Abstract: A recloser trips on one phase for single-phase only fault conditions, or all phases for multi-phase fault conditions. During power delivery, the recloser monitors the three phases of a power line (e.g., phases A, B, and C). If a fault is detected on one phase, then a timer is started and subsequently decremented. If the timer finishes counting down while the fault is still present, then it is determined if any of the other two phases are timing a fault. If so, then all three phases are tripped; otherwise, only the faulted phase is tripped.

Abstract: A recloser is adaptively controlled so that it will operate in a manner responsive to prevailing conditions such as time of day, day of week, and/or load current. A protection setting group is stored in a memory accessible by the recloser controller, and contains a set of instructions for controlling the recloser based on the prevailing conditions. The prevailing conditions are continuously monitored, and the control of the recloser is based on the prevailing conditions and the protection setting group.

Abstract: An automatic power restoration device has a modifiable end point. The end point is indicative of the operational parameters of the automatic power restoration device. A user can modify the end point and thus the operational parameters of the automatic power restoration device. The end point can be modified according to the protection characteristics of other fault protection devices within a power system.

Abstract: A controller for a voltage regulator has an input keypad for designating selected operating parameters of the voltage regulator. The keypad is formed with a dedicated function portion and a menu navigation portion, and the parameters are divided into first and second categories. The controller has a display for displaying the parameters, and a computer is connected to the input and to the display for controlling the display in response to activation of the keypad. Any parameter in the first category can be displayed on the display by activation of the dedicated function portion of the keypad. Any parameter in the second category can be displayed by activation of the menu navigation portion. The menu navigation portion can optionally also be used to control display of parameters in the first category.

Abstract: A controller for a voltage regulator has an input keypad for designating selected operating parameters of the voltage regulator. The keypad is formed with a dedicated function portion and a menu navigation portion, and the parameters are divided into first and second categories. The controller has a display for displaying the parameters, and a computer is connected to the input and to the display for controlling the display in response to activation of the keypad. Any parameter in the first category can be displayed on the display by activation of the dedicated function portion of the keypad. Any parameter in the second category can be displayed by activation of the menu navigation portion. The menu navigation portion can optionally also be used to control display of parameters in the first category.

Abstract: An tap changer for a voltage regulator including a tap positionable to vary the winding ratio of the transformer in response to changes in an electric load on the transformer is disclosed herein. The transformer includes a potentiometer mechanically coupled to the tap changer motor and immersed in the coolant of the tap changer, wherein the potentiometer generates a voltage representative of the position of the tap. An analog-to-digital conversion circuit converts the voltage to a digital signal representative thereof, and a microprocessor coupled to the analog-to-digital conversion circuit compares the digital signal to digital data representative of the full voltage range of the potentiometer which is correlated to the actual position of the tap.

Abstract: A reconfigurable communications module for power distribution and control apparatus is taught. Briefly stated, a communication module is rack insertable into a voltage regulator controller and has disposed therein a microprocessor board for communicating with host power distribution control apparatus and which also communicates with a transceiver board. The transceiver board may be one of several types of boards which provide a physical link with other equipment. Such boards may, for example, include a fiber optic, an RF based board, or a wire based board which is interchangeable in the communications module thereby allowing reconfiguration of the communication module to different media.

Abstract: An electrical apparatus (100) line actuator (102), such as a voltage regulator or circuit breaker, has resident therein a personality module, electronically reconfigurable memory device (126) which stores actuator operational information, such as specifications (132), historical and maintenance information. An apparatus controller (106) communicates with the personality module (126) and can change the operational information stored therein. If either or both of the controller (106) and actuator (102) is replaced at a site, the controller (106) of the replacement apparatus configuration (100) can read the operational information stored in the personality module (126) and adapt its operational interaction with the actuator (102) in conformance with the information.

Abstract: A reconfigurable communications module for a Tap Changer or Voltage Regulator. Briefly stated, a communication module is rack insertable into a voltage regulator controller and has disposed therein a microprocessor board for communicating with the host power distribution control apparatus and which also communicates with a transceiver board for communication with external equipment. The microprocessor board may be directed to receive/transmit one of a plurality of stored link layer protocol schemes without resorting to replacing the communication module.

Abstract: A voltage regulator controller having integral expansion ports. The expansion ports are provided by way of an I/O expansion chassis which is electrically coupled to the controller's microprocessor.

