Method and apparatus for monitoring power consumption

A power consumption monitor for monitoring the power transmitted by at least one current-carrying conductor, comprising:

• a current-to-voltage transformer including a passive, open-circuit electromagnetic force sensor to be positioned proximate to the at least one current-carrying conductor, the sensor adapted to generate an amplitude signal proportional to the power being transmitted through the at least one current-carrying conductor;
• a first programmable radio on a chip in communication with the current-to-voltage transformer to broadcast the amplitude signal;
• a monitoring device with a second programmable radio on a chip in communication with at least one programmable system on a chip and a display;
• and
• wherein the monitoring device receives, converts, and displays the amplitude signal as a quantity of power consumption.

A power consumption monitor for monitoring the power transmitted by at least one current-carrying conductor, comprising:

• a means for passively detecting the power being transmitted by the at least one current-carrying conductor using an open circuit voltage differential and for converting the voltage differential to an amplitude signal;
• a means for transmitting via radio frequency energy, the amplitude signal;
• and
• a means for receiving the radio frequency energy containing the amplitude signal and for converting the amplitude signal to a quantity of power consumption and for displaying the quantity.

A power consumption monitoring system for monitoring the power transmitted by at least one current-carrying conductor, comprising:

• a CVT including a passive, open-circuit EMF concentrator to be positioned proximate to the at least one current-carrying conductor, the CVT adapted to generate an amplitude signal proportional to the power being transmitted through the at least one current-carrying conductor;
• a first PROC in communication with the CVT and including CVT software resident on the first PROC operative to convert the amplitude signal to a digital quantity, store the digital quantity, and to periodically transmit the digital quantity;
• and
• a monitoring device with a second PROC in communication with at least one PSOC and a display, and including monitoring software resident on the second PROC operative to periodically communicate with the first PROC to receive and store the digital quantity and to display the digital quantity on the display in a unit of power consumption.

A method for monitoring power transmitted by at least one current-carrying conductor, comprising the steps of:

• (a) furnishing a CVT including a passive, open-circuit EMF concentrator to be positioned proximate to the at least one current-carrying conductor, the CVT adapted to generate an amplitude signal proportional to the power being transmitted through the at least one current-carrying conductor;
• a first PROC in communication with the CVT to broadcast the amplitude signal, and including CVT software resident on the first PROC operative to convert the amplitude signal to a digital quantity, store the digital quantity, and to periodically transmit the digital quantity;
• and a monitoring device with a second PROC in communication with at least one PSOC and a display, and including monitoring software resident on the second PROC operative to periodically communicate with the first PROC to receive and store the digital quantity and to display the digital quantity on the display in a unit of power consumption;
• (b) positioning the open-circuit EMF concentrator of the CVT proximate to the at least one current-carrying conductor;
• (c) detecting the current being transmitted through the at least one current-carrying conductor and generating the amplitude signal;
• (d) converting the amplitude signal to a digital quantity and storing the digital quantity;
• and
• (e) receiving in the monitoring device the stored digital quantity from the first PROC and displaying the digital quantity on the display.