Retrofit microgrid interconnect device (mid) and branch control relays into electrical panels
AssigneeSchneider Electric USA, Inc.
InventorChad R. Mittelstadt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of new installation or retrofitting an electrical panel includes removing an interior from a panel housing of the electrical panel. The method includes installing a microgrid interconnect device (MID) into the panel housing into a position formerly occupied by the interior, connecting first and second lines and a neutral line of the panel housing to the MID, and installing the interior onto the MID, with the MID between the interior and a back surface of the panel housing. The method includes connecting respective busses of the interior to the MID. Branch switching devices of the MID are connected in electrical series with respective branch breakers of the interior for individual control of branch circuits.
Claims20
A method of retrofitting an electrical panel comprising:
- removing an interior from a panel housing of the electrical panel;
- installing a microgrid interconnect device (MID) into the panel housing into a position formerly occupied by the interior;
- connecting first and second lines and a neutral line of the panel housing to the MID;
- installing the interior onto the MID, with the MID between the interior and a back surface of the panel housing;
- connecting busses of the interior to the MID;
- and
- connecting a branch switching device of the MID in electrical series with a branch breaker of the interior for control of a branch circuit.
A microgrid interconnect device (MID) comprising:
- a main switching device;
- a first line connector electrically connected to the main switching device and configured to connect to a first line of an electrical panel;
- a second line connector electrically connected to the main switching device and configured to connect to a second line of the electrical panel;
- a first load connector electrically connected to the main switching device and configured to connect to a first line bus of an interior of the electrical panel;
- and
- a second load connector electrically connected to the main switching device and configured to connect to a second line bus of the interior;
- wherein the main switching device is configured to switch between an ON state and an OFF state,
- wherein in the ON state, the main switching device electrically connects the first line connector to the first load connector and electrically connects the second line connector to the second load connector, and
- wherein in the OFF state, the main switching device electrically isolates the first line connector from the first load connector and electrically isolates the second line connector from the second load connector, and further comprising:
- a plurality of branch switching devices operatively connected to the main switching device to control individual branch circuits.
An electrical panel comprising:
- a panel housing defining a back surface and including a first line and a second line;
- an interior in the panel housing;
- and
- a microgrid interconnect device (MID) in the panel housing between the interior and the back surface, wherein the MID is connected in electrical series between the interior and the first and second lines of the panel housing and includes a plurality of branch switching devices for control of branch circuits.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.