Power source load control

A first controllable load which is connected to an electric power source via a protected electrical circuit having at least one circuit breaker, the first controllable load responsive to a load control which sets a maximum amount of current, which the load control may change from time to time, which the first controllable load may consume from the protected electrical circuit, thereby operating to help prevent the circuit breaker from tripping, the load control comprising:

• a) one or more input wire connector for connection to and receiving input electrical power from a protected electrical circuit having at least one circuit breaker, the load control coupling the input electrical power to a first controllable load via a contactor, which the load control may open and close, and at least one output wire connector;
• b) a current sensor responsive to the timely amount of current being consumed from the protected electrical circuit;
• c) a maximum power parameter which a user who is an installer determines in response to the size of the at least one circuit breaker and inputs to the load control, the maximum power parameter representing a maximum amount of current that may be safely consumed from the protected electrical circuit;
• d) at least a first processor circuit including one or more processor and supporting circuitry, the first processor circuit being coupled to a first communication link which may be wired or wireless, the first processor circuit communicating bidirectionally via the first communication link with the first controllable load and in response to the current sensor and the maximum power parameter, operating to control at least the first controllable load to cause it to not consume an amount of power which would cause the total amount of power consumed from the protected electrical circuit to exceed the maximum power parameter;
• e) a second communications link via which a user may connect a device providing a user interface to the processor circuit and thereby, with the aid of a graphical user interface, provide the user with data corresponding to operation of the first and second controllable loads.

A load control operating to control a plurality of loads configured to receive power from a plurality of electric power sources including a utility power grid service entrance and a green power source, via a plurality of protected electrical circuits, the power grid subject to failure leaving the green power source to power ones of the plurality of loads, the load control comprising:

• a) a switch connected to a power grid service entrance and operable to automatically disconnect the power grid when the power grid power is not available or is not of suitable quality, leaving a green power source to power ones of a plurality of loads;
• b) a maximum grid power parameter representing a maximum amount of power that may be safely consumed from the grid service entrance and a maximum green power parameter representing a maximum amount of power that may be safely consumed from the green power source when grid power is not available, which maximum green power parameter may change with changing environmental conditions;
• c) a load monitor responsive to the timely amount of power being consumed from the power grid service entrance by loads connected thereto;
• d) at least a first processor circuit responsive to the load monitor via a wired or wireless communication link and operating to characterize and store load parameters including one or more of consumed current, applied voltage and consumed wattage, for each of a plurality of individual loads as they repeatedly turn on, run and turn off with the first processor monitoring changes in the one or more of consumed current, applied voltage and consumed wattage, the first processor circuit additionally communicating with a user interface via a graphical display and user input whereby the user may receive information about the power consumption from the grid service entrance and the green power source as well as power consumption by individual loads which have been characterized;
• e) when the grid service entrance is disconnected in a) the load control operates in response to the maximum green power parameter of b) and the stored load parameters of d) to selectively couple ones of the plurality of loads of a) to be powered from the green power source via the protected electrical circuits without overloading the green power source.

A load control operating to control a plurality of loads including an EV charger, configured to receive power from a plurality of electric power sources including a utility power grid service entrance and a green power source which parallels the grid service entrance power, via a plurality of protected electrical circuits, the power grid subject to failure leaving the green power source to power ones of the plurality of loads, the load control comprising:

• a) a power grid service entrance which provides grid power and a green power source which parallels grid power to reduce the amount of grid power consumed by a plurality of loads, some of which have assigned priorities, the grid power being coupled to the plurality of loads by a switch which is operable to automatically disconnect the power grid when the power grid power is not available or is not of suitable quality, leaving a green power source to power ones of a plurality of loads;
• b) a maximum grid power parameter representing a maximum amount of power that may be safely consumed from the grid service entrance and a maximum green power parameter representing a maximum amount of power that may be safely consumed from the green power source when grid power is not available, which maximum green power parameter may change with changing environmental conditions;
• c) a load monitor responsive to the timely amount of power being consumed from the power grid service entrance by loads connected thereto, the timely amount of power consumed from the service entrance being reduced by paralleled green power when green power is available;
• d) at least a first processor circuit responsive to the load monitor via a wired or wireless communication link and operating to characterize and store load parameters for each of a plurality of individual loads as they consumed power, the first processor circuit additionally communicating with a user interface via a graphical display and user input whereby the user may receive information about the power consumption from the grid service entrance and the green power source as well as power consumption by individual loads which have been characterized;
• e) when the grid service entrance is connected in a) the load control operates in response to the maximum green power parameter of b) and the stored load parameters of d) to selectively couple ones of the plurality of loads of a) to be powered from the green power source via the protected electrical circuits without overloading the green power source.