Smart switch

Apparatus for controlling the peak load demand of a home or business establishment by preventing the simultaneous application of electrical power to first and second electrical loads is disclosed. The apparatus includes first and second sensing means (16, 18), one each of which monitors each of the first and second electrical loads (12, 14) respectively for determining when the first and second electrical loads (12, 14) are demanding electrical power. The sensing means (16, 18) then provide sensing signals to a combining means (24) which receives the sensing signals, or representations of these sensing signals. Combining means (24) provides a timer start signal to timer (28) when the sensing signals or representations of these sensing signals are present at combining means (24). Included are first and second control means (34, 36) which are connected to the first and second electrical loads (12, 14) and which alternately apply and interrupt electrical power to these electrical loads in response to a control signal received from timer (28). The timing (28) itself is suitable for providing the control signal upon receiving the timing start signal, and in a preferred embodiment provides a square wave signal which varies according to a selected time period between a high and a low value. In the preferred embodiment, the first load control means (34) will only apply power to the first load (14) when the control signal is at a low value and the second load control means (36) will apply power to the second load (12) only when the control signal is at its high value. Also included in the preferred embodiment, are first and second latching means (40, 44) which provides the representative signals whenever timer (28) is operating, regardless of whether or not the sensing means (16, 18) are providing corresponding sensing signals.