Abstract: A meter center includes three feeder bus bars, three supply bus bars, each supply bus bar being electrically connected to a corresponding feeder bus bar, and a number of meter socket assemblies. Each meter socket assembly includes two bus jumpers, each bus jumper including a first end and a second end, the second end of a first bus jumper being selectively electrically connected to a first supply bus bar, the second end of a different second bus jumper being selectively electrically connected to a different second supply bus bar, two load bus bars, insulative support members coupled to a number of the supply bus bars, the insulative support members including a first end coupled to the bus jumpers and an opposite second end supporting the load bus bars, and a meter socket including terminals electrically connected to the first ends of the bus jumpers and to the load bus bars.

Abstract: A system for pairing wireless nodes includes a plurality of device nodes, such as lamp nodes, a plurality of sensor nodes, such as light switch nodes, and a context manager node. Each of the device nodes, the sensor nodes and the context manager node includes a first communication channel having radio frequency signals and a diverse second communication channel including wireless non-radio frequency signals. Some of the device nodes and the sensor nodes are adapted to collect context information of a corresponding communication environment and to transfer the collected context information to the context manager node. The context manager node is adapted to employ the collected context information and enable automated distributed pairing of a first node of the device nodes and sensor nodes with another second node of the device nodes and sensor nodes.

Abstract: A base assembly is provided for a meter socket assembly of a meter center including an enclosure having a panel member. The meter socket assembly includes a meter. The base assembly includes a base member having a first side coupled to the panel member, a second side disposed opposite and distal from the first side, and first and second ends. Meter jaws are disposed on the second side of the base member and receive the meter. Electrical bus members are coupled to the base member at or about the first side thereof, and are electrically connected to at least one of the meter jaws at or about the second side thereof. The electrical bus members are coupled to and supported by the base member of the base assembly, without the use of a number of separate fasteners. A meter socket assembly and meter center are also disclosed.

Abstract: A wireless node, such as a sensor node or other suitable node, includes a supercapacitor having a charge and one or more photocells adapted to charge the supercapacitor responsive to ambient light. A microprocessor cooperates with a wireless transceiver to transmit a count of one or more wireless messages. The microprocessor determines the charge of the supercapacitor, determines an incremental charge of the supercapacitor resulting from the ambient light, and adjusts the count of the wireless messages as a function of the charge of the supercapacitor and the incremental charge. A power supply, including a boost regulator and a filter capacitor, powers the microprocessor and the wireless transmitter from the charge of the supercapacitor.

Abstract: A quick change mechanism is provided for a meter socket assembly including a base member structured to be coupled to a meter, a number of electrical bus members extending outwardly from the base member, and at least one electrical connector electrically connectable to a corresponding one of the electrical bus members. The quick change mechanism includes a foundation and a receiving portion disposed generally opposite and distal from the foundation and including a number of apertures. Each aperture receives a corresponding one of the electrical bus members. Resilient protrusions extend outwardly from the receiving portion and are operable between an undeflected position in which the resilient protrusion secures the electrical connector on such electrical bus member, and a deflected position in which the resilient protrusion is deflected away from the electrical connector in order that the electrical connector is removable from such electrical bus member.

Abstract: A trip bar is provided for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes a housing, an operating mechanism, and a number of accessories installable within the housing. At least one of the accessories has an actuator, such as a stem. The trip bar includes an elongated pivot member having a first end pivotably coupled to the operating mechanism, a second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end, and at least one protrusion extending outwardly from the elongated pivot member between the first and second ends. Such protrusion is actuatable by the stem to pivot the elongated pivot member. A deflecting mechanism, such as a cam surface, is disposed at or about the second end of the elongated pivot member. When such one of the accessories is being installed within the housing, the stem deflects the cam surface to facilitate insertion.

