An electrical power coupler is configured to convey electrical power upon detecting that a compatible other coupler is properly aligned and no undesirable operating conditions are detected. The power coupler includes a first ferromagnetic metal adjacent a first magnet, a hall sensor for detecting a magnetic field in the first ferromagnetic metal, and at least two first electrical contacts. A control unit is in electrical communication with the power conductors, and includes an electrical switch operable to selectively allow a flow of electricity from a power source through the associated power conductors when the hall sensor detects the magnetic field, such as when the first electrical contacts are in contact with at least two second electrical contacts of another electrical power coupler. The second electrical contacts make contact with the first electrical contacts upon proper alignment of a correspondingly configured other electrical power coupler.

Embodiments of an electrical outlet of the present invention generally include one or more sockets which include, in addition to positive, negative, and optionally, grounding electrical connections, at least one coupling/communication component, wherein AC electrical current flows through the outlet only when a plug comprising a complementary coupling/communication component is engaged with the socket, whereby the proximity of the coupling/communication component and the complementary coupling/communication component actuates the outlet to provide electrical current therethrough. In one embodiment, in lieu of a complementary coupling/communication component, a wireless transmission device is used to send a signal to the coupling/communication component to actuate the outlet. In other embodiments, an electrical outlet of the present invention includes a mechanism for maintaining engagement between the outlet and a receptacle/plug that provides for safe disengagement when they are inadvertently separated. Embodiments of a method of using embodiments of apparatuses of the present invention are also provided.

A system and method for remotely monitoring, measuring and controlling power to an electrically powered device is disclosed herein. The system preferably comprises an apparatus, an electrically-powered device and a controller. The apparatus preferably comprises a cord, an alternating current outlet socket, an alternating current input plug, an electro-mechanical relay, a processor and a transceiver. The system preferably uses a WiFi communication signal to transmit commands from the remote controller to the apparatus.

The present invention relates to a motor-driven suction pump and a method for connecting such a pump. The suction pump has a pump unit for generating a negative pressure which is accommodated in a housing. Further, a terminal box is provided which can be connected to a power source via a connecting cable and has contact elements for supplying the pump unit with a power current. The contact elements are electrically conductively connected to the contact counter elements provided on the housing side and leading to the pump unit when the terminal box is coupled to the housing. In order to increase electrical safety, a sensor, an evaluation unit, and a switch are provided. The sensor is configured to check the coupling of the terminal box. The switch switches a power supply to at least one of the contact elements. The evaluation unit is data-based connected to the sensor and the switch such that the switch connects the contact element to the power current supply when a signal of the sensor confirming the coupling is present and disconnects the power current supply when a signal of the sensor confirming the coupling is absent. In the method according to the invention, at least one contact element which is switched off is first electrically connected to the counter contact element on the housing side, which is provided for supplying current to the pump unit. The power current is then applied to the contact element on the basis of a signal confirming the corresponding contacting.

An example embodiment is a voice appliance including: a plurality of user interface devices comprising at least a microphone and a speaker; a plug for receiving power to the appliance or load; and a communication subsystem configured for wired communication with an electrical receptacle through the plug when plugged into the electrical receptacle. An electrical receptacle for connection to power lines comprises: at least one plug outlet configured to provide DC output, wherein the at least one plug outlet is configured to provide access to a wired communication network defined by at least one of the power lines. The plug outlet can be a Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug outlet to connect to a mobile device or a removable USB memory device. An intelligent junction box at the circuit breaker panel is configured to perform dynamic power allocation and power line communication.

An abnormality prompting method and an intelligent socket (30) are provided. Prompting is performed when a home appliance runs abnormally by means of the intelligent socket (30). The method includes: the intelligent socket (30) receives a state message from a first home appliance (S202), and the state message includes indication information used for indicating a current working mode of the first home appliance; the intelligent socket (30) obtains an actual value of a working parameter of the first home appliance (S203); the intelligent socket (30) determines a working state of the first home appliance according to the actual value of the working parameter and a maximum value of the working parameter allowed by the working mode (S204); when determining that the working state of the first home appliance is an abnormal state, the intelligent socket (30) outputs a prompt message (S205).

In one embodiment, and apparatus includes an electrical socket for connection with an electrical plug, a sensor for identifying a secure connection between the electrical socket and the electrical plug, and an electronic controller electrically coupled to the electrical socket and comprising a power input for receiving power. The electronic controller is operable to transmit power to the electrical socket upon receiving a signal from the sensor identifying the secure connection between the electrical socket and the electrical plug and shut off or turn on power to the electrical socket upon receiving an external input to the electronic controller. A method is also disclosed herein. The apparatus and method provide an electronic controlled power switch or circuit breaker safety device.

A system and method for remotely monitoring, measuring and controlling power to an electrically powered device is disclosed herein. The system preferably comprises an apparatus, an electrically-powered device and a controller. The apparatus preferably comprises a cord, an alternating current outlet socket, an alternating current input plug, an electro-mechanical relay, a processor and a transceiver. The system preferably uses a WiFi communication signal to transmit commands from the remote controller to the apparatus.

A plug receiving device includes a main body having an inner space therein and having an open front face and an open top, wherein conductor pins to be inserted into pin holes of an outlet protrude from an outer rear face of the main body, wherein first electrical connectors are disposed on an inner rear face of the main body; a shield coupled to an inner rear face of the main body and having a vertically slidable slider; and a removable insert to be removably inserted into the inner space, wherein the removable insert has second electrical connectors disposed on an outer face thereof, wherein when the removable insert is inserted into the inner space such that the removable insert presses down the slider of the shield, the second electrical connectors are electrically connected to the first electrical connectors and then to the conductor pins, respectively.

A socket tester device includes an electrical plug that is to be inserted into an electrical socket, a tester circuit electrically coupled to the electrical plug, a sound emitting device, a communication device, a processor, and a memory. The tester circuit outputs one or more signals indicating a wiring condition of the electrical socket into which the electrical plug is inserted. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive the one or more signals indicating the wiring condition of the electrical socket into which the electrical plug is inserted, control the communication device to wirelessly transmit a first message that includes data indicating the wiring condition of the electrical socket into which the electrical plug is inserted, and control whether the sound emitting device emits one or more sounds.