Abstract: A battery disconnect includes a housing, battery and load terminals, separable contacts electrically connected between the battery and load terminals, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the contacts, and a manual operator cooperating with the operating mechanism to open and close the contacts. A current sensor is structured to sense current flowing between the battery and load terminals. A circuit cooperates with the current sensor and the operating mechanism to trip open the contacts responsive to arc fault, overload and short circuit conditions associated with the sensed current. The circuit includes a first input structured to receive a remote on/off signal and a second input structured to receive an inhibit signal. The circuit cooperates with the operating mechanism to open and close the contacts responsive to the on/off signal, and to inhibit detection of the arc fault, overload and short circuit conditions responsive to the inhibit signal.

Abstract: An enclosed switching apparatus includes an enclosure and a primary power supply disconnect mounted in the enclosure. The primary power supply disconnect has first and second terminals, the first terminals are electrically connectable to a primary power source and the second terminals are electrically connectable to a load. An auxiliary power supply unit includes an auxiliary power supply disconnect having third and fourth terminals. The third terminals are electrically connectable to the primary power source. A transformer has fifth and sixth terminals, the fifth terminals are electrically connected to the fourth terminals of the auxiliary power supply disconnect. An auxiliary fusible element has seventh and eighth terminals, the seventh terminal is electrically connected to one of the sixth terminals of the transformer. A receptacle has ninth terminals thereon. One of the ninth terminals is electrically connected to the eighth terminal of the auxiliary fusible element.

Abstract: An inter-phase link for a shared tripping device, wherein the shared tripping device is structured to operatively couple at least two circuit breakers, and the inter-phase link has an elongated body with a mounting end and a distal end. The inter-phase link body mounting end is structured to be coupled to the primary circuit breaker operating mechanism and the inter-phase link body distal end is structured to extend through a primary circuit breaker housing assembly shaped opening and a secondary circuit breaker housing assembly shaped opening to engage the secondary circuit breaker trip device.

Abstract: A latch assembly for an electrical switching apparatus operating mechanism is provided. The latch assembly is structured so that force from the closing spring is directed along a line extending through the pivot point of a latch prop. A reset assembly for the latch prop is also provided.

Abstract: A grounding device for a roll-out electrical component is provided. The grounding device includes an actuation assembly, a static grounding contact assembly, and a biasing device. The actuation assembly structured to be engaged/disengaged by a roll-out electrical component. The static grounding contact assembly has at least one static grounding contact member that is structured to move between a first position, wherein the static grounding contact member does not contact a roll-out electrical component at least one contact, and a second position, wherein the static grounding contact member contacts, and is in electrical communication with, the roll-out electrical component at least one contact. The static grounding contact assembly is coupled to the actuation assembly and responsive to the position of the roll-out electrical component. The biasing device is structured to bias the actuation assembly and the static grounding contact member to their respective first positions.

Abstract: An electrical enclosure includes a housing having a front, a back, a plurality of sides, a plurality of sections disposed between the sides, at least one electrical apparatus, and a plurality of electrical bus members electrically connected to the electrical apparatus. The electrical apparatus is disposed within a first one of the sections of the housing, and a substantial portion of the electrical bus members are collectively disposed within a second one of the sections of the housing. At least the second one of the sections and the substantial portion of the electrical bus members collectively disposed therein are accessible from the front of the housing, regardless of whether the electrical apparatus is within or removed from the first one of the sections of the housing. An electrical bus assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A catchment mechanism for an electrical switching apparatus operating mechanism is provided. The catchment mechanism includes a catchment wheel with a radially extending surface, a catchment prop, and a catchment prop reset pin. The catchment wheel rotates with the cam in the closing assembly as the closing springs are being charged. During the charging of the springs, the catchment prop stop edge travels over, but preferably does not engage, the wheel outer surface. When the closing springs are released, the catchment prop stop edge engages the catchment wheel radially extending surface thus causing the catchment wheel to stop rotating. As the catchment wheel is fixed to the cam shaft, the rotation of the cam shaft, and therefore the cam, is also stopped. The catchment wheel radially extending surface is positioned so that the cam is stopped in an appropriate position to begin recharging the closing spring.

Abstract: An apparatus for repeatably generating electrical arcs for testing an electrical switching device, such as an arc fault circuit interrupter, includes a stationary electrode and a movable electrode that is moved along a path of travel by an electromechanical device under the control of a controller that receives data from either a current measuring device or a voltage measuring device to detect the initiation of an arc. The movable electrode is caused to first make physical contact with the stationary electrode, and then is moved away from the stationary electrode until an arc is detected. Additionally, the movable electrode may be moved towards and away from the stationary electrode according to a test profile to control the magnitude of the randomness of the arc.

Abstract: An electrical bus member mounting system is provided for an electrical enclosure including a housing having a front, a back and a plurality of sides, a plurality of sections disposed between the sides, at least one electrical apparatus disposed within a first one of the sections, and an electrical bus assembly electrically connected to the electrical apparatus. The electrical bus member mounting system includes a mounting assembly having a first portion and a second portion. A plurality of electrical bus members are coupled to the first portion and the second portion is coupled at or about at least one of the sides of the housing within a second one of the sections thereof. Accordingly, the electrical bus member mounting system consolidates a substantial portion of the electrical bus assembly at a single location within the second one of the sections of the housing, in order to facilitate access thereto.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes line and load terminals, separable contacts electrically connected between the line and load terminals, and a line neutral pigtail. An operating mechanism including an operating handle is adapted to open and close the contacts. A trip circuit responds to current flowing through the contacts and cooperates with the operating mechanism in response to predetermined current conditions to open the contacts. The trip circuit is powered from the line terminal and the line neutral pigtail. A solenoid includes a plunger and a coil, which is energized from the line terminal and the line neutral pigtail. The plunger engages the operating handle when the coil is not energized to prevent movement of the handle from the open to the closed position thereof. The plunger disengages from the operating handle when the coil is energized to permit movement of the handle from the open to the closed position thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides busway plug fitting having a housing assembly and a toggle mechanism disposed therein having at least two operatively linked operating handles. A first assembly is disposed on a first side member of the housing assembly and structured to move between a first position and a second position. The second handle assembly is disposed on a second, perpendicular side of the housing assembly and also structured to move between a first position and a second position. The toggle mechanism is coupled to the external coupling construct of the operating device and structured to move between a first position and a second position. The first and second handle assemblies are operatively linked by the toggle mechanism. In this configuration, a user may operate either handle assembly to actuate the operating device disposed with in the busway plug fitting.

