| CPC H02H 7/22 (2013.01) [H02H 1/0007 (2013.01)] | 23 Claims |
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1. A device for backfeed protection, the device comprising:
a terminal for utility power that includes one or more power connections, and one or more neutral connections;
a terminal for consumer power that includes one or more power connections, and one or more neutral connections;
a power switch including one or more conductor switches, and configured to receive one or more control signals for controlling a state of the power switch,
wherein the one or more conductor switches are electrically connected between the one or more power connections of the terminal for utility power and the one or more power connections of the terminal for consumer power, respectively, and the one or more neutral connections of the terminal for utility power and the one or more neutral connections of the terminal for consumer power, respectively,
wherein the one or more control signals are configured to maintain each of the one or more conductor switches in an open or a closed state,
wherein when a conductor switch is in the closed state, electrical power can be transferred between the one or more power connections of the terminal for utility power and the one or more power connections of the terminal for consumer power, respectively, and the one or more neutral connections of the terminal for utility power and the one or more neutral connections of the terminal for consumer power, respectively, and
wherein when the conductor switch is in the open state, electrical power cannot be transferred between the one or more power connections of the terminal for utility power and the one or more power connections of the terminal for consumer power, respectively, and the one or more neutral connections of the terminal for utility power and the one or more neutral connections of the terminal for consumer power, respectively;
a power controller electrically connected to the power switch and electrically connected to the terminal for utility power,
wherein the power controller generates the one or more control signals for controlling the state of the power switch,
wherein the power controller generates the one or more control signals to close one or more conductor switches when one or more power connections of the terminal for utility power in reference to the one or more neutral connections of the terminal for utility power are energized, and
wherein the power controller generates the one or more control signals to open one or more conductor switches when one or more power connections of the terminal for utility power in reference to the one or more neutral connections of the terminal for utility power are de-energized.
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11. A device for backfeed protection, the device comprising:
a power controller;
a device power line connecting a utility power conductor to a consumer power conductor with a device power line switch disposed along the device power line between the utility power conductor and the consumer power conductor; and
a device neutral line connecting a utility neutral conductor to a consumer neutral conductor with a device neutral line switch disposed along the device neutral line between the utility neutral conductor and the consumer neutral conductor,
wherein the power controller is connected to the device power line and the device neutral line and senses when the utility power conductor relative to a voltage of the utility neutral conductor is de-energized,
wherein the power controller controls the device power line switch to allow current to flow across the device power line when the utility power conductor is energized, and
wherein the power controller controls the device power line switch to prevent current from flowing across the device power line when the utility power conductor is de-energized.
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21. The device of claim 11, wherein the power controller draws power for the operations of the power controller solely from being connected with a utility power source and a consumer power source and without a battery.
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22. A method of protecting a utility power source from backfeed from a consumer power source, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a device for backfeed protection containing a circuit that, without consumer interaction, prevents current from flowing from the consumer power source to the utility power source when a power line from the utility power source relative to a neutral line from the utility power source is de-energized;
separating a service line at or near a point of delivery from the utility power source to the consumer power source creating an upstream power line and an upstream neutral line on a side of the utility power source and a downstream power line and a downstream neutral line on a side of the consumer power source;
connecting upstream terminals of the device to the upstream power line and the upstream neutral line and connecting downstream terminals of the device to the downstream power line and the downstream neutral line.
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