Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective electrical wiring device that includes at least one first stop member disposed proximate at least one first conductor. The at least one first stop member is configured to limit the movement of the at least one first conductor when the circuit interrupting assembly moves between the reset position and the tripped position such that a gap is established between the plurality of circuit interrupting contacts in the tripped state, the gap being substantially greater than or equal to a predetermined distance.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a circuit coupled to the line terminals and configured to conduct a predetermined current flow when the line terminals are connected to a source of AC power, the predetermined current flow does not simulate a fault condition. An interrupting contact assembly includes four sets of interrupting contacts that are configured to provide electrical continuity between the line terminals, the load terminals and the at least one receptacle in a reset state and configured to interrupt the electrical continuity in tripped state. The interrupting contact assembly is energized to effect the tripped stated and substantially deenergized otherwise, the interrupting contact assembly being substantially prevented from effecting the reset state absent the predetermined current flow.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring system that includes a connector device having connector contacts coupled to termination structures that couple a first AC power conductor and a second AC power conductor to corresponding contacts of the plurality of connector contacts. An electrical wiring device includes a device housing having a front portion and a rear portion. The front portion includes at least one user-accessible control element disposed thereon. The at least one user-accessible control element is coupled to an electrical switch mechanism disposed in the device housing and coupled to a plurality of device contacts. The plurality of device contacts are accessible by way of a device connection arrangement formed in the rear portion of the device housing. The plurality of device contacts are configured to mate with the plurality of connector contacts when the connector device is coupled to the device connection arrangement.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device including a plurality of line terminals configured to be connected to a source of AC power, and a plurality of load terminals. A detection assembly is coupled to the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals. The detection assembly is configured to detect a wiring state associated with the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals. The detection assembly includes a primary wiring state detection circuit, a secondary wiring state detection circuit, and an isolation circuit disposed therebetween, the isolation circuit being configured to electrically isolate the line terminals from the secondary wiring state detection circuit in the tripped state.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective wiring device including a fault detection circuit configured to provide a fault detection signal in response to a fault condition or a simulated fault condition. A second circuit is coupled to at least one user-accessible button and is configured to conduct a second signal in response to a user actuation of the at least one user-accessible button if the plurality of line terminals are coupled to a source of AC power, the second signal not simulating the fault condition. An automatic test circuit is configured to periodically determine whether the fault detection circuit is operative and provide an electronics test failure signal if the fault detection circuit fails to provide the fault detection signal in response to the periodically effected simulated fault condition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a frameless shutter assembly that is disposed in the front cover portion or in the at least one separator member between the plurality of receptacle openings and the plurality of receptacle terminals. The at least one frameless shutter assembly comprises a first shutter member and a second shutter member configured to move from a closed position to an open position when the hot and neutral blades of a plug blade set are simultaneously inserted into the receptacle openings to engage a set of receptacle terminals and remain closed otherwise. The front cover member and/or the at least one separator includes a first stop member disposed proximate the first shutter member and a second stop member being disposed proximate the second shutter member.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a housing comprising a front cover member, a back cover member, and an electrically isolating separator member disposed therebetween. The internal components are engineered and arranged such that a distance from the interior ground strap portion and the back major surface is less than or equal to a predetermined distance.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective electrical wiring device that includes a circuit assembly that has a fault detection circuit coupled to the plurality of line terminals, the fault detection circuit being configured to detect perturbations corresponding to a fault condition or a simulated fault condition, the fault detection circuit being configured to provide a fault detection signal in response to detecting the perturbations corresponding to the fault condition or the simulated fault condition. An interrupting contact assembly is coupled to the fault detection circuit, the interrupting contact assembly including a contact assembly configured to provide electrical continuity between the plurality of line terminals, the plurality of feed-through load terminals, and the plurality of receptacle load terminals in a reset state, and interrupt the electrical continuity in a tripped state in response to the fault detection signal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes at least one user accessible input mechanism and a test assembly configured to initiate a self-test in response to stimulus signal. The self test determines whether a sensor, a fault detection circuit or a circuit interrupter assembly are in an operational mode or are in a failure mode, the reset stimulus being provided in the operational mode and a reset lockout stimulus being provided in the failure mode. The device also including a reset lockout mechanism coupled to the circuit interrupter assembly and the test assembly. The reset lockout mechanism is configured to disable the reset stimulus in response to the reset lockout stimulus if any one of the at least one sensor, at least one fault detection circuit, or circuit interrupter assembly is determined to be in the failure mode after a predetermined time elapses.