Twayne wrote:

Twayne wrote:

The Daring Dufas wrote:

Ron Hardin wrote:
Is there a power-strip like device for use with portable
generators that turns off outlets when other outlets are using
a certain number of watts?

Like you'd want to turn off the refrigerator while the sump pump
cycles, to keep the total watts under say 2000; but mostly the
refrigerator stays on.


You can easily build your own if you're handy
with electrical modules. You won't have to
build any circuit boards because the parts
are available off the shelf. You can use a
current sensor and relay module manufactured
by Functional Devices, Inc which are sold at
many HVAC supply houses like Johnstone Supply.

http://www.functionaldevices.com/

http://tinyurl.com/5fuhg8

http://www.johnstonesupply.com/corp/Default.aspx

TDD

Generator load management is a bit more complicated than that and
simply dropping lower priority loads when higher priority ones come
on won't work properly and could potentially damage items.

A proper load management setup needs a controller with some smarts,
and monitoring connections to things like sump pump switches,
thermostats, etc. so that it can tell when an item needs to run,
even though it is not currently powered. This type of control just
isn't practical on a small scale where the cost of the control
would exceed the cost of a larger generator.

Of course it is. It's nothing but a logic setup. a = on, x = off
etc. Simple current monitoring or even clamps.

Nope, the end result of such simplicity will just be an intermittently
overloaded generator, devices damaged by short cycling, floods because
the sump pump didn't get enough run time, etc. Proper load management
requires the smarts along with sensing to hold off providing power to
item Y until item X has completed it's cycle.

You apparently don't understand a logic chart; or you wouldn't say that.
x & y are NOT equipment; they are states. And simple to work out.

Baloney. Get a list of the various loads, the wattage draw of each and
starting surge where applicable, and then you try to work out your logic
chart for this application to determine which loads can be allowed to
come online in what combinations without overloading the generator.

Be sure to account for devices that present more than one level of load
such as a refrigerator (cool vs. defrost) and devices that could be
damaged by repeatedly cutting their operation short, such as those with
cool down cycles. Be sure your current monitoring reacts fast enough to
drop excess loads when a new load comes online with it's peak starting
current, before you stall a regular generator, or put an inverter
generator into overload protect shutdown.