Programmable control unit

A device for protecting an appliance receiving power from a household power socket comprising:

• a modular housing positioned intermediate the household socket and appliance for electrically coupling the appliance to the household power;
• a plug on said housing for connection to the household socket;
• a socket on said housing to electrically couple the appliance to the household power;
• circuit means within said housing and intermediate said housing plug and housing socket for analyzing the time period in which power is delivered to the appliance,
• said circuit means comprising:
• a microprocessor having a program logic therein for analyzing time data delivered thereto, said time data corresponding to a period of time of delivery of current produced by the household power to the appliance;
• means for providing a first data stream to said microprocessor indicative of an elapsed time period of current delivery to the appliance, said program logic comparing said time period to a preselected time period of operation;
• relay means having a normally closed position for controlling the current flow from the household socket to the appliance, said processor opening said relay means upon said calculated time period of current delivery exceeding said preselected time period of operation.

A device for protecting an appliance receiving power from a household power socket comprising:

• a modular housing positioned intermediate the household socket and appliance for electrically coupling the appliance to the household power;
• a plug on said housing for connection to the household socket;
• a socket on said housing to electrically couple the appliance to the household power;
• circuit means within said housing and coupled with said housing plug and housing socket for monitoring current delivered to the appliance, said circuit means comprising:
• a microprocessor having a program logic therein for analyzing the value of current delivered to the appliance;
• means for providing data to said microprocessor indicative of an elapsed time in seconds corresponding to the elapsed time of current delivery to the appliance;
• means for providing to the microprocessor data of a value of a current flow to the appliance, said program logic utilizing said time and current value for calculating a rate of consumption of electrical energy by the appliance, said logic comparing said rate of consumption to a preselected rate of consumption;
• relay means having a normally closed position for controlling the current flow from the household socket to the appliance, said processor opening said relay means upon said calculated rate exceeding said preselected rate.