Abstract: An interior assembly for a load center includes a base member disposed at or about a panel member of the load center housing, a first bus bar assembly disposed on the base member, and a first insulating member overlaying the first bus bar assembly and being coupled to the base member. A first portion of the first insulating member receives circuit breakers of the load center, and a second portion receives a second bus bar assembly. A second insulating member overlays the second bus bar assembly and is coupled to the second portion of the first insulating member. A neutral bus bar is coupled to the second insulating member. A fastening mechanism fastens the interior assembly to the panel member. The base member, first and second bus bar assemblies, first and second insulating members, and neutral bus bar are secured together without the use of separate fasteners.

Abstract: A stop device for an electrical device cell includes a generally flat, rectangular stop member and a generally flat, elongated permissive member. The stop member is, preferably, part of a stop member assembly that includes a biasing device. The cell includes a pair of rails upon which a drawout electrical device is movably disposed. The stop member is disposed adjacent to at least one housing assembly rail and is structured to move between a first, extended position, wherein the stop member engages the drawout electrical device and prevents the drawout electrical device from moving from the first, installed position to the second, drawn out position, and a second, withdrawn position, wherein the stop member does not engage the drawout electrical device and the drawout electrical device may move from the first, installed position to the second, drawn out position.

Abstract: A spring offset device is structured to extend between a circuit breaker frame assembly and a trip mechanism. The offset device includes an offset member disposed on a trip device banana link, a spring anchor disposed on the frame assembly, and a spring extending between the offset member and the spring anchor. The spring anchor is spaced from the hatchet pin assembly and, preferably positioned so that the longitudinal axis of the spring remains on a single side of a hatchet pin assembly axis as the banana link moves between a closed position, an open position, and a reset position. The offset member and the spring anchor are structured so that, when the hatchet plate is in the closed position, the spring creates an opening force on the hatchet plate biasing the hatchet plate toward the open position, and when the hatchet plate is in the reset position, the spring creates a closing force on the hatchet plate biasing the hatchet plate toward the closed position.

Abstract: An auxiliary switch sub-assembly is provided for a telecommunication system circuit breaker including a housing having an opening, separable contacts inside the housing, and an operating mechanism operating the separable contacts between open and closed positions. The operating mechanism comprises an operating handle operable among a first position corresponding to the separable contacts being open and a second position corresponding to the separable contacts being closed. The operating handle has a first end protruding from the opening of the housing, and a second end. The auxiliary switch sub-assembly includes an auxiliary switch including an actuator, and a mount attaching the auxiliary switch to the operating mechanism of the circuit breaker within the housing thereof. The actuator is mechanically actuated by a portion of the second end of the operating handle. An electrical switching apparatus employing an auxiliary switch sub-assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: The reset lever on a circuit breaker undervoltage relay is actuated by translating arcuate movement of a handle arm pin as the circuit breaker handle is moved to the off position into rotation of the reset lever through a complaint interface lever that is stiff enough to actuate the reset lever, but flexible enough to accommodate for overtravel of the handle arm pin when the circuit breaker is reset and for the stackup of tolerances in the operating mechanism.

Abstract: A busway fitting wherein the switch and/or fuse are disposed in a horizontal orientation. As the switch assembly and/or fuse are disposed in a horizontal orientation, the buses coupled to the switch assembly and/or fuse also extend horizontally. As such, the buses coupled to the switch assembly and/or fuse occupy a reduced amount of space. In this configuration, the transition buses may extend in a generally horizontal direction and, as such, the size of the busway fitting may be reduced.

Abstract: An arc fault circuit interrupter includes line and load terminals, separable contacts, a current sensor sensing current flowing between the terminals and associated with one type of load, and a first arc fault detection circuit generating a first trip signal responsive to the sensed current. A second arc fault detection circuit collects a plurality of sensed current samples for a current line cycle and also for a previous line cycle, determines a total current value from a peak current of the current line cycle samples, employs the total current value and some of the samples to determine the type of load, and generates a second trip signal responsive to the sensed current and the determined type of load. A trip circuit generates a third trip signal responsive to the first and second trip signals. An operating mechanism opens the contacts responsive to the third signal.

