Described herein are method and systems for detecting an unauthorized removal of a battery. The system comprising: a battery monitor circuit attached to or embedded in the battery; a remote device, wherein the remote device stores instructions that when executed on the remote device cause the remote device to perform operations comprising: receiving, at the remote device, a wireless signal from the battery monitor circuit comprising voltage and temperature data; evaluating, by the remote device, whether the battery is in its expected location by confirming for each battery, which is expected to be present, whether there has been an unexpected interruption in the wireless signal from the battery; providing an alert notification when there has been an unexpected interruption in the wireless signal.

Disclosed herein are a methods and system for monitoring battery temperature and providing alerts when temperatures are abnormal, comprising: wirelessly receiving temperature measurement data from a single monobloc or a plurality of monoblocs that are electrically connected in series or parallel, wherein a temperature measurement data represent the temperatures inside each of said plurality of monoblocs; calculating a temperature value, T.sub.PDAVE, equal to an average of the temperature measurement data wirelessly received from all the plurality of monoblocs in a battery; calculating a high temperature difference, T.sub.PDH, as an absolute value of the difference between the highest monobloc temperature in the battery and the T.sub.PDAVE; calculating a low temperature difference, T.sub.PDL, as an absolute value of the difference between the lowest monobloc temperature in the battery and the T.sub.PDAVE; and establishing an alert when the T.sub.PDH is greater than a predetermined high temperature threshold.

The invention relates to a master-slave power supply system, which comprises: (a) a master power supply unit having an output power port; (b) one or more slave units, each unit having its own power port; wherein the output power port of the master unit, as well as the output ports of all the slave units are connected in parallel; and wherein a bridging cable connects between the master unit and a first slave unit, and additional bridging cables connect respectively each of the slave units to a next one, until a last slave unit, and wherein at least a voltage feedback signal is conveyed from master unit to all the slave units in parallel over said bridging cables.

A custom outlet module is contained within a housing and has an electric current sensor configured to measure current passing through an electric outlet during a time period, a proximity sensor configured to detect a distance of an object relative to the electric outlet during the time period, a relay switch that can open or close to stop or conduct current through a circuit in the electric outlet in response to a command, and a wireless network interface in communication with the electric current sensor and the proximity sensor, the wireless network interface configured to transmit and receive data from the current sensor and the proximity sensor, to transmit commands to the relay switch, transmit the data to a computing device, and receive commands from the computing device.

A power control device is contained within a housing and has an electric current sensor configured to measure current passing through an electric outlet during a time period, a proximity sensor configured to detect a distance of an object relative to the electric outlet during the time period, a relay switch that can open or close to stop or conduct current through a circuit in the electric outlet in response to a command, and a wireless network interface in communication with the electric current sensor and the proximity sensor, the wireless network interface configured to transmit and receive data from the current sensor and the proximity sensor, to transmit commands to the relay switch, transmit the data to a computing device, and receive commands from the computing device.

A monitoring system and method for monitoring performance of individual powers sources in a distributed power source system. A monitoring module is coupled to each of the power sources, or to each string of serially connected power sources, to monitor and collect data regarding current, voltage, temperature and other environmental factors at the power source. The collected data is transmitted over a power line to a central analysis station for analysis. Data collected from each source indicates malfunction or degradation at the source. Comparison of data collected from adjacent sources filters for environmental factors impacting neighboring sources such as cloudy days for a solar panel. Comparison of data collected from the same source at different times indicates soiling or degradation of the source with time or periodic events such as a moving shade from an adjacent building.

A method for decentralizing a piece of information pertaining to a power availability situation in a power grid at a particular instant includes ascertaining power availability data in the power grid by a power control center that is associated with the power grid, and generating a piece of power availability information by the power control center at the particular instant. The method also includes transmitting the power availability information from the power control center to at least one data reception system, and processing and/or outputting the power availability information by the data reception system.

In an example, a method of controlling power distribution in a powered furniture system including a first article of powered furniture having a first controller and a first number of power outlets and a second article of powered furniture having a second number of power outlets and a second controller can include determining a first total number of power outlets in the system, wherein the first total number of power outlets includes at least the first number of power outlets of the first article of powered furniture. The method can include controlling application of power to the first number of power outlets associated with the first article of powered furniture using the determined first total number of power outlets in the system, and transmitting the first total number of power outlets to a second controller of a second article of powered furniture having a second number of power outlets.

A DC-feeding-voltage calculating apparatus includes storage that stores train model information including information for controlling a regenerative power reducing amount in a train in an electrified section; feeding network model information including position information on a substation; and substation model information including control information on a substation voltage. On the basis of: the stored information; a voltage value, current values of feeders by train direction, the voltage and current values being measured in the substation; and first train information on a train including a wireless communication apparatus, an estimator estimates second train information on a train not including a wireless communication apparatus and outputs train operation information. A calculator, on the basis of the stored information and the train operation information, calculates a substation voltage setting value for controlling the substation voltage such that regenerative power is increased in a regenerative car in the electrified section.

Methods, systems, and devices for managing a power system are described. A power management system may include multiple interconnected power supply and control units that plug directly into a standard residential power outlet. A power management system may include multiple interconnected power supply and control units that plug directly into a standard residential power outlet. Together, the interconnected power supply and control units may provide a distributed power backup system in the form of a home energy nano-grid. The power management system may provide backup power, power sharing, and device inter-connectivity while enabling efficient scalability and the robustness of a distributed system. The power management system may also include a power usage monitoring unit, which may gather data and use it to improve the efficiency of power usage throughout the home.