Abstract: A smart accessory device includes an actuator and is designed to be used to actuate an operating mechanism of a circuit breaker in order to either open or close the separable contacts of the circuit breaker. The accessory can be one of a shunt trip, spring release, or under voltage release device. The actuator includes a solenoid and plunger. The accessory determines the operating condition of the actuator based on how much current flows through the coil when the power source provides power to the accessory device, and continually executes a coil diagnostic to determine the operating condition of the coil while power is being provided to the accessory device. If the accessory fails to trip the circuit breaker when required, the accessory can determine whether the failure was due to either of the solenoid or the plunger.

Abstract: A stored energy-type circuit breaker includes a sensor that operates as a full open sensor, and that is used to prevent the circuit breaker from closing in response to either a closing signal or a manual operation. The full open sensor exhibits a first output condition when the moveable contact is in a fully open position and a second output condition when the moveable contact begins to leave the fully open position. An electronic trip unit (ETU) is electrically connected to the sensor and, when in a close break mode, blocks the circuit breaker from closing. The ETU does this by, upon detecting that the sensor is in the second output condition, generating a signal that will cause the breaker's opening spring to return the moveable contact to the fully open position.

Abstract: A smart accessory device includes an actuator and is designed to be used to actuate an operating mechanism of a circuit breaker in order to either open or close the separable contacts of the circuit breaker. The accessory can be one of a shunt trip, spring release, or under voltage release device. The actuator includes a solenoid and plunger. The accessory determines the operating condition of the actuator based on how much current flows through the coil when the power source provides power to the accessory device, and continually executes a coil diagnostic to determine the operating condition of the coil while power is being provided to the accessory device. If the accessory fails to trip the circuit breaker when required, the accessory can determine whether the failure was due to either of the solenoid or the plunger.

Abstract: A smart accessory device is designed to be used with a circuit breaker so as to be able to actuate an operating mechanism of the circuit breaker in order to either open or close the separable contacts of the circuit breaker. The accessory device can be one of a shunt trip, spring release, or under voltage release device. The accessory device continually executes diagnostics to determine whether the power being supplied by an external power source is sufficient to enable the accessory device to actuate the operating mechanism of the associated circuit breaker. If the accessory device determines that the power being supplied by the external source is insufficient, the device triggers an alarm in order to notify a user that the power source is not meeting the power requirements of the device.

Abstract: A stored energy-type circuit breaker includes a sensor that operates as a full open sensor, and that is used to prevent the circuit breaker from closing in response to either a closing signal or a manual operation. The full open sensor exhibits a first output condition when the moveable contact is in a fully open position and a second output condition when the moveable contact begins to leave the fully open position. An electronic trip unit (ETU) is electrically connected to the sensor and, when in a close break mode, blocks the circuit breaker from closing. The ETU does this by, upon detecting that the sensor is in the second output condition, generating a signal that will cause the breaker's opening spring to return the moveable contact to the fully open position.

Abstract: A circuit interrupter system includes a vacuum circuit interrupter having a vacuum chamber that contains a fixed contact and a moveable contact. A non-conductive rod extends from the moveable contact. One or more Thomson coils are wound around the rod, and one or more armatures are connected to the rod. When a driver energizes one of the Thomson coils, a corresponding armature will be repelled from that Thomson coil and move the rod to open or close the contacts of the vacuum circuit interrupter. The system also may include a damper that provides an active damping force rod when the rod is moved to open and/or close the vacuum circuit interrupter.

Abstract: A circuit interrupter system includes a vacuum circuit interrupter having a vacuum chamber that contains a fixed contact and a moveable contact. A non-conductive rod extends from the moveable contact. One or more Thomson coils are wound around the rod, and one or more armatures are connected to the rod. When a driver energizes one of the Thomson coils, a corresponding armature will be repelled from that Thomson coil and move the rod to open or close the contacts of the vacuum circuit interrupter. The system also may include a damper that provides an active damping force rod when the rod is moved to open and/or close the vacuum circuit interrupter.

Abstract: An electrical switching apparatus includes a transductor circuit that senses a direct current between at least one input terminal and at least one output terminal and outputs an alternating current proportional to the direct current between the input terminal and the output terminal. The electrical switching apparatus also includes a current sensor configured to sense an alternating current component of the direct current. The electrical switching apparatus further includes an alternating current electronic trip circuit including an arc fault detection circuit configured to detect an arc fault based on the sensed alternating current component. The alternating current electronic trip circuit is also configured to control pairs of separable contacts to trip open based on the alternating current output from the transductor circuit or the detected arc fault.

Abstract: An electrical switching apparatus includes a transductor circuit that senses a direct current between at least one input terminal and at least one output terminal and outputs an alternating current proportional to the direct current between the input terminal and the output terminal. The electrical switching apparatus also includes a current sensor configured to sense an alternating current component of the direct current. The electrical switching apparatus further includes an alternating current electronic trip circuit including an arc fault detection circuit configured to detect an arc fault based on the sensed alternating current component. The alternating current electronic trip circuit is also configured to control pairs of separable contacts to trip open based on the alternating current output from the transductor circuit or the detected arc fault.

Abstract: An electrical switching apparatus includes a transductor circuit that senses a direct current between at least one input terminal and at least one output terminal and outputs an alternating current proportional to the direct current between the input terminal and the output terminal. The electrical switching apparatus also includes a current sensor configured to sense an alternating current component of the direct current. The electrical switching apparatus further includes an alternating current electronic trip circuit including an arc fault detection circuit configured to detect an arc fault based on the sensed alternating current component. The alternating current electronic trip circuit is also configured to control pairs of separable contacts to trip open based on the alternating current output from the transductor circuit or the detected arc fault.

