Electrical wiring

Abstract: An “Energy-Smart” Home System is described where the existing proliferation of electrical junction boxes in the typical home or building are used for a unique combination of purposes, supporting diverse functionalities that heretofore have not been combined, and enabling ease of installation with no new wiring. Typically, this system relies on powerline communication and uses electrical wiring for energy distribution, monitoring, and control as well as security, audio/video communications and entertainment, and general network communications such as file transfers and Internet connectivity. An underlying theme in this “Energy-Smart” Home System allows energy-related information to be gathered by way of EMAC (Energy Monitoring And Control) points typically installed at convenient locations such as electrical junction boxes used for power plug receptacles and wall switches. In addition to being visually displayed at the point of energy use or measurement, energy-related information—electrical and thermal—is typically communicated through a powerline data link to a centrally located intelligent device such as a PC, Residential Gateway or Smart Thermostat where it may be monitored, analyzed, profiled, viewed, and also used to enable energy-related control functions. Energy consumption can be alternately displayed in terms of cost-per-time. Energy monitoring is also added to the electrical breaker box, offering an easy way to supplement distributed EMAC points. In general, this Energy-Smart Home System creates a form of “Bio-Feedback for Home Energy”, making the consumer far more aware, enabling more effective and efficient energy usage, while at the same time creating an electrical power distribution and communications infrastructure that enables significant advancements in security, communications, and comfort, in addition to enhanced energy control and conservation.

Abstract: A cable television/video distribution and selection system for distributing video signals throughout a home or building over in-wall electrical wiring. A remote device is connected to a display monitor or television set and also to the electrical wiring through an electrical outlet. The remote device is comprised of a first video signal selector device which is used by a user to generate a selection signal which corresponds to the cable television channel which the user has selected. The remote device also includes a transmitter/receiver for sending the selection signal over the electrical wiring to a tuner and then receiving the video signal (television station) from the tuner. The transmitter/receiver matches the characteristic impedance of the electrical wiring and is tuned to a predetermined frequency band. The distribution device is connected to the electrical wiring and also to a video signal source, such as a cable television cable entering the building. The distribution device contains a second transmitter/receiver which is tuned to the same frequency band as the remote device and is similarly matched to the characteristic impedance of the electrical wiring. The distribution device also contains a tuner for tuning the cable television channel corresponding to the selector signal it receives from the remote device. After the requested channel is tuned by the tuner, the video signal is sent back to the remote device for viewing on the display monitor.

Abstract: Produced by the NFPA, the popular National Electrical Code- (NEC-) 2002 Handbook contains the complete text of the 2002 edition of the NEC- supplemented by helpful facts and figures, full-color illustrations, real-world examples and expert commentary. An essential reference for students and professionals, this Handbook is the equivalent of an annotated edition of the 2002 NEC- that offers insights into new and more difficult articles in order to guide users to success in interpreting and applying current Code requirements to all types of electrical installations. A valuable information resource for anyone involved in electrical design, installation and inspection, the NEC- 2002 Handbook is updated every three years and provides 100% of the information needed to meet Code and avoid costly errors. Delmar is pleased to make this one-of-a-kind reference - containing the most widely accepted and most frequently used criteria for electrical installations in the U.S. - available directly from us for our customers who work in and around the electrical trades. It may be used independently and makes an excellent companion to books in Delmar's best-selling electrical wiring series."

Abstract: Low voltage electrical wiring has largely been dismissed as too noisy and unpredictable to support high-speed communication signals. Advances in communication and modulation methodologies as well as in adaptive digital signal processing and error detection and correction have spawned novel protocols capable of supporting power line communication networks at speeds comparable to wired LANs. We motivate the use of power line LANs as a basic infrastructure for building integrated smart homes, wherein information appliances ranging from simple control or monitoring devices to multimedia entertainment systems are seamlessly interconnected by the very wires that provide them electricity. By simulation and actual measurements using "reference design" prototype commercial powerline products, we show that the HomePlug MAC and PHY layers can guarantee QoS for real-time communications, supporting delay-sensitive data streams for smart home applications.