Integrated power line metering and communication method and apparatus

A power line metering and communication apparatus for measuring electrical information on a power line, comprising:

• a housing;
• a coupling mechanism attached to the housing to physically connect the housing to a suspended power line under strain, and to provide an electrical connection to one or more conductors of the suspended power line;
• metering apparatus disposed within the housing and electrically coupled to the power line conductors via the coupling mechanism, wherein the metering apparatus comprises at least a current monitor and a voltage monitor to measure the power line current and power line voltage, the voltage monitor comprising a voltage sensor coupled to a current-carrying conductor of the power line and coupled to a reference voltage to measure a power signal voltage on the power line;
• and
• a communications apparatus disposed within the housing and coupled to the metering apparatus to communicate information derived from the power line current and voltage measurements to a remote location.

A power line metering and communication apparatus for measuring electrical information on a power line, comprising:

• a housing;
• a coupling mechanism attached to the housing to physically connect the housing to a suspended power line under strain, and to provide an electrical connection to one or more conductors of the suspended power line, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a wire support structure to physically support the connected portion of the suspended power line within the housing without requiring release of the strain in the suspended power line, and wherein strain relief for the connected portion of the suspended power line is provided via the wire support structures:
• metering apparatus disposed within the housing and electrically coupled to the power line conductors via the coupling mechanism, wherein the metering apparatus comprises at least a current monitor and a voltage monitor to measure the power line current and power line voltage;
• and
• a communications apparatus disposed within the housing and coupled to the metering apparatus to communicate information derived from the power line current and voltage measurements to a remote location.

A power line metering and communication apparatus for recognizing and communicating electrical current-related information, comprising:

• a housing;
• a coupling mechanism attached to the housing to physically connect the housing to the power line and to provide an electrical connection to one or more conductors of the power line, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a strain relief mechanism to facilitate the connection of the housing to a suspended portion of the power line without a need for external strain relief;
• current monitoring apparatus disposed within the housing and electrically coupled to the power line conductors via the coupling mechanism to measure current-related signals, wherein the current monitoring apparatus comprises a current monitor to measure the current signal traversing the power line;
• and
• a communications apparatus disposed within the housing and electrically coupled to the current monitoring apparatus to communicate information derived from the measured current-related signals to a remote location.

A power line metering and communication apparatus for recognizing and communicating electrical voltage-related information, comprising:

• a housing;
• a coupling mechanism attached to the housing to physically connect the housing to the power line and to provide an electrical connection to one or more conductors of the power line, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a strain relief mechanism to facilitate the connection of the housing to a suspended portion of the power line without a need for external strain relief;
• voltage monitoring apparatus disposed within the housing and electrically coupled to the power line conductors via the coupling mechanism to measure voltage-related signals, wherein the voltage monitoring apparatus comprises a voltage monitor to measure the voltage signal on the power line;
• and
• a communications apparatus disposed within the housing and coupled to the voltage monitoring apparatus to communicate information derived from the measured voltage-related signals to a remote location.

A method of metering energy consumption on a power line, comprising:

• attaching a housing to a suspended portion of the power line, wherein the housing contains at least a metering apparatus for measuring energy consumption and a communications apparatus;
• providing strain relief for the portion of the suspended power line attached to the housing, wherein the strain relief is provided from within the housing, thereby requiring no external strain relief,
• electrically coupling the metering apparatus to the power line;
• metering the watt-hours of energy consumed via the power line;
• transmitting a signal corresponding to the watt-hours of energy consumed to a remote location via the communications apparatus.

A system for metering and communicating power consumption information;

• comprising:
• a power source to provide a power signal;
• power distribution lines coupled to distribute the power signal from the power source to one or more power consumers;
• and
• an integrated power metering and communication apparatus for each of a selected group of the one or more power consumers to measure the power consumed by each of the selected group of power consumers, the integrated power metering and communication apparatus comprising:
• a housing;
• a coupling mechanism attached to the housing to physically connect the housing to a suspended portion of the power distribution line leading to a corresponding one of the power consumers, and to provide an electrical connection to one or more conductors of the power distribution line, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a wire support structure to physically support the suspended portion of the power distribution line within the housing without requiring release of the strain in the suspended power distribution line, and wherein any required strain relief for the suspended portion of the power distribution line is provided entirely via the wire support structure, thereby eliminating the need for external strain relief;
• a metering apparatus disposed within the housing and electrically coupled to the power line conductors via the coupling mechanism, wherein the metering apparatus comprises at least a current monitor and a voltage monitor to measure the power line current and power line voltage on the power line conductors;
• and
• a communications apparatus disposed within the housing and coupled to the metering apparatus to communicate information derived from the power line current and voltage measurements to a remote location.