Abstract: An electronic trip unit for a circuit interrupter includes a line side voltage sensing module for measuring first voltages on a line side of separable contacts, a load side voltage sensing module for measuring second voltages on a load side of the separable contacts, a current sensor, and a main controller. The main controller is further structured and configured to: (i) for each of a plurality of arc interruption events in the circuit interrupter, determine a mass loss due to contact erosion during the arc interruption event based on one or more of the first voltages, the second voltages and the current measured by the current sensor, (ii) determine a total mass loss based on each determined mass loss due to contact erosion, and (iii) monitor a remaining life of the separable contacts based on the determined total mass loss due to contact erosion.

Abstract: A bus plug structured to electrically connect between a busway and a load includes a circuit breaker structured to electrically connect between connectors and the load and to output a first control signal, the circuit breaker including separable contacts structured to open to stop power from the flowing from the busway to the load, a motor operator structured to cause the separable contacts to open or close in response to the first control signal from the circuit breaker, and a wireless communication module structured to wirelessly communicate with an external device and to output a second control signal to the circuit breaker is response to wireless communication received from the external device. The circuit breaker is structured to output the first control signal to the motor operator to open or close the separable contacts in response to receiving the second control signal from the wireless communication module.

Abstract: A circuit breaker assembly including a housing assembly and a tamper detection system. The housing assembly defines a sealed enclosure. The sealed enclosure includes a division interface. The sealed enclosure is structured to be in one of a closed, first configuration, wherein the sealed enclosure defines a generally enclosed space, and an open, second configuration, wherein the sealed enclosure allows access to the enclosed space, and wherein, as the sealed enclosure moves between the first configuration to the second configuration, the sealed enclosure is reconfigured at the division interface. The tamper detection system includes a protective assembly and an indicator assembly. The protective assembly is structured to be coupled to the sealed enclosure at the division interface. The indicator assembly includes a rupturable construct. The rupturable construct is structured to transform from an intact, first configuration to a ruptured, second configuration.

Abstract: A circuit breaker apparatus may include a housing, a circuit inside the housing for protecting the conductors and the load of the circuit, a display attached to outside of the housing, a controller, and a power control device. The display may be an electronically-alterable display that does not require power in situations other than changing its state. The power control device may provide power to the controller and the display when the apparatus is being tampered with. When the controller is powered, it may cause the power control device to cause the display to change from a state that indicates that the apparatus is authenticated to another state that indicates that the apparatus has been tampered with. The power control device may include a battery and a switch, or a power harvester, which can be configured to provide power to the controller when the apparatus is being tampered with.

Abstract: A circuit breaker assembly including a housing assembly and a tamper detection system. The housing assembly defines a sealed enclosure. The sealed enclosure includes a division interface. The sealed enclosure is structured to be in one of a closed, first configuration, wherein the sealed enclosure defines a generally enclosed space, and an open, second configuration, wherein the sealed enclosure allows access to the enclosed space, and wherein, as the sealed enclosure moves between the first configuration to the second configuration, the sealed enclosure is reconfigured at the division interface. The tamper detection system includes a protective assembly and an indicator assembly. The protective assembly is structured to be coupled to the sealed enclosure at the division interface. The indicator assembly includes a rupturable construct. The rupturable construct is structured to transform from an intact, first configuration to a ruptured, second configuration.

Abstract: A circuit breaker apparatus may include a housing, a circuit inside the housing for protecting the conductors and the load of the circuit, a display attached to outside of the housing, a controller, and a power control device. The display may be an electronically-alterable display that does not require power in situations other than changing its state. The power control device may provide power to the controller and the display when the apparatus is being tampered with. When the controller is powered, it may cause the power control device to cause the display to change from a state that indicates that the apparatus is authenticated to another state that indicates that the apparatus has been tampered with. The power control device may include a battery and a switch, or a power harvester, which can be configured to provide power to the controller when the apparatus is being tampered with.

Abstract: A support apparatus is usable with an electrical enclosure to provide support to retain a cover portion of the electrical enclosure in proximity to a cabinet portion of the electrical enclosure. The support apparatus includes a shank having a hook-shaped retention element situated at an end thereof that is configured to provide vertical support to the cover portion. The support apparatus can further include a second hook-shaped retention element at an opposite end of the shank that is configured to rest upon an upturned lip of the cabinet portion, or the shank can potentially be affixed to the cabinet portion. Slots can additionally be provided in the cabinet portion, the cover portion, or both to additionally provide horizontal alignment of the cover portion with the cabinet portion.

Abstract: An electronic trip unit for a circuit interrupter includes a line side voltage sensing module for measuring first voltages on a line side of separable contacts, a load side voltage sensing module for measuring second voltages on a load side of the separable contacts, a current sensor, and a main controller. The main controller is further structured and configured to: (i) for each of a plurality of arc interruption events in the circuit interrupter, determine a mass loss due to contact erosion during the arc interruption event based on one or more of the first voltages, the second voltages and the current measured by the current sensor, (ii) determine a total mass loss based on each determined mass loss due to contact erosion, and (iii) monitor a remaining life of the separable contacts based on the determined total mass loss due to contact erosion.

Abstract: An electrical switching apparatus includes a plurality of poles each comprising separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts and to trip open the separable contacts in response to a fault condition, and a housing enclosing the separable contacts. The housing includes an interior, an exterior, and a plurality of receptacles extending from the exterior toward the interior. A surge protection assembly includes a plurality of modules, wherein each of the modules is removably disposed in a corresponding one of the receptacles of the housing. Each of the modules provides independent surge protection for a corresponding one of the poles of the electrical switching apparatus.

