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Control Switch

Friday, September 14th, 2007

Control Switch

Build Your Own Load Miser Switch Power Electric System

Introduction

A load miser switch is an automatic switching device that allows you to connect two large appliances such as a hot Water Tank and stove and prioritize one appliance due to an electrical panel or service entrance being underrated for a particular dwelling.

How Traditional Load Misers work

There are two types of loads in a miser switch, preferred and non preferred. When the loads reach 80% of the fuse rating of the device the non preferred load will shut off allowing the preferred appliance to operate. When the preferred load is below 80% or turned off, the load miser switch will allow power to go to the non preferred load.

Do they still exist?

Load miser switches have been fazed out over the years but there's still a demand for them. The electrical authorities don't want people to use them anymore, and this would account for their being fazed out but they're not illegal as there are many installed all over the world. Some people still manage to get their hands on them because of some available stock here and there. The lack of load miser switches has forced people to upgrade services from 60 to 100 Amps or 100 to 200 Amps and it has generated a lot of revenue for power companies. Most people who have new homes or perform major renovations have a new 200 Amp service that can handle many appliances at the same time. There are still millions of 60 and 100 Amp service entrances out there and a new service upgrade can become costly these days. Many people would like to control just two large appliances in their home or garage automatically to avoid nuisance tripping of their mains to save on a complete service upgrade.

Necessity Is The Mother Of All Inventions

Many people have an AC unit, washer and dryer, stove, and many other appliances that make a 60 and even 100 Amp service entrances mains trip when more than one appliance is running. If you're border line in amperage you just need those appliances prioritized with a miser switch. Fortunately there's a load miser switch design that's even better than the traditional load miser switching system. With some readily available parts you could build this miser switch yourself. Not only can it supply power to two loads or more and prioritize one of them, it can also be put into the main lines of a service entrance after a main disconnect and control many appliances or loads at once.

How the New Load Miser Switch works

The stove always has power as it's the main load you want running in the miser switch. When you turn your stove on; it could be one element, fan, coffee pot connected to the outlet attached to it, the current sensing relays will detect and open the power relay feeding the dryer. When this happens, the dryers power is cut off. When the stove load is reduced to just under your preset level of 1-100 Amps, it will allow the power relay to close and the dryer will work.

Some of the benefits to this load miser switch are

-You Can adjust the current sensors from 1-100 Amps, even independently. Most stoves have an outlet with maybe a coffee pot connected, lights or fan. If any draw is detected above your preset level it will stop the non preferred load or loads from working.
-You can install this miser switch into the main lines, after a main 60 or 100 Amp disconnect, and control many appliances through prioritization.
-It can control relays or contactors up to the rating of you service entrance. You're not limited to 40 Amps and two loads like with the old miser switches.
-You can run individual sensor wires from appliances to have control over your power relays with a smaller relay.

About the Author

Power Electric System: Michael Thellend is an inventor, licensed electrician, certified in electronic controls and he specializes in alternative power. He offers a website with free custom ongoing resources regarding electrical, alternative, generator, vehicle and emergency power. Please visit: www.powerelectricsystem.com
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