Abstract: A system displays information from and controls electrical switching apparatus, such as circuit breakers. The system includes a plurality of circuit breakers having separable contacts and a plurality of conditions, such as bus temperature and contact wear. A plurality of sensors are structured to sense the conditions of the circuit breakers and to communicate the sensed conditions over corresponding wireless signals. A display and control unit is operatively associated with the circuit breakers and is structured to receive the corresponding wireless signals and display information corresponding to the sensed conditions or to control the circuit breakers based upon one or more of the sensed conditions.

Abstract: A decoupling assembly structured to decouple the charging motor and the charging assembly cam shaft is provided. The decoupling assembly includes a lifter pin assembly and an elongated second end to a link member in the over-running clutch assembly. The link member supports a pawl which engages an over-running clutch assembly sprocket. The pawl is disposed on one side of a link member that is pivotally attached to an over-running clutch assembly hub assembly. The link member is structured to pivot in a “see-saw” like manner and thereby move the pawl between a first position, wherein the pawl engages the sprocket, and a second position, wherein the pawl does not engage the sprocket. The lifter pin assembly includes a spring loaded lifter pin that is structured to engage the link member second end and thereby move the pawl between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a circuit breaker that includes a monitoring device in electronic communication with the circuit breaker and a receiving device located separately from the monitoring device. The monitoring device receives data from the circuit breaker and wirelessly transmits at least a portion of the data such as one or more phase currents measured from a network which the circuit breaker protects, an ambient temperature within the circuit breaker, and/or data relating to a trip condition of the circuit breaker. The receiving device receives the transmitted data and displays all or a portion thereof. The monitoring device also includes a display that displays all or a portion of the data.

Abstract: An electrical switching apparatus includes a circuit breaker device having a molded housing with line and load ends, plural terminals disposed from the housing, and first and second handle devices. The terminals electrically and mechanically engage a circuit breaker mounting block. The first and second handle devices engage the housing at or about the respective line and load ends. The handle devices remove the circuit breaker device from the mounting block. Each of the handle devices includes an insulative barrier having a first portion, a second portion and a third portion. The first portion at least partially covers a corresponding one of the housing ends. The second portion is coupled to the housing at or about the corresponding one of the housing ends. The third portion is structured to be manually grasped in order to pull the insulative barrier together with the circuit breaker device away from the mounting block.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a first lug and second and third acoustic lugs electrically connected to a power circuit. Separable contacts are electrically connected in series between the first lug and the second acoustic lug. An operating mechanism opens and closes the separable contacts. A first acoustic sensor is coupled to the second acoustic lug and senses a first acoustic signal from the second acoustic lug. A second acoustic sensor is coupled to the third acoustic lug and senses a second acoustic signal from the third acoustic lug. The first and second acoustic signals are operatively associated with a power circuit fault. A current sensor senses a current flowing between the first and second lugs. A circuit inputs the sensed acoustic signals and the sensed current and detects and distinguishes a parallel arc fault or a series arc fault from the sensed acoustic signals and the sensed current.

Abstract: An electrical distribution device that includes a terminal for providing a connection to a first conductor, a spring mechanism having a first end that is electrically connected to the terminal, and a second conductor electrically connected to one or more internal components of the device. The spring mechanism has a first condition and a second condition. In the first condition, the second end is electrically connected to the second conductor by solder. When the solder melts, the spring mechanism moves from to the second condition in which the second end is no longer electrically connected to the second conductor, thereby protecting the internal components from the fault condition that lead to the overheating. A condition indicator may also be provided for indicating a fault condition.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a bimetal electrically connected in series with separable contacts, and an operating mechanism structured to open and close the contacts. A temperature sensor distal from the bimetal includes an output having an ambient temperature signal. A trip circuit includes a first circuit having a first input electrically interconnected with a bimetal output to input a voltage representative of current, a second input electrically interconnected with the temperature sensor output to input the ambient temperature signal, a real-time thermal model structured to provide a corrected temperature dependent bimetal resistance as a function of the voltage and the ambient temperature signal, and an output including a current value which is a function of the ambient temperature signal and the corrected bimetal resistance. A second circuit includes an input having the current value and an output structured to actuate the operating mechanism in response to predetermined current conditions.

Abstract: A method of programming and testing a microcontroller includes providing a connector having a plurality of ports on the circuit board containing the microcontroller, and providing programming data to a first one or more of the ports. Each of the first one or more of the ports is in electronic communication with a respective one of a first one or more of the pins of the microcontroller. The method further includes causing the microcontroller to provide selected diagnostic data on a second one or more of the pins, wherein each of the second one or more of the pins is in electronic communication with a respective one of a second one or more of the ports, receiving the selected diagnostic data from the second one or more of the ports and converting at least a portion of the received selected diagnostic data into one or more analog signals.