Abstract: A vacuum-type electrical switching apparatus (10) for high voltage electrical power. A vacuum pressure condition in a vacuum pressure space (21) surrounding electrical contact points (18) is monitored and movement of the contact points between open and closed positions is automatically prevented when the pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold in order to avoid destructive arcing between the points. A sensor (32) provides a vacuum signal (34) responsive to the vacuum pressure condition. A controller (36) automatically inhibits movements of the contact points when the vacuum signal indicates that the vacuum has degraded. A contactor (38) may be placed in series with power supply (28) and a solenoid (24) used to move the contact points, with the contactor being automatically opened by the controller in response to the degraded vacuum condition.

Abstract: The present invention includes a fault indicator for an electrical transmission line comprising: a fault indicator circuit; and a remote communicator operatively coupled to the fault indicator circuit to transmit condition data to a remote location, where such condition data includes current load data.

Abstract: A capacitor switch and control system for high-power transmission/distribution lines comprising a branch circuit comprising a capacitor, a capacitor switch, a capacitor control, and a sensor, where the capacitor control is operative to control the opening of the capacitor switch upon the sensor sensing at least one of an overload condition and a fault condition, and control the closing of the capacitor switch. The invention also includes a method for protecting transmission/distribution line capacitors from faults comprising: (a) monitoring a capacitor branch of a transmission line for a fault condition; and (b) responding to the fault condition by automatically opening a switch on the capacitor branch to provide an open circuit between the transmission line and a branch capacitor, where the switch is repositionable between an open position and a closed position.