UK designed PowerShift device achieves highly commended award and $5000 USD prize
Farnell, the leading multi-channel distributor, has announced that the PowerShift Power Controller, designed to switch off non-critical loads during supply/demand imbalances, has achieved a Highly Commended Award and a $5000 USD prize as part of Premier Farnell’s global Live EDGE – Electronic Design for the Global Environment competition.
Designed by John Tillson from England, a Principal Engineer for Echostar Europe, the PowerShift Power Controller works by detecting the peak times of electrical power usage. It then switches off any suitable electrical appliances for a short time to reduce the peak load presented to the power grid.
Mr Tillson originally came up with the idea after watching a television documentary that highlighted the National Grid’s requirement to supply more power to households during peak times of electrical usage. A good example would be during advertisement breaks in popular television programmes when millions of people may switch on their kettles at the same time.
“I recognised that there was a need for a device that could be used to support acute power surges within the home. A device that would allow certain electrical appliances to be temporarily switched off to offset the power to be used elsewhere, lessening the impact on the national grid,” said John Tillson.
Commenting on the award, Alan Paterson, General Manager, Farnell UK, said: “My congratulations go to John for his innovative design and for achieving a highly commended award in this well represented global design competition. John has shown a great deal of initiative and drive by creating such an inspirational design solution, and all in his spare time. I wish him the best of luck for the future and hope that he is able to move the PowerShift Power Controller forward to the manufacturing and distribution stages.”
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