Abstract: A tap changer including a tap positionable to vary the winding ratio of the transformer in response to changes in an electric load on the transformer is disclosed herein. The transformer includes an electric drive which is responsive to raise or lower signals applied thereto in order to selectively position the tap by the raising or lowering of the tap and thereby raising or lowering the transformer winding ratio. Upon sensing the current of the motor control signals, an up/down counter is incremented or decremented. Accordingly, when a tap change signal is detected, the direction of tap changer movement may be determined, based upon the value of the up/down counter. In this way the tap position is also accurately determined and known.

Abstract: An electrical apparatus (100) line actuator (102), such as a voltage regulator or circuit breaker, has resident therein a personality module, electronically reconfigurable memory device (126) which stores actuator operational information, such as specifications (132), historical and maintenance information. An apparatus controller (106) communicates with the personality module (126) and can change the operational information stored therein. If either or both of the controller (106) and actuator (102) is replaced at a site, the controller (106) of the replacement apparatus configuration (100) can read the operational information stored in the personality module (126) and adapt its operational interaction with the actuator (102) in conformance with the information.

Abstract: A voltage regulator controller including means for creating multiple regulator setpoint configurations. Configurations can be selected upon demand, by time/date activation, or by an external trigger source.

Abstract: A voltage regulator controller is provided with multiple control programs. At any given time, one of the control programs is selected to be "active" depending on the existing operating conditions. An operator (user) configures the voltage regulator control to change its active control program based on a number of factors, which can include, for example, demand metering values, the time and/or date, external inputs such as the measured transformer oil temperature, commands received via a serial communications port and fault/maintenance status. In a preferred embodiment, the configuration settings for activation are handled in accordance with a priority scheme when more than one of the conditions occur simultaneously.

Abstract: A voltage regulator controller includes means for determining the tap position based on regulator impedance characteristics. In a preferred embodiment, the tap position determination system is embodied as part of an regulator designed to operate within a fixed percentage range of regulation (e.g. .+-.10%) with the identical number of turns between each of its series winding taps. In this environment, the regulator tap position is determined as a function of the regulator input voltage, the regulator output voltage, the regulator series winding current, system load power factor and internal regulator impedance.

Abstract: A voltage regulator controller of the types used with a multi-tap voltage regulator transformer having a plurality of tap positions for adjusting an output voltage in discrete tap position steps is provided with a number of control algorithms which are dynamically changed responsive to the measured oil temperature in the transformer. In one embodiment, the voltage regulator controller includes a memory having tap movement control code stored therein for controlling the tap positions in accordance with a plurality of tap position control algorithms, means for measuring the oil temperature of the voltage regulator transformer, means for monitoring the oil temperature within the transformer and, means for selecting one of the tap position control algorithms as being active as a function of the oil temperature.

Abstract: A controller for a line regulation device such as a voltage regulator is provided with an interface to a removable memory module. The memory module is preferably of the memory card type which can be carried by a field engineer in a clothing pocket. When the memory card is inserted into an externally accessible slot in the controller, its presence is signaled to the controllers microprocessor. In response, the microprocessor reads user selected control parameters which are entered via the controller's front panel. Depending on the control parameters, the microprocessor updates the programming code in its internal memory, executes the code stored in the memory card while it is present but does not update its internal memory, or dumps selected status information to the memory card so that it can be analyzed at a different location.

Abstract: A monitor is provided for use with an AC voltage regulator having a number of taps including a neutral tap and a tap changer capable of activating any of the taps. The voltage regulator receives an input voltage and produces an output voltage and is constructed so that the output voltage bears a relationship to the input voltage that depends on the activated tap. The tap changer is constructed to activate different taps as necessary to maintain the output voltage close to a target level despite fluctuations of the input voltage or load. The monitor apparatus includes a switch responsive to activation of the neutral tap for providing initial activated-tap information and a dead-reckoning computation device responsive to changes of the activated tap for updating the activated-tap information in accordance with changes of the activated tap made after the activation of the reference tap.

Abstract: A method and a device for monitoring instantaneous electrical parameters of a power distribution system under load utilizing digital control means. An analog signal equivalent to such a parameter is sensed and rated down for processing by solid state components. This signal is converted into a binary coded digital signal having n digits. A plurality of digital signals is sampled and squared values with a format of 2n digits are derived from each sample. The squared values of one sampling period are accumulated to a sum value composed of 2n+m digits and the square root comprising n+k digits of the sum is taken. This value is rescaled to a true root mean square value by performing k left shifts as an accurate measurement result. The core of such device is represented by a microcomputer with built-in analog-to-digital converter.