- This new socket from MK
is probably the smartest in the world,
but to the untrained eye, it looks like any other socket.
Many of the same features
as you'd see on any other MK socket.
It has the same dimensions.
It installs like irregular socket
and it has the same safety features
and build quality that we are accustomed to from MK.
But if you look a little closer,
these push buttons have replaced the usual rocker switches
and that's just a hint as to what's going on inside.
So let's start by taking a look under the cover.
And here, in true Blue Peter fashion
is one I have dismantled earlier.
Under the cover, I can see a microprocessor,
an antenna for RF communication, two relays
and even some temperature sensors.
There's also a feature that electricians will love
and we'll return to that layer in the video.
Now of course, this is a smart socket,
and smart home enthusiasts will probably say,
"What's new about that?
Smart sockets have been around for years."
This socket isn't intended for home use.
It's the first intelligent socket designed
to solve a big problem within commercial
and industrial buildings.
So what is the problem?
Well, the problem is that plug-in appliances
account for more than 25% of power consumption
within a typical commercial building.
And if you've worked in energy or facilities management,
you've probably worked hard to make your buildings
as energy efficient as possible,
fitting LED lighting, variable frequency drives
and intelligent heating controls.
However, getting to grips with plug-in appliances
has been almost impossible, until now.
Therefore, let's look at how
this MK Connected Power system can help.
Each socket includes wireless communication
which forms a mesh network with up to 50 other sockets
and a hub.
The hub then connects the sockets
into the building management system,
and once the sockets are part of the BMS,
you can start to manage the loads connected to the sockets.
And that old saying,
"If you can measure it, you can manage it."
Within an office block, you might create a socket group
with all of the printers connected
and power these down when the office is closed.
But that's just a start.
Here are some exciting energy management use cases.
One of the biggest problems in commercial buildings,
there's people bringing their own appliances to work,
which are often electric heaters
which can cause numerous issues for building energy
by competing with the installed heating system.
Of course, the users aren't typically as diligent
as they would be at home,
and can tend to leave those heaters on.
Now, to give some context, this two kilowatt heater
left on overnight for 12 hours
would use £7.20 worth of electricity.
Now, if this heater was connected
using a Connected Power socket,
within the dashboard you can track power usage trends
and drill down to groups of sockets,
or even single outlets
perhaps in response to an alarm condition.
So you'd quickly be able to identify the rogue appliances
with the exact location and usage pattern,
and then obviously take some action.
An alternative approach
would be to restrict the amount of electricity
that can be accessed from the socket.
This is particularly relevant
for places like student accommodation
where only low power devices are typically used in bedrooms.
With Connected Power sockets
you have the option to program them to either send an alert
when a high power device is in use,
or shut off the power automatically
once a high power device is identified.
You could also choose to allow a few attempts
before disabling the socket completely,
but that's the flexibility of this system, really adaptable,
letting you alter the function of the socket
and the associated push buttons that are on the front.
Now, speaking of students, they are usually on a budget,
so always looking for a bargain.
They may not pay too much attention to the safety approvals
of appliances they purchase from online marketplaces.
A common problem
with such appliances is they're often supplied with plugs
which don't quite meet the dimension requirements
of a standard BS1363 plug,
which can lead to heat buildup
within the electrical connections.
And the clever bit here is the thermal sensor
inside the Connected Power socket can be programmed
to respond to a rise in temperature
inside the socket caused by those poor connections.
What about buildings where the connected appliances
are very much no-nos?
You know what's installed, you just have to manage them.
Take areas such as airports,
where you'll usually find fixed appliances
such as display screens, vending machines and refrigeration.
Using Connected Power, appliances can be powered down
during non-flying hours when the terminal's empty.
In applications such as health clubs
and gyms, rather than leaving rows of equipment
constantly powered, equipment can be cycled
in response to occupancy or set time schedules,
which can also even out machine usage and wear and tear.
Now working on energy saving missions can be one
of the most fulfilling challenges in industry.
Have you ever encountered anything usual
while you are trying to reduce energy consumption?
Or do you have any additional use cases you'd like to share?
We'd love to hear about your experiences
so leave a comment below
and we'll hopefully be able to help those
at the start of their energy-saving journey.
But of course, Connected Power
isn't just about powering down and switching things off,
it can be also used during power up.
If you have appliances which have high inrush currents,
they could be sequentially switched on
to minimize inrush currents and avoid tripping circuits.
Connected power sockets are available
in Logic Plus, Metal Cloud Plus,
and versions for use in MK floor boxes,
so pretty much matching all of the applications
in which are intended for.
Commissioning is a simple process
using the unique QR code on the front of the socket
and the accompanying MK Connected Power app.
The app names the socket
and assigns parameters such as the circuit details,
and then once the socket is paired with the hub
the outlet can be onboarded
to the building management system
such as Trend by Honeywell
or any system supporting the BACknet over IP protocol.
A system can support 50 hubs
and that's meaning 2,500 double sockets
or 5,000 individual outlets,
and that's a pretty large estate.
Now for a great electrical installation feature.
Electricians often face challenges when conducting initial
or periodic testing on sockets
that have built-in electronics.
The internal circuitry can interfere
with the insulation resistance readings,
requiring the socket to be disconnected during testing.
Luckily, MK has included a helpful little solution
in the form of this red switch
which disconnects the internal electronics,
making testing much more straightforward.
As an electrician working in industrial
and commercial applications,
there are tremendous business opportunities
in helping your customers save energy.
Most of them will be unaware of MKs game-changing
Connected Power technology.
And this is where you can truly shine,
to introduce it to solve those energy-saving problems
identified in this video.
But also through our energy monitoring
you can identify equipment that needs maintenance as well,
which again means more business for you.
And Connected Power may also be your first foray
into the world of BMS or building management systems,
which can be great for career progression.
I will leave a link in the description
so you can learn more about Connected Power
and its role in BMS,
and some of the other great applications out there.
Additionally, you may find this video here of value,
'cause it introduces some more product innovations from MK.