Cardinal, ON, Canada. There are two types of loads in a miser switch, preferred and non preferred. When the loads reach 80% of the fuse rating of the device the non preferred load will shut off allowing the preferred appliance to operate. When the preferred load is below 80% or turned off, the load miser switch will allow power to go to the non preferred load.
Load miser switches have been phased out over the years but there's still a demand for them. The electrical authorities don't want people to use them anymore, and this would account for their being phased out but they're not illegal as there are many installed all over the world. Some people still manage to get their hands on them because of some available stock here and there. The lack of load miser switches has forced people to upgrade services from 60 to 100 Amps or 100 to 200 Amps and it's generated a lot of revenue for power companies. Most people who have new homes or perform major renovations have a new 200 Amp service that can handle many appliances at the same time.
There are still millions of 60 and 100 Amp service entrances out there and a new service upgrade can become costly these days. Many people would like to control just two large appliances in their home or garage automatically to avoid nuisance tripping of their mains to save on a complete service upgrade.
Many people have an AC unit, washer and dryer, stove, and many other appliances that make a 60 and even 100 Amp service entrance's mains trip when more than one appliance is running. If you're border line in amperage you just need those appliances prioritized with a miser switch. Fortunately there's a load miser switch design that's even better than the traditional load miser switching system. With some readily available parts you could build this miser switch yourself.
This miser switch lets you adjust current sensors from 1-100 Amps, even independently. Most stoves have an outlet with maybe a coffee pot connected to it, lights or fan. If a draw is detected above your preset level it will stop the non preferred loads from tripping the mains of your house or business. This load miser switch is so versatile that you can install it into the main lines, after a main 60 or 100 Amp disconnect, and control many appliances through prioritization. In addition to this you can control relays or contactors up to the rating of your service entrance, you're not limited to 40 Amps and two loads like with the old load miser switches. One other nice thing about this unit is that it can be used in an emergency power system.
So there you have it, a custom state of the art load miser switch that you can use in a multitude of ways and in various places. There's also the fact that they're hard to come by and that you'll save a pile of money in service entrance upgrades building one yourself.
To learn how to make your own load miser switch, please click here: http://www.powerelectricsystem.com/