Abstract: An arc flash system includes a circuit breaker having separable contacts, an operating mechanism, a trip unit including a sensor sensing current flowing in a power circuit, a trip circuit cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the contacts responsive to the sensed current or a first signal, and a communication interface outputting the sensed current, and an interface circuit including a processor having a first output of the first signal, an input of a second signal, and a second output of a third signal, and a communication interface cooperating with the processor to determine and communicate cause of trip information to the trip unit communication interface, input the sensed current, and communicate the sensed current to the processor. A light sensor senses light from an arc flash associated with the power circuit and outputs the second signal. A shorting apparatus shorts the circuit responsive to the third signal.

Abstract: An electrical switching apparatus includes a plurality of poles each comprising separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts and to trip open the separable contacts in response to a fault condition, and a housing enclosing the separable contacts. The housing includes an interior, an exterior, and a plurality of receptacles extending from the exterior toward the interior. A surge protection assembly includes a plurality of modules, wherein each of the modules is removably disposed in a corresponding one of the receptacles of the housing. Each of the modules provides independent surge protection for a corresponding one of the poles of the electrical switching apparatus.

Abstract: A meter or display device for at least one power circuit zone. The device includes a processor having a plurality of dynamic inputs, a routine and an output. The routine is structured to input the dynamic inputs, calculate incident energy of one power circuit zone of the at least one power circuit zone, and output the output. A display is structured to display at least the calculated incident energy from the output of the processor.

Abstract: A support apparatus is usable with an electrical enclosure to provide support to retain a cover portion of the electrical enclosure in proximity to a cabinet portion of the electrical enclosure. The support apparatus includes a shank having a hook-shaped retention element situated at an end thereof that is configured to provide vertical support to the cover portion. The support apparatus can further include a second hook-shaped retention element at an opposite end of the shank that is configured to rest upon an upturned lip of the cabinet portion, or the shank can potentially be affixed to the cabinet portion. Slots can additionally be provided in the cabinet portion, the cover portion, or both to additionally provide horizontal alignment of the cover portion with the cabinet portion.

Abstract: A device includes an enclosure mounted to an end portion of a photovoltaic panel and has an interior, an opening, an inclined ramp within the interior, a door pivotally disposed at the opening, and a latch mechanism. The door is on a panel surface in an open position, and blocks the opening in a closed position. The latch mechanism latches the door closed and releases the door to the open position. A flexible material blocks light from reaching panel photovoltaic cells and includes a first end coupled to the inclined ramp within the enclosure and an opposite second end coupled to a rod. The flexible material is rolled up about the rod and rests on the inclined ramp. The door's closed position blocks deployment of the material. In the open position, the material rolls down the inclined ramp and covers the panel surface. The door is automatically or manually deployed.

Abstract: A device includes an enclosure mounted to an end portion of a photovoltaic panel and has an interior, an opening, an inclined ramp within the interior, a door pivotally disposed at the opening, and a latch mechanism. The door is on a panel surface in an open position, and blocks the opening in a closed position. The latch mechanism latches the door closed and releases the door to the open position. A flexible material blocks light from reaching panel photovoltaic cells and includes a first end coupled to the inclined ramp within the enclosure and an opposite second end coupled to a rod. The flexible material is rolled up about the rod and rests on the inclined ramp. The door's closed position blocks deployment of the material. In the open position, the material rolls down the inclined ramp and covers the panel surface. The door is automatically or manually deployed.

Abstract: A circuit interrupter apparatus includes circuit interrupter and a device. The circuit interrupter includes separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts, and a trip mechanism cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The trip mechanism includes a zone selective interlocking input and a zone selective interlocking output. The device includes a first input electrically interconnected with the zone selective interlocking input, a second input electrically interconnected with the zone selective interlocking output, and an indicator circuit structured to indicate that the zone selective interlocking input occurred at the first input or that the zone selective interlocking output occurred at the second input.

Abstract: An arc flash system includes a circuit breaker having separable contacts, an operating mechanism, a trip unit including a sensor sensing current flowing in a power circuit, a trip circuit cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the contacts responsive to the sensed current or a first signal, and a communication interface outputting the sensed current, and an interface circuit including a processor having a first output of the first signal, an input of a second signal, and a second output of a third signal, and a communication interface cooperating with the processor to determine and communicate cause of trip information to the trip unit communication interface, input the sensed current, and communicate the sensed current to the processor. A light sensor senses light from an arc flash associated with the power circuit and outputs the second signal. A shorting apparatus shorts the circuit responsive to the third signal.

Abstract: A circuit interrupter apparatus includes circuit interrupter and a device. The circuit interrupter includes separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts, and a trip mechanism cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The trip mechanism includes a zone selective interlocking input and a zone selective interlocking output. The device includes a first input electrically interconnected with the zone selective interlocking input, a second input electrically interconnected with the zone selective interlocking output, and an indicator circuit structured to indicate that the zone selective interlocking input occurred at the first input or that the zone selective interlocking output occurred at the second input.

Abstract: A circuit interrupter apparatus includes circuit interrupter and a device. The circuit interrupter includes separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts, and a trip mechanism cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The trip mechanism includes a zone selective interlocking input and a zone selective interlocking output. The device includes a first input electrically interconnected with the zone selective interlocking input, a second input electrically interconnected with the zone selective interlocking output, and an indicator circuit structured to indicate that the zone selective interlocking input occurred at the first input or that the zone selective interlocking output occurred at the second input.

Abstract: A circuit interrupter apparatus includes circuit interrupter and a device. The circuit interrupter includes separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts, and a trip mechanism cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The trip mechanism includes a zone selective interlocking input and a zone selective interlocking output. The device includes a first input electrically interconnected with the zone selective interlocking input, a second input electrically interconnected with the zone selective interlocking output, and an indicator circuit structured to indicate that the zone selective interlocking input occurred at the first input or that the zone selective interlocking output occurred at the second input.