Sunpower Corporation

Unirac Inc.

Enphase Energy, Inc.

Kevin C Fischer

Udo Uebel

Sandeep Narla

Brian T Kuhn

Donald H Scrutchfield

Marc A Robinson

Gaurang Kavaiya

Tyler Grushkowitz

Matthew Danning

Kristine Little

Carl Lenox

Dylan W Benjamin

Greg Beardsworth

Brian Kuhn

Zachary Steele Judkins

Steven M Kraft

Keith Johnston

Philip Rothblum

Miles F Bintz, Ii

Zachary S Judkins

The present disclosure provides a photovoltaic (PV) disconnect device used in an electrical system. The PV disconnect device includes a relay component electrically coupled to a feed circuit of a backup PV power generation system and a connector port electrically coupled to an energy control system. The PV disconnect device includes a sensor circuit to measure at least one of a voltage, a current, and a current frequency of the feed circuit of the backup PV power generation system. The PV disconnect device includes a controller operatively coupled to the relay component, the sensor circuit, and the connector port. The controller receives and processes the voltage, the current, and the current frequency measurements. The controller selectively actuates the relay component based on the processed voltage, current, and current frequency measurements.

Photovoltaic disconnect device for storage integration

The present disclosure provides a method for controlling an energy control system. The method includes detecting a power outage at a grid interconnection. The method includes connecting a first set of the plurality of backup loads to a backup load interconnection, in which the backup load interconnection is electrically coupled to a backup power interconnection. The method includes disconnecting a second set of the plurality of backup loads from the backup load connection such that power is interrupted between the backup power source and the second set of backup loads. The method includes receiving a request from a user device to connect at least one load of the second set of the plurality of backup loads to the backup interconnection. The method includes determining whether to connect one load of the second set of the plurality of backup loads to the backup interconnection according to one or more programmed rules.

Energy control system

Rooftop photovoltaic solar systems and methods for installing interconnection wiring for photovoltaic solar systems. Cabling systems can include cable support stands secured underneath shingles. Cabling systems can include molded rubber raceways mounted using raceway clips secured underneath shingles.

Cabling systems for rooftop photovoltaic solar systems

Devices for reducing the open circuit voltages of solar systems are described. In one embodiment, a solar system includes a string of a plurality of solar modules having an open circuit voltage. The solar system also includes a device for reducing the open circuit voltage of the string of the plurality of solar modules during an open circuit configuration.

Device for reducing the open circuit voltage of a solar system

The present disclosure provides energy control systems for whole home and partial home backup with integrated breaker spaces and metering. The energy control system includes a grid interconnection electrically coupled to a utility grid, a backup power interconnection electrically coupled to a backup power source, a backup load interconnection electrically coupled to at least one backup load, and a non-backup load interconnection electrically coupled to at least one non-backup load. The energy control system includes a microgrid interconnection device that switches between an on-grid mode to electrically connect the grid interconnection and the backup power interconnection with the backup and non-backup load interconnections and a backup mode to electrically disconnect the grid interconnection and the non-backup load interconnection from the backup power interconnection.

The present disclosure provides a method for controlling an energy control system. The energy control system includes a grid interconnection, a backup load interconnection, a non-backup load interconnection, and a backup power interconnection. The method includes receiving electronic data from a plurality of backup loads. The method includes detecting a power outage at the grid interconnection electrically coupled to a utility grid. The method includes disconnecting the grid interconnection from the backup power interconnection, in which the backup power interconnection is electrically coupled to a backup power source. The method includes connecting a first set of the plurality of backup loads to the backup load interconnection, in which the backup load interconnection is electrically coupled to the backup power interconnection such that power is supplied from the backup power source to the first set of backup loads.

Backup load energy control system

A metering and control subsystem for a photovoltaic solar system is configured for metering the photovoltaic solar system using current measurement devices and individually controlling relays to selectively energize photovoltaic branch circuits. In some examples, the metering and control subsystem includes photovoltaic branch connectors, a relay matrix, current measurement devices, and a metering and relay control circuit. The metering and control circuit is configured for metering the photovoltaic solar system using current measurement data from the current measurement devices and individually controlling the relays to selectively energize each photovoltaic branch circuit.

Metering and control subsystems for photovoltaic solar systems

The present disclosure provides a photovoltaic (PV) disconnect device used in an electrical system. The electrical system includes an energy control system electrically coupled to a utility grid. The electrical system includes a PV power generation system electrically coupled to the energy control system. The electrical system includes an energy storage system electrically coupled to the energy control system. The PV disconnect device is electrically coupled to the PV power generation system and the energy control system. The PV disconnect device electrically disconnects the PV power generation system from the energy control system.

Methods, systems, and computer readable media are disclosed for monitoring photovoltaic solar systems. In some examples, the system includes a solar power measurement input for coupling to a solar panel system, a measurement circuit configured to measure power produced by the solar panel system using the solar power measurement input, and a data transmission system. The measurement circuit is configured, by virtue of the measurement circuit including electrical components rated to at least a certain tolerance level, to take revenue-grade power measurements from the solar power measurement input with a level of accuracy that meets a national or international metering standard. The data transmission system is configured to transmit the revenue-grade power measurements from the measurement circuit to a remote system.

Solar energy metering, communications, and control system

Methods, systems, and computer readable media are disclosed for monitoring electric systems for wiring faults. In some examples, a system includes a production power meter coupled to a power generation system of a building and configured for measuring electric power generated by the power generation system, one or more consumption power meters coupled to an electric system of the building and configured for measuring electric power consumed by the electric system, and a computer system coupled to the production power meter and the consumption power meters. The computer system is programmed for determining that at least one power meter is installed with a reversed polarity that is reversed with respect to an installation specification, resulting in the computer system receiving measured values from the at least one power meter having an incorrect sign.

Monitoring electric systems for wiring faults

A wire management device is disclosed. The device comprises a clip comprising an upper planar member and a lower planar member, each planar member having an inner and outer surface, wherein the inner surface of the upper planar member includes a post extending toward the inner surface of the lower planar member, a stem extending from the outer surface of the lower planar member, the stem including two outwardly-extending flanges, each of the first and second outwardly-extending flanges including an edge portion extending toward the outer surface of the lower planar member, and a transverse passage extending along the outer surface of the lower planar member, the transverse passage extending across the stem, wherein the stem has a recessed portion along the transverse passage.

Frame-mounted wire management device

Methods, systems, and computer readable media are disclosed for thermal management of a system of one or more electric components. In some examples, the system includes a housing, one or more electric components, one or more temperature sensors on or in the housing, and a thermal management circuit coupled to the electric components and the temperature sensors. The thermal management circuit is configured to monitor the temperature sensors and, based on monitoring the temperature sensors, cause at least a first electric component to curtail power consumption, thereby reducing heat generating by the first electric component.

Growing community of inventors

Orinda, CA, United States of America

Kevin C Fischer