A camera system for monitoring an installation, in particular switchgear, has at least one camera, a display device, a switchover device and a power supply which, in an active state, supplies the camera with power via the switchover device. The switchover device is configured to transmit an image signal from the camera automatically to either the display device or to an interface to which a computer can be connected. There is also described a method for monitoring an installation, in particular switchgear, by way of the camera system.

An electrification arrangement is provided for simplifying changes to the system, such as adding new electrical loads. The arrangement includes a power supply bus that routes available electric power throughout a facility. Electrical loads may be connected to the power supply bus using smart connectors that provide electrical protection and control of respective electrical loads.

A method for controlling an energy grid. In this method, first pieces of information about the past behavior of at least one user at the energy grid are ascertained by a processing unit assigned to the user, homomorphically encrypted and transferred homomorphically encrypted to a first data memory. An external processing unit reads the homomorphically encrypted first pieces of information, calculates as a function thereof second, homomorphically encrypted pieces of information about a predicted, future behavior of the user and stores the second, homomorphically encrypted pieces of information on a second data memory. The second, homomorphically encrypted pieces of information are read out from the second data memory and decrypted by the processing unit assigned to the user. A control of the energy grid takes place as a function of the decrypted second pieces of information.

A photovoltaic system and a method for locating devices in a photovoltaic string. A communication host in the photovoltaic system acquires accumulated operation durations of MLPE apparatuses of the photovoltaic string, ranks the accumulated operation durations to obtain a ranking result, and determines a physical location of each device in the photovoltaic string according to the ranking result and a sequence of installing positions of the devices, where the devices are installed at the installing positions based on the sequence. It is not necessary to paste label codes on the MLPE apparatuses, or record serial numbers of the MLPE apparatuses by installation personnel. Operation processes are simplified, operation time is saved, and labor costs are reduced.

Methods and systems for power management are disclosed. The disclosed power management may facilitate the use of different components that may have different electrical current capacity limitations. The current capacity limitations may be based on, for example, physical limitations of the components, regulatory limitations, organizational limitations, and/or other considerations. It may not be desirable to exceed the current capacity limitations. By implementing the disclosed power management methods, systems, and/or devices, operation of devices may be less likely to result in the current drawn through devices such as power cables exceeding the current capacity limitations even while other devices operably connected to the cables do not have such current capacity limitations.

A method of controlling energy supply in an energy distribution network is disclosed. The energy distribution network comprises an energy generation facility adapted to supply energy to the energy distribution network and an energy consumer adapted to consume energy from the energy distribution network. The method comprises, at the energy generation facility: detecting a curtailment condition, the curtailment condition indicating that the energy generation facility should curtail its supply of energy to the energy distribution network; in response to the curtailment condition, transmitting, via a communications link, a request to increase energy consumption to the energy consumer; receiving a reply message from the energy consumer via the communications link; and controlling energy output from the generation facility in dependence on the reply message.

A carriable power transfer unit that can be used for bidirectional power transmission between a power network and each of the plurality of vehicles provided with driving power sources is provided. The power transfer unit includes: a plurality of connecting portions that are attachable to and detachable from each of the plurality of vehicles, and are used for power transmission between the power transfer unit and each of the plurality of vehicles; and a control unit that controls bidirectional power transmission between the power network and each of the plurality of vehicles.

Embodiments described herein provided methods and apparatus for controlling switching a power supply of a first network node between an electrical power grid and an alternative power supply in which the first network node is configured to transmit data to a second network node over a data transmission link. The method includes receiving first information indicative of a predicted decrease in a transmission rate of data transmitted by the first network node over the data transmission link. Responsive to receiving the first information, a first request is transmitted to the first network node to switch the power supply of the first network node from the electrical power grid to the alternative power supply.

A modular system is described which can provide high frequency monitoring of power use and responsive control as well as enabling network connectivity for centralised monitoring and operation. One modular system consists of a communications bus, end caps, and a combination of the modules providing communications, power metering, relay control and battery backup. Each modular system can be configured with a combination of modular units as needed for the application. A combination of bus communication monitoring and tilt detection provides security against external tampering after installation.

A system for detecting the topology and phase information of an electrical power distribution system is provided. For example, the system includes a group of meters connected to an electrical power distribution system and can communicate with each other through local network connections such as a mesh network. Each of the meters is configured to generate and transmit voltage data to a correlator of the group of meters. The correlator calculates the correlations between each pair of meters in the group based on the voltage data received and further transmits the calculated correlations to a mapper through the mesh network. The mapper determines the topological or phase relationship between at least the group of meters based on the received correlations.