SPAN modular breaker panels are here...

[herding_cats]

This is about as cool as it gets:

www.span.io

These are load management panels to avoid a complete service upgrade, mix use with solar and battery management, EV charger.

 

[jaggedben]

These have been around for a couple years. Expensive but cool.

 

[LarryFine]

I'm thinking that, if I was going to micro-manage or automate power usage, I would want to do it by controlling individual loads, not entire circuits.

 

[herding_cats]

I just found these guys today.

Yeah, the panels are like $5k. I spoke with a sales rep today.

Next year 200A 3-phase panels coming out.

And yeah, individual loads would be better. I have this little wifi cube that's a relay. you can gang them up to switch multiple poles.

 

[jaggedben]

I'm thinking that, if I was going to micro-manage or automate power usage, I would want to do it by controlling individual loads, not entire circuits.

The big items that matter most to energy consumption tend to have their own circuits.

 

[LarryFine]

The big items that matter most to energy consumption tend to have their own circuits.

True, but many, such as HVAC, can just as easily be controlled by low voltage.

 

[ramsy]

This is about as cool as it gets:

Whats the problem with 208/120 single phase?

Span+Compatibility+Guide.pdf

drive.google.com

 

[gadfly56]

I'm thinking that, if I was going to micro-manage or automate power usage, I would want to do it by controlling individual loads, not entire circuits.

If you're going to go there, call Siemens or Johnson Controls for a building management system.

 

[jaggedben]

If you're going to go there, call Siemens or Johnson Controls for a building management system.

For a residence?

 

[brantmacga]

I'm thinking that, if I was going to micro-manage or automate power usage, I would want to do it by controlling individual loads, not entire circuits.

I believe the primary focus of SPAN is balancing off-grid power and EV charging around the peak/off-peak schedule of the utility to maximize potential savings of your own solar production. Every interview I've watched with SPAN really emphasizes the need for solar and EV charging to see any benefit.

 

[jaggedben]

I believe the primary focus of SPAN is balancing off-grid power and EV charging around the peak/off-peak schedule of the utility to maximize potential savings of your own solar production. Every interview I've watched with SPAN really emphasizes the need for solar and EV charging to see any benefit.

They are a great idea for battery backup systems. They can sense when the system goes off-grid, and automatically shed all the non-critical loads. But, unlike having the non-critical loads in a separate panel, the homeowner can decide to turn something back on in the SPAN app if they really need it, or if they have plenty of sun. Also the homeowner can educate themselves about how much each circuit consumes and behave accordingly.

Not really worth the extra money, IMO, but cool enough that some clients don't care.

 

[gadfly56]

For a residence?

I was being slightly silly. If you're looking to control loads at the outlet level, you are definitely beyond residential solutions.

 

[4x4dually]

I spend most of my day being the light switch nazi at our house. I just follow my entire family around turning off everything they leave on behind them. Cost me $0 and cuts more than the 15% SPAN claims to save.

 

[jaggedben]

I spend most of my day being the light switch nazi at our house. I just follow my entire family around turning off everything they leave on behind them. Cost me $0 and cuts more than the 15% SPAN claims to save.

But your time and sanity. What's that worth?

 

[4x4dually]

But your time and sanity. What's that worth?

A heck of a lot less than $5K. And to boot, it will never become obsolete, need software updates, or tech support.