Wiring device with heat removal system

An in-wall electrical outlet comprising:

• a housing enclosing a low-voltage electrical port for providing power to a removable load, the housing including a rear cover portion and a front cover portion coupled to the rear cover portion, an intake opening for directing cooling air into an internal portion of the housing, the intake opening being formed in one of the rear and front cover portions, the housing having an exhaust opening for exhausting heated air from the internal portion of the housing, the exhaust opening being formed in the other one of the rear and front cover portions;
• a strap to fasten the housing to an electrical box located in a wall or ceiling;
• a fan disposed within the rear cover portion of the housing, the fan operable to move air between the intake opening and the exhaust opening;
• a temperature sensor for determining a sensed temperature of the internal portion of the housing;
• a microcontroller logic circuit;
• a thermal load disposed within the housing, the fan being positioned adjacent to the thermal load so that the thermal load receives the cooling air to reduce a temperature of the thermal load;
• and
• a safety shut off to reduce or disconnect power to the low-voltage electrical port if the fan is determined to have failed;
• wherein the microcontroller logic circuit:
• energizes the fan when the sensed temperature of the internal portion of the housing is determined to exceed a first predetermined threshold;
• de-energizes the fan when the sensed temperature of the internal portion of the housing is determined to be below a second predetermined threshold, the second predetermined threshold being lower than the first predetermined threshold;
• and
• determines the fan has failed when the sensed temperature of the internal portion of the housing is determined to exceed a third predetermined threshold, the third predetermined threshold being greater than the first predetermined threshold, and controls the safety shut off to reduce or disconnect power to the low-voltage electrical port.

A method for removing heat from an in-wall electrical outlet having a strap to fasten the outlet to an electrical box located in a wall or ceiling;

• the electrical outlet, comprising:
• receiving a current from a power supply;
• providing the received current to at least one of a line voltage port and a low voltage port of the outlet;
• providing a first removable load with the current via the at least one line voltage port or low voltage port of the outlet;
• determining a temperature within a housing of the outlet;
• energizing a fan disposed within a housing of the outlet when the temperature inside of the housing is determined to exceed a first predetermined threshold;
• de-energizing the fan when the temperature inside of the housing is determined to be below a second predetermined threshold, the second predetermined threshold being lower than the first predetermined threshold;
• and
• determining the fan has failed when the temperature inside of the housing is determined to exceed a third predetermined threshold, the third predetermined threshold being greater than the first predetermined threshold;
• and
• reducing current to the low voltage port if the fan is determined to have failed, the current to the low voltage port being reduced to a non-zero magnitude so that the outlet operates in a reduced power mode.