Abstract: An intelligent power management system that includes a circuit breaker containing a PLC module that spans open contacts of the circuit breaker to provide a communication path for PLC messages between communication paths on each of the line and load sides of the circuit when the contacts are open. The contacts are motorized to permit remote operation through PLC messaging. Coupled to the PLC module is a controller, which controls the opening and closing of the motorized contacts under user control or via an adaptive load management algorithm that reduces peak power consumption and adapts a set of loads to changed power supply conditions. The controller can also dynamically alter operational current and fault threshold levels on a real-time basis based upon circuit requirements or environmental conditions. The algorithm runs a state machine and also manages loads in a limited power source environment such as when loads are powered by a generator.

Abstract: A circuit breaker for interrupting electrical current flowing through a line conductor to a load terminal in response to the detection of a current overload, ground fault and/or arcing fault. The circuit breaker has a trip circuit to generate a trip signal, a releasably latchable trip lever, and a latching mechanism. The trip lever is moveable between a latched position and a tripped position. In the latched position, the trip lever engages the latching mechanism and the electrical current flows through said circuit breaker. When a fault is detected by the trip circuit, a trip signal is send to the latching mechanism. Upon receiving the trip signal, the latching mechanism disengages the trip lever allowing the trip lever to slide into the tripped position and interrupting the current flow through the circuit breaker.

Abstract: The present invention provides a circuit breaker control arrangement that is reliable, accurate and cost-effective to manufacture, install and maintain. This circuit breaker arrangement also provides increased modularity by alleviating the need for installing wires to connect each circuit breaker with the control station. The present invention uses circuit breakers that contain internal control technology for interrupting and establishing an associated current path. At least one coded signal designates each circuit breaker, and a communication bus carries these coded signals to each circuit breaker. Decoding technology located on each circuit breaker determines whether the coded signal corresponds to that circuit breaker. If the coded signal does correspond to that circuit breaker, then the decoding technology responds by sending the appropriate response signal over the communication bus, and the circuit breaker's internal control technology either interrupts or establishes the associated current path.