Diagnostics using sub-metering device

Abstract

A system and method for performing diagnostics on a device, such as an appliance, using a sub-meter device that measures power characteristics related to usage of the appliance within a HEM network and provides such data to a home energy controller or the like. The sub-meter device can include one or more sensors, such as a current transformer, Rogowski coil, shunt resistor, or hall effect sensor, for collecting data relating to at least one of real power consumption, reactive power consumption, line frequency, line voltage, power factor, leading/lagging voltage-current comparison, and apparent power, etc.

1 . A system for performing diagnostics on an energy consuming device comprising:
 a controller adapted to activate a function of the device that draws an electrical load;   a sub-meter device that includes a sensor for collecting data from a dedicated power supplying conductor delivering power directly to the energy consuming device; and   a processor for receiving the data collected by the sensor;   wherein the sensor collects data related to at least one parameter of the electrical load drawn by the function of the device when activated by the controller; and   wherein the collected data is transmitted to the processor, the processor being configured to compare the collected data to at least one predetermined value corresponding to normal operation of the function of the device to determine if the device is operating normally.   
     
     
         2 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the sub-meter further comprises a communication interface for communicating the data to a remote energy management system device including the processor. 
     
     
         3 . A system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the sub-meter and the remote energy management system device is configured to send the collected data over the interne to a remote database. 
     
     
         4 . A system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one sensor and communication interface are contained in a common housing. 
     
     
         5 . A system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the sensor and communication interface are included in the power supplying conductor. 
     
     
         6 . A system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the sensor and communication interface are contained in a modular housing having at least two prongs designed to be plugged into a wall outlet for receiving power, and having a socket for receiving the power supplying conductor associated with an energy consuming device for transmitting power thereto, whereby the common housing can be plugged into a wall socket and the power supplying conductor of the energy consuming device can be plugged into the socket of the housing. 
     
     
         7 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes at east one of a current transformer, Rogowski coil, shunt resistor, or hall effect sensor. 
     
     
         8 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the sensor measures at least one of real power consumption, reactive power consumption, line frequency, line voltage, power factor, leading/lagging voltage/current comparison, and apparent power. 
     
     
         9 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the sensor and processor share a common housing. 
     
     
         10 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is integrated into a power supply cord of the energy consuming device. 
     
     
         11 . A system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined value is determined from at least one of a preprogrammed value stored in a memory associated with the processor, previous data collected by the sensor, and data downloaded from a database. 
     
     
         12 . A method of performing diagnostics on an energy-consuming device comprising the steps of:
 activating a function of the device that draws an electrical load;   measuring the electrical load with a sub-meter device that includes a sensor for collecting data from a power supplying conductor delivering power directly to the energy consuming device;   comparing the measured electrical load to a predetermined value corresponding to normal operation of the function of the device to determine if the device is operating normally.   
     
     
         13 . A method as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the step of measuring the electrical load includes measuring at least one real power consumption, reactive power consumption, line frequency, line voltage voltage/current comparison, power factor, leading/lagging, and apparent power. 
     
     
         14 . A method as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the step of activating a function of the device that draws an electrical load includes at least one of switching the device on, varying a speed, varying an intensity, varying a brightness, and varying a duty cycle. 
     
     
         15 . A method as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the step of activating a function of the device that draws an electrical load includes requesting a user to initiate the function. 
     
     
         16 . A method as set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising the step of generating a report identifying the device if the difference between the measured load and the predetermined value is greater than a prescribed amount. 
     
     
         17 . A method as set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising sending the collected data over the internet to a remote database. 
     
     
         18 . A method as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the predetermined value is determined from at least one a preprogrammed value stored in a memory associated with the processor, previous data collected by the sensor, and data downloaded from a database. 
     
     
         19 . A method as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the step of comparing the measured electrical load to a predetermined value is performed by a processor. 
     
     
         20 . A method as set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising adjusting the predetermined value based on a supply voltage.