Load identifying AC power supply with control and methods

A power supply to connect an AC supply to an electronic load and identify the load, the power supply comprising:

• a) an AC to DC converter,
• b) an electronic switch, wherein the switch includes a switch controller and the switch controller provides phase angle modulation of a voltage from the AC supply to the load, and,
• c) a first voltage sensor to monitor the voltage of the AC supply, and,
• d) a second voltage sensor to monitor a voltage applied to the load, and,
• e) a current sensor to monitor a current drawn by the load, and,
• f) a microprocessor powered by the AC to DC converter and programmed to accept input from the first voltage sensor, the second voltage sensor and the current sensor and to control the switch controller, such that, a first set of waveforms of the first voltage sensor, the second voltage sensor and the current sensor are acquired during a first period of time after a connection of the load to the power supply, and, a second set of waveforms of the first voltage sensor, the second voltage sensor and the current sensor are acquired during a second period of time after a connection of the load to the power supply, each of the first set of waveforms and the second set of waveforms having an amplitude and a phase shift relative to one another, and,
• g) the voltage to the load during the second period of time is reduced using phase angle modulation of the AC voltage to the load by the switch, and,
• h) the microprocessor is further programmed to identify the load by comparing the first set of waveforms with the second set of waveforms.