Abstract: An arc fault circuit breaker includes line and load terminals, separable contacts electrically connected between the terminals, a current sensor adapted to sense current associated with a load and flowing between the terminals and through the separable contacts. An arc fault detection circuit provides series arc protection and generates a trip signal responsive to the sensed current. The arc fault detection circuit collects a plurality of samples of the sensed current over plural line cycles, determines that the load is a dimmer-controlled load, determines a phase angle at which the sensed current begins conduction within one of the line cycles, and determines that the phase angle consistently moves in a forward direction or a reverse direction. If so, then series arc protection is responsively inhibited. An operating mechanism opens the separable contacts responsive to the trip signal.

Abstract: A limiter includes a housing having a first surface and a second surface, a line terminal, a load terminal, a fusible conductor electrically connected between the line and load terminals and an indicator button disposed proximate the first surface. The button includes a first end and a second end having a first opening, a second opening and a conduit therein between the first and second openings. The fusible conductor passes from the first terminal, through the first opening, through the conduit, through the second opening, and to the load terminal. A spring biases the button away from the first surface. The fusible conductor, when electrically connected between the line and load terminals, holds the second end proximate the first surface. The spring, when the fusible conductor is electrically disconnected from one or both of the terminals, moves the button away from the first surface and toward the second surface.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts, a molded enclosure comprising a first molded portion and a second molded portion, a plurality of thread cutting screws fastening the first molded portion to the second molded portion, and a plurality of machine screws. The first molded portion and the second molded portion cooperate to form a plurality of exterior walls. The exterior walls define an interior volume, which encloses the separable contacts and at least a portion of the operating mechanism. The machine screws extend within and reinforce the exterior walls and restrict expansion of the exterior walls away from the interior volume.

Abstract: An arc fault circuit interrupter includes a line terminal, a load terminal, separable contacts electrically connected between the line terminal and the load terminal, and a current sensor structured to sense current associated with the load and flowing between the line terminal and the load terminal and through the separable contacts. The sensed current includes a plurality of line cycles. An arc fault detection circuit is structured to provide series arc protection and to generate a trip signal responsive to the sensed current from the current sensor. The arc fault detection circuit collects a plurality of samples of the sensed current over the line cycles, determines a single current transient associated with energization of the load, and responsively inhibits the series arc protection. An operating mechanism is structured to open the separable contacts responsive to the trip signal.

Abstract: A cradle stop assembly is provided for a circuit breaker including an operating mechanism. The operating mechanism includes a pivotable movable contact arm and a cradle member which is movable between a latched position corresponding to separable contacts of the circuit breaker being closeable and an unlatched position corresponding to the separable contacts being tripped open. The cradle stop assembly includes a first member coupled to a portion of the operating mechanism, a second member disposed opposite the first member, and a generally planar stop plate extending between the first and second members. A first stop portion of the stop plate resists movement of the cradle member beyond a first predetermined position to avoid the cradle member undesirably interfering with the pivotable movable contact arm. A second stop portion resists the pivotable movable contact arm from undesirably pivoting beyond a second predetermined position.

Abstract: A shield is provided for a circuit breaker including a printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB is a generally planar member with a plurality of electrical components each having a corresponding shape. The shield includes at least one resilient sheet member at least partially covering the generally planar member and at least one of the electrical components coupled thereto. The resilient sheet member generally conforms to the corresponding shape of the at least one of the electrical components in order to shield and protect it from debris and to resist accumulation of gas-carried carbon. The resilient sheet member is made from a material, such as silicon rubber, which is flexible and elastic within a temperature range of about ?70 to about 450 degrees Fahrenheit, and it is flame-resistant, tear and abrasion-resistant, impervious to moisture and chemicals, fungus-resistant, and resistant to outgassing.

Abstract: A cable limiter includes a main body having a cavity. The cavity of the main body is structured to receive a replaceable fusible element. An annunciator is housed by the main body. The annunciator is structured to annunciate status of the replaceable fusible element.