at least one circuit breaker in response to the load shedding signal.

Abstract: To prevent property fires, electrical circuits need to be protected from arc faults due to line-to-line, line-to-neutral and line-to-ground conductivity, known as high current parallel arcing, and protected from arc faults occurring along line-to-line, line-to-load, load-to-load, load-to-neutral and neutral-to-neutral conductor configurations, known as low current series arcing. Devices that protect electrical circuits from these arc faults is known as a combination-type arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI).

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical power distribution apparatus (100) connectible to one or more loads (119). The electrical power distribution apparatus (100) comprises inter alia one or more taps (112) for supplying the loads (119) with electrical power. On top of circuit breakers (108) to switch off the power supply in order to protect the loads against damage, there is also arranged a second layer of soft fuse switches (110) which are arranged to switch on or off the power supply at the taps (112) to control distribution of the power. The soft fuses (110) operate in dependence on and in response to commands issued from a controller (105) which in turn operates and issues those commands in response to and independence on the voltages and amperages monitored at those taps (112) by way of a monitoring module (111). Switching on/off occurs at amperage and voltages lower than the critical threshold values to which the circuit breakers (108) respond to.

Abstract: An input termination board for use with an industrial controller in a safety system is disclosed herein. The industrial controller may be populated with standard input modules according to the application. The termination board, in conjunction with the controller allows the standard input modules to be used as safety inputs. The termination board provides simplified wiring between the input modules and the remote devices by splitting each of the signals generated by the remote device into separate inputs for two different input modules. In addition, a program executing on the controller of the safety system monitors and tests each of the inputs in both input modules to verify proper operation of the inputs. If the program detects a fault in either input module, the safety system may alternately shut down according to a fail-safe procedure or continue operating under a fault-tolerant mode of operation.

Abstract: A control apparatus configured to control communication between an on-vehicle device and a device coupled to the on-vehicle device via a cable, the control apparatus comprising: a cable length setting part configured to set a length of the cable; and a communication controlling part configured to perform, based on the length of the cable set by the cable length setting part, control for ensuring communication quality between the on-vehicle device and the device.

Abstract: A system for managing an electric power delivery system is disclosed that includes a set of remote intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) and a central IED. The remote IEDs may be configured to obtain information related to operating frequencies and power consumption levels loads included in the electric power delivery system. The central IED may communicate with the remote IEDs to determine which loads are associated with a sub-grid of the electric power delivery system and whether to disconnected certain loads. Based on this determination, the central IED may direct the remote IEDs to disconnect loads from the electric power delivery system.

Abstract: A method of managing an electric utility grid includes geographically grouping a set of customer electric usage meters to create a set of fine sensors on a power grid. Each usage meter in the grouped set is capable of being remotely monitored, and each usage meter is at a different location along the power line. If a power anomaly is detected at the subset of meters, then power to the electric utility grid is adjusted to correct the anomaly.

Abstract: Supervisory control equipment for smart grids provided with a plurality of generators and loads and operated in interconnection with a commercial power system through an interconnected circuit breaker, comprising a frequency control ability calculation part for calculating the frequency control ability of the interconnected system by using a total power demand and a bus bar frequency; and an islanding and interconnection detection part for calculating frequency control ability of the commercial power system according to the frequency control ability of the system of the frequency control ability calculation part to discriminate between the interconnected and islanding operations according to the magnitude of the frequency control ability.

Abstract: A power supply controller is connected between a power source and a power-supply path, and includes a switch circuit, a power-supply path protection circuit, and a sleep mode setting circuit. The switch circuit is configured to permit and inhibit power supply from the power source to the load. The protection circuit controls switching operation of the switch circuit according to a power-supply command signal commanding start or stop of the power supply to the load, calculates a temperature of the power-supply path regardless of whether power is supplied to the load, do not calculate the temperature of the power-supply path in a sleep mode, and inhibits power supply to the switch circuit according to the calculated temperature reaching an upper limit. The sleep mode setting circuit sets the power supply controller to the sleep mode according to the of the power-supply path satisfying a temperature condition.

Abstract: A method for power quality protection includes measurement of electrical and nonelectrical parameters, calculation of additional electrical and nonelectrical parameters, comparison of the value of the calculated parameters with maximum allowed values from a power quality perspective, activation of protection mechanisms for transitioning to a safe mode or for isolation from the bus. The systems and methods may prevent equipment failures when out of the spec power quality is present in the distribution bus and may protect the distribution bus from imposing power quality problems due to equipment failures. Because most of the sensors in the systems of the present invention are already used for other control and protection purposes, there may be no reliability degradation. Most of the calculations and the control logic may be performed digitally for improved reliability and flexibility to modify algorithms.

Abstract: A visualization system for monitoring performance data of an electrical power distribution network is provided. In one embodiment, a user may select a network circuit and view a network circuit diagram that includes indicia representing transformers and other electrical power distribution network elements positioned on a map. The relative positions of the indicia on the network circuit diagram may correspond to the relative physical locations of the transformers in the geographical area represented by the map. The indicia may be color coded to convey performance data to the user.

Abstract: An integrated power control device and method are provided. In one embodiment, a device includes a body, a plurality of sockets for connection with a load, and a plurality of switch-controls each connected with corresponding one of the sockets and controlling power connecting to the load. The device further includes a microprocessor for the input, output, calculation and control of data and information flow, wherein the microprocessor issues commands to the switch-controls to execute switch on or off on the sockets, a timer, and a data storage unit for data storage so as to provide the microprocessor to access the data. A voltage-and-current detector detects voltage and current values and stores them into the data storage through the microprocessor. A voltage-current alerting unit receives the voltage values and current values and informs the microprocessor when the values exceed predetermined thresholds. Finally, a power computational unit calculates power consumption of the load.

Abstract: A power supply control system includes a plurality of electronic control units, a monitoring device, a power source line coupled with each of the electronic control units for supplying an operating voltage to each of the electronic control units, and a power source switch disposed on the power source line. The monitoring device calculates a deactivating threshold value based on an assigned threshold value of each of the electronic control units set in accordance with an operating state of each of the electronic control units. The monitoring device deactivates the power source switch so as to stop the supply of the operating voltage to all of the electronic control units when an electric current value of the power source line is greater than the deactivating threshold value.

Abstract: A system, device, and method of providing information for a power distribution system is provided. In one embodiment, a method of using a device that receives power from the low voltage power of the power distribution system and experiences a power loss during a local power outage may perform the processes of monitoring a voltage of the low voltage power line, detecting a voltage reduction below a threshold voltage for a predetermined time period, storing information of the voltage reduction in a non-volatile memory prior to the power outage, and transmitting a notification to a remote computer system prior to the outage. The monitoring may comprise making a plurality of measurements of the voltage during a time interval and averaging the plurality of voltage measurements. In addition, the method may include transmitting an alert message upon power up after the outage to indicate a power restoration local to the device.