Methods, systems and devices for monitoring power consumption and generation

A method for allowing power supplied through two cables to be determined, the method comprising:

• receiving first magnetic field data, the magnetic field data relating to a magnetic field generated by a first cable,
• receiving second magnetic field data, the magnetic field data relating to a magnetic field generated by a second cable,
• receiving reference data, the reference data relating to a current supplied to one or more monitored loads powered through the first cable;
• based on the received first magnetic field data and reference data, determining at least one parameter of a first function that relates the magnetic field generated by the first cable to the power supplied though the first cable;
• based on the received first and second magnetic field data and the received reference data, determining at least one parameter of a second function that relates the magnetic field generated by the second cable to the power supplied though the second cable;
• making available the at least one parameter of the first function, so that a power supplied by the first cable can be determined based on the at least one parameter and a magnetic field value;
• and
• making available the at least one parameter of the second function, so that a power supplied by the second cable can be determined based on the at least one parameter and a magnetic field value;
• wherein the one or more monitored loads are a subset of all the loads powered through the first cable, and wherein the second cable is connected to a negative load that offsets the load through the first cable;
• and
• wherein the at least one parameter of the first function is a proportionality factor, and wherein the proportionality factor is determined by:
• determining a plurality of time periods over which the received reference data changes;
• selecting magnetic field data that corresponds to the determined time periods;
• and
• determining a proportionality factor by minimising an error measure across all determined time periods.

A device for determining power supplied through a cable, the device comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing program code;
• wherein the processor is configured to access and execute the program code, and wherein executing the program code causes the processor to perform the method for allowing power supplied through a cable to be determined, the method comprising:
• receiving magnetic field data, the magnetic field data relating to a magnetic field generated by the cable;
• receiving reference data, the reference data relating to a current supplied to one or more monitored loads powered through the cable;
• based on the received magnetic field data and reference data, determining at least one parameter of a function that relates the magnetic field generated by the cable to the power supplied through the cable;
• and
• making available the at least one parameter, so that a power supplied by the cable can be determined based on the at least one parameter and a magnetic field value;
• wherein the one or more monitored loads are a subset of all the loads powered through the cable;
• and
• wherein the at least one parameter is a proportionality factor, and wherein the proportionality factor is determined by:
• determining a plurality of time periods over which the received reference data changes;
• selecting magnetic field data that corresponds to the determined time periods;
• and
• determining a proportionality factor by minimising an error measure across all determined time periods.