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective wiring device for use in an electrical distribution system. The device includes a test facility includes a testing circuit configured to periodically generate at least one first test signal without execution of software instructions. A test monitoring circuit operates without execution of software instructions and is configured to effect an end-of-life detection state if the circuit interrupter fails to effect the tripped state in response to the electronics test failure state or in response to detecting a failure in the actuator assembly. An end-of-life circuit assembly is coupled to the test monitoring circuit, the end-of-life circuit assembly being configured to permanently decouple the plurality of line terminals from the plurality of load terminals in response to the end-of-life detection state.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a power control device. The device includes an interchangeable user interface assembly includes a frame member having a plurality of connector elements configured to mate with a plurality of frame connection apertures. The frame member is removable from the device heat sink without any tools. The interchangeable user interface assembly includes an interface paddle rotatably coupled to the frame member and detached relative to the device's rocker switch such that the interface paddle slidably moves relative to the rocker switch with at least one degree of freedom during a rotational movement, the user interface assembly further including an interface dimmer movably disposed within the frame member and coupled to the device's dimmer actuator.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical device configured to be disposed in an electrical distribution system between a source of electrical power and an electrical load. The electrical distribution system includes at least one line hot conductor, a line neutral conductor, and a line ground conductor. The line neutral conductor is connected to the line ground conductor at a termination point in the electrical distribution system. The electrical load includes at least one load hot conductor, a load neutral conductor, and a load ground conductor. The device includes a grounding confirmation circuit that includes at least one signal generator that directs at least one test signal into a current path that includes at least the line ground conductor. The grounding confirmation circuit is configured to determine a ground continuity status of the current path based on at least one ground continuity measurement.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a plurality of line terminals configured to be coupled to a source of AC power, a plurality of feed-through load terminals, and at least one set of receptacle load terminals configured to provide the AC power to a user load via an AC power plug. A circuit interrupter assembly includes a plurality of movable interconnection members. Each movable interconnection member includes a first interconnecting contact disposed on a first side thereof and a second interconnecting contact disposed on a second side thereof. The first interconnecting contact and the second interconnecting contact are offset from one another in a direction substantially orthogonal to a direction of movement.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a circuit coupled to the line terminals and configured to conduct a predetermined current flow when the line terminals are connected to a source of AC power, the predetermined current flow does not simulate a fault condition. An interrupting contact assembly includes four sets of interrupting contacts that are configured to provide electrical continuity between the line terminals, the load terminals and the at least one receptacle in a reset state and configured to interrupt the electrical continuity in tripped state. The interrupting contact assembly is energized to effect the tripped stated and substantially deenergized otherwise, the interrupting contact assembly being substantially prevented from effecting the reset state absent the predetermined current flow.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical device configured to be disposed in an electrical distribution system between a source of electrical power and an electrical load. The electrical distribution system includes at least one line hot conductor, a line neutral conductor, and a line ground conductor. The line neutral conductor and the line ground conductor are connected to earth ground at a termination point in the electrical distribution system. The electrical load includes at least one load hot conductor, a load neutral conductor, and a load ground conductor. The device comprises a power supply coupled to the power input mechanism. The power supply comprises at least one DC voltage output terminal and a reference terminal coupled to the line ground termination element.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes an actuator assembly that is responsive to the fault detection signal. The actuator assembly includes a breaker coil configured to generate an actuation force in response to being energized. A circuit interrupter includes four sets of movable contacts configured to be driven into a reset state in response to a reset stimulus, the four sets of movable contacts being configured to be driven into a tripped state in response to the actuation force. A self-test circuit is coupled to the plurality of line terminals or the at least one sensor. The self-test circuit is configured to automatically generate a test signal from time to time during a predetermined portion of an AC power line cycle. The self-test circuit is configured such that the test signal is sensed by the at least one sensor when the at least one sensor is operational, the sensor output signal being a function of the test signal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a plurality of line terminals including a line hot terminal and a line neutral terminal, and a plurality of load terminals including a load hot terminal and a load neutral terminal. An interrupting contact assembly includes four sets of interrupting contacts configured to provide electrical continuity at least between the line hot terminal and the load hot terminal and the line neutral terminal and the load neutral terminal in a reset state. The four sets of interrupting contacts are open in a tripped state. A miswire prevention arrangement is configured to prevent the interrupting contact assembly from maintaining the reset state when the load hot terminal and the load neutral terminal are connected to a source of AC power.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective device configured to be disposed in an electrical distribution system between a source of electrical power and an electrical load. The electrical distribution system includes at least one line hot conductor, a line neutral conductor, and a line ground conductor. The line neutral conductor is connected to the line ground conductor at a termination point in the electrical distribution system. The electrical load includes at least one load hot conductor, a load neutral conductor, and a load ground conductor, the device comprises a conditioning circuit configured to monitor a differential current flowing through the plurality of line termination elements and configured to generate a conditioning signal in response thereto. The conditioning signal propagates in a path formed by the line neutral conductor and the line ground conductor to thereby reduce a differential current propagating in the at least one line hot conductor and the line neutral conductor.