Abstract: An electrical distribution system wherein information is communicated to and/or from an electrical component of the electrical distribution system using near-field communications. The information may be communicated to and/or from the electrical component using an electronic device such as a dedicated near-field device, a smartphone or a configuration card device. Also, a method of obtaining information from an electrical component of an electrical distribution system, such as a circuit interrupter, includes generating a machine readable element that comprises first information in encoded form, the first information relating to the operation and/or status of the circuit interrupter, displaying the machine readable element on the circuit interrupter, capturing an image of the machine readable element, obtaining the first information based on the image, and displaying second information based on the obtained first information.

Abstract: An electrical distribution system wherein information is communicated to and/or from an electrical component of the electrical distribution system using near-field communications. The information may be communicated to and/or from the electrical component using an electronic device such as a dedicated near-field device, a smartphone or a configuration card device. Also, a method of obtaining information from an electrical component of an electrical distribution system, such as a circuit interrupter, includes generating a machine readable element that comprises first information in encoded form, the first information relating to the operation and/or status of the circuit interrupter, displaying the machine readable element on the circuit interrupter, capturing an image of the machine readable element, obtaining the first information based on the image, and displaying second information based on the obtained first information.

Abstract: An electronic trip unit having a number of trip unit settings includes: a first input member; a second input member; a multi-position selector configured to select one of plurality of positions corresponding to values of the trip unit settings; a plurality of indicators each corresponding to one of the plurality of trip unit settings; and a processor having a routine, wherein the routine of the processor is structured to, in response to actuation of the first input member, increment a ring counter value and selectively activate one of the indicators corresponding to the ring counter value; and wherein the routine of the processor is further structured to, in response to actuation of the second input member, set a value of the trip unit setting corresponding to the activated indicator based on the selected position of the multi-position selector.

Abstract: An electrical switching apparatus includes a transductor circuit that senses a direct current between at least one input terminal and at least one output terminal and outputs an alternating current proportional to the direct current between the input terminal and the output terminal. The electrical switching apparatus also includes a current sensor configured to sense an alternating current component of the direct current. The electrical switching apparatus further includes an alternating current electronic trip circuit including an arc fault detection circuit configured to detect an arc fault based on the sensed alternating current component. The alternating current electronic trip circuit is also configured to control pairs of separable contacts to trip open based on the alternating current output from the transductor circuit or the detected arc fault.

Abstract: An electronic trip unit having a number of trip unit settings includes: a first input member; a second input member; a multi-position selector configured to select one of plurality of positions corresponding to values of the trip unit settings; a plurality of indicators each corresponding to one of the plurality of trip unit settings; and a processor having a routine, wherein the routine of the processor is structured to, in response to actuation of the first input member, increment a ring counter value and selectively activate one of the indicators corresponding to the ring counter value; and wherein the routine of the processor is further structured to, in response to actuation of the second input member, set a value of the trip unit setting corresponding to the activated indicator based on the selected position of the multi-position selector.

Abstract: An electrical distribution system wherein information is communicated to and/or from an electrical component of the electrical distribution system using near-field communications. The information may be communicated to and/or from the electrical component using an electronic device such as a dedicated near-field device, a smartphone or a configuration card device. Also, a method of obtaining information from an electrical component of an electrical distribution system, such as a circuit interrupter, includes generating a machine readable element that comprises first information in encoded form, the first information relating to the operation and/or status of the circuit interrupter, displaying the machine readable element on the circuit interrupter, capturing an image of the machine readable element, obtaining the first information based on the image, and displaying second information based on the obtained first information.

Abstract: A circuit interrupter system includes a circuit interrupter including a processing unit, a serial port interface operatively coupled to the processing unit for enabling communication with the processing unit, and a USB processing unit configured to run a USB stack and operatively coupled to the serial port interface for enabling communication with the processing unit through the serial port interface, and a portable computing device selectively connectable to the USB processing unit of the circuit interrupter through a USB connection, the portable computing device being structured to function as a USB host and to implement a graphical user interface for enabling communication between the portable computing device and the processing unit of the circuit interrupter through the serial port interface and the USB processing unit when the portable computing device is connected to the USB processing unit of the circuit interrupter.

Abstract: A refrigeration system and method includes a refrigeration component and an electronics module preconfigured with a data set for the refrigeration component. The electronics module stores the data set including identification and configuration parameters of the refrigeration component. A refrigeration system controller that communicates with the electronics module to copy the data set and to regulate operation of the refrigeration component within the refrigeration system.

Abstract: An industrial controller executing a graphical language employs a comparator circuit for monitoring the address locations of memory used to store the control program and its data. A cursor positioned on a graphics representation of the program is used to identify a particular graphical element to be monitored and the address of the starting instruction for that element is loaded into the comparator. An interrupt generated by the comparator causes the generation of a histogram listing the particular rungs name and the times at which it has been executed, useful for verifying and monitoring the operation of a control program. A snapshot of data values used by the element of the program at the time of its execution may also be stored to verify the condition under which the element executes.

Abstract: A multitasking industrial controller for real-time control of machinery and the like permits the use of both periodic and event driven tasks by establishing a hierarchy of both task types in the form of priorities that resolve conflicts between events of the same and different types. The unpredictability of the event driven tasks on scheduling of tasks is addressed by watchdog time values assigned to each task which confirm timely execution of the task in practice despite the risk of preemption by other tasks. Flexible software definition of event driven tasks is made possible by delegating the detection of the events to input/output modules executing independently of the processor executing the operating system.