Aspects of the invention relate to system and method of storing off-peak electricity. The system includes an energy storage device electrically coupled to an electricity grid of at least one electricity provider, where the energy storage device has a storing capacity and is chargeable or dischargeable, upon demand, and a controller configured to control operation of the energy storage device such that the energy storage device is charged with the off-peak electricity at an off-peak time each day when a demand for electricity is low from the electricity grid, and is discharged at a peak time each day when the demand for electricity is high, to provide an amount of the stored electricity, to the at least one electricity provider.

Methods and apparatus for a security light having a remote photovoltaic module is set forth. The security light includes a primary rechargeable battery connected to the remote photovoltaic module while also having a backup battery system to be utilized when the rechargeable batteries condition require recharge. The security lighting unit functions as a security light to provide variable wide area illumination based upon environmental and battery conditions and also which power supply is optionally connected to the load, the load being the illumination sources and the various supportive electronics. The system further includes a controller which can not only operationally selects either the rechargeable batteries or backup batteries but also can monitor battery condition to preserve battery life. In operation, the security light may include a variable battery power supply for ease of installation.

A selective protection circuit includes a current-limiting module and a control module, where the current-limiting module includes a switch unit, and the switch unit includes a first end, a second end, and a control end; the first end is connected to a positive electrode of a bus voltage of an HVDC power supply, and the second end is connected to a positive electrode of a power supply of a voltage pre-regulator circuit in a load branch connected to the current-limiting module; the control end is connected to the control module; and the control module is configured to output a control signal to the control end when a value of a total current flowing through the switch unit is greater than or equal to a preset threshold, so as to switch off the switch unit.

A selective protection circuit includes a current-limiting module and a control module, where the current-limiting module includes a switch unit, and the switch unit includes a first end, a second end, and a control end; the first end is connected to a positive electrode of a bus voltage of an HVDC power supply, and the second end is connected to a positive electrode of a power supply of a voltage pre-regulator circuit in a load branch connected to the current-limiting module; the control end is connected to the control module; and the control module is configured to output a control signal to the control end when a value of a total current flowing through the switch unit is greater than or equal to a preset threshold, so as to switch off the switch unit.

A load control device for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical device may be configured to conduct current through earth ground and may disconnect a switching circuit to reduce an amount of current conducted through the earth ground. The load control device may comprise a controllably conductive device configured to control the power delivered from the AC power source to the electrical device so as to generate a switched-hot voltage, a switching circuit electrically coupled with a detect circuit, and a control circuit configured to render the switching circuit conductive and nonconductive. The detect circuit may generate a detect signal indicating a magnitude of the switched-hot voltage. The control circuit may be configured to monitor the detect signal and to render the switching circuit non-conductive after detecting an edge on the detect signal to reduce the total current through the earth ground.

An in-vehicle backup the control apparatus includes a switch unit (for example, including second switch units), a control unit, a low-voltage detection circuit, and a latching circuit. The switch unit is provided between a power storage unit and a load (for example, a second load). The control unit controls the switch unit. The low-voltage detection circuit detects a low-voltage state of an electric power path through which electric power from a power supply unit is supplied. When the low-voltage detection circuit detects the low-voltage state, the latching circuit is switched to a latched state in which the switch unit is kept in an on state. When the electric power path is in the low-voltage state, the control unit releases the latched state and controls the switch unit to be in an on state.

An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system includes an inverter feed path and a plurality of bypass feed paths configured to couple to an AC voltage source such that each bypass feed path includes a switch configured to couple the AC voltage source to the load when closed. The switch in each bypass feed path may be rated to conduct current that corresponds to an output of the inverter feed path. Each bypass feed path may be coupled in parallel with each other and the inverter feed path. The UPS system may also include at least one controller coupled to a respective inverter and to a respective rectifier in the inverter feed path and a plurality of controllers. Each controller may be coupled to a respective switch such that the at least one controller and the plurality of controllers communicate with each other via at least two communication buses.

An apparatus according to various embodiments may detect the state of an external switch. An apparatus according to various embodiments may activate or deactivate an appliance based on the state of the external switch. An apparatus according to various embodiments may activate or deactivate an appliance based on the state of the external switch, even in the absence of grid power.

A power feeding apparatus is provided. The power feeding apparatus includes a power feeding unit configured to supply electric power to a power receiving apparatus through a magnetic field; a measuring unit configured to measure an electric characteristic value and to generate a measurement value; a power receiving unit configured to provide a set value; and a foreign substance detection unit configured to detect a foreign substance in the magnetic field based on the set value and the measurement value. A power receiving apparatus, a power feeding system, and a method of controlling power feeding are also provided.

The present disclosure generally relates to systems and techniques for power generation. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method for power generation, including: receiving a forecast of weather impacting renewable energy generation configured to provide power to a load; distributing energy between a plurality of energy storage equipment based on the forecast of the weather, the plurality of energy storage equipment including different types of storage equipment; selecting one of the plurality of energy storage equipment based on the forecast of the weather; and controlling distribution of power from the selected one of the plurality of energy storage equipment to the load.