Abstract: The present invention discloses a field assembled electrical distribution device assembled from various prepackaged modular kits. The prepackaged modular kits include all of the components required for their assembly. The prepackaged modular kits, when assembled by a certified assembler using a certified method and verification means provided by the modular kit manufacturer and one or more well know third-party certifiers, meets the requirements local, national and international electrical codes and is eligible for the third-party's certification mark.

Abstract: A method for automatically identifying, analyzing and reducing extraneous waveform captures (WFCs) includes capturing at least one energy-related waveform in an electrical system using at least one waveform capture device. The at least one captured energy-related waveform is analyzed to determine whether the at least one captured energy-related waveform meets the criteria of being considered an extraneous WFC, a partially extraneous WFC, a redundant WFC, or a provisional WFC. In accordance with some embodiments of this disclosure, one or more actions are performed in response to determining the at least one captured energy-related waveform meets the criteria of being considered an extraneous WFC, a partially extraneous WFC, a redundant WFC, or a provisional WFC.

Abstract: A method for reducing and/or managing energy-related stress in an electrical system includes processing electrical measurement data from or derived from energy-related signals captured by at least one intelligent electronic device (IED) in the electrical system to identify and track at least one energy-related transient in the electrical system. An impact of the at least one energy-related transient on equipment in the electrical system is quantified, and one or more transient-related alarms are generated in response to the impact of the at least one energy-related transient being near, within or above a predetermined range of the stress tolerance of the equipment. The transient-related alarms are prioritized based in part on at least one of the stress tolerance of the equipment, the stress associated with one or more transient events, and accumulated energy-related stress on the equipment.

Abstract: Embodiments provided herein are directed to an improved way to access and increase the area of an electrical distribution device provided for cable pulling and cabling. A rotatable section, on which several electrical components of the electrical distribution device are attached, can be rotated away from the cabling area as a single unit. This permits easier access to the cabling area and increases the size of the cabling area, which results in less time required to pull cables and wire the electrical components of the electrical distribution device.

Abstract: Techniques for monitoring the health of a three-phase induction motor are provided. An expected threshold value is calculated as a function of an expected ratio of current unbalance to voltage unbalance for the three-phase motor. Embodiments determine whether a measured current unbalance exceeds the expected threshold value. Responsive to the measured current unbalance exceeding the expected threshold value, a remedial action may be taken, such as generating diagnostic information or activating one or more protection operations for the three-phase induction motor.

Abstract: An apparatus provides a single split-bus electrical panel with a first panel section that supplies power to non-critical loads and a second panel section to supply photoelectric power to critical loads. A patch panel associated with the split-bus electrical panel is configured to enable an installer to selectively connect factory installed connections to either: (1) connect each panel section directly to utility power for full utility power to both panel sections; (2) alternately to connect the second panel section to the utility power via a microgrid interconnection device when the second panel section is presently at least partially powered by back-up photovoltaic power, or (3) alternately connect both panel sections to full back-up photovoltaic power.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for a modular switchboard provide an adjustable length bus bridge for electrically connecting two adjacent switchboards, where the length of the bus bridge can be adjusted on site if needed. The bus bridge comprises a first set of busbars, each being electrically insulated from one another, and a second set of busbars, each being electrically insulated from one another. The first and second sets of busbars are arranged such that the busbars in the first set of busbars and the busbars in the second set of busbars are slidable relative to one another to adjust a length of the bus bridge. A longitudinal slot is formed in each busbar in either the first or the second set of busbars, or both, to accommodate a through bolt in the bus bridge when the first and second set of busbars slide relative to one another.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for searching and/or acting on information in a distributed data processing system. A method of processing a semantic rules engine may comprise receiving a rule data set, identifying a set of connected elements based on the rule data set, evaluating conditions related to the set of connected elements and the rule data set, determining a command set based on the evaluated conditions of the set of connected elements, and executing the command set.

Abstract: A trip unit for a circuit breaker includes a magnetic flux transfer system that employs a permanent magnet(s) and solenoid(s) with a ferromagnetic core. The system generates an attractive force using a solenoid to counter the force of a reset spring and latch friction force when a tripping condition is detected. The generated attractive force together with an attractive force from the magnet attracts a yoke which in turn moves the yoke together with an armature to the tripped position. The system also retains the yoke and armature in the tripped position using the attractive force of the magnet when the generated attractive force is no longer being generated. The system further generates a repulsive force using a solenoid when a resettable condition is satisfied to counter the attractive force of the magnet thereby allowing the yoke and armature to move from the tripped position to the reset position.

Abstract: System and methods for creating a geospatial network model in a client environment are disclosed. The system residing on a client device receives Geographic Information System (GIS) data for a distribution network, which includes spatial information and non-spatial information (e.g., attributes) relating to features in the distribution network, from a remote GIS database. The system uses the spatial information in the GIS data to construct an undirected graph that is represented by a set of adjacency relationships between the features and utilizes the non-spatial information to traverse the undirected graph in order to construct a directed graph that is represented as a set of directed adjacency relationships between the features. The system stores the data structure corresponding to the directed graph in the form of an array or hashtable in the client device's cache memory for use in performing network analyses such as tracing analysis without accessing the GIS database.

Abstract: A method and system are provided to facilitate the commissioning of a distributed system. The method and system obtains a base configuration which defines an expected virtual topology for a distributed system, and identifies via a control device a physical network topology of the distributed system to commission the distributed system. The control device performs network discovery to identify a plurality of connected devices that are communicatively coupled thereto, and to collect device information for each connected device relating to its identity and relative position in the distributed system which has connected devices or associated subnetworks connected in a ring network topology. The collected device information for the plurality of connected devices is compared to the expected virtual topology from the base configuration to determine an identity and physical location of the plurality of connected devices and associated subnetworks in the physical network topology of the distributed system.

Abstract: A method for identifying a type of fault condition with a circuit breaker includes detecting by the circuit breaker a fault condition of a plurality of fault conditions, storing in a memory device a trip code representing a type of the detected fault condition, interrupting current flow through the branch circuit in response to detecting the fault condition, and receiving a reset of the circuit breaker. The trip code may then be displayed in response to a momentary press of a test button that is a short duration press, and activating an LED interface in the circuit breaker to indicate the trip code representing the type of the detected fault condition.

Abstract: A visual trip indicator for a circuit breaker is disclosed. The electronic components of a visual trip indicator are enclosed in a module that attaches to the circuit breaker handle or within pocket defined in the circuit breaker housing. The visual trip indicator includes a light source operated by a state machine which clearly indicates which circuit breaker, of a group of circuit breakers or in a poorly illuminated enclosure, is tripped. The visual trip indicator also indicating, by a coded light signal, the approximate remaining life of an independent power supply powering the visual trip indicator.

Abstract: A support for a plurality of cables includes one or more cable separator beams, each with a half-cylindrically-shaped sleeve formed on each end of each beam. A sleeve on one end of each beam is configured to align with a half-cylindrically-shaped end-cap to form an enclosed cylindrical space for passage of one of the plurality of cables. The second half-cylindrically-shaped sleeve on the other end of each beam is configured to align with the corresponding second half-cylindrically-shaped sleeve on the other of the two beams to form another enclosed cylindrical space for passage of another one of the plurality of cables. An elongated flexible fastener has a locking portion on one end thereof that fastens to a tail portion on the other end thereof, configured to surround and fasten the end caps to the beams, and the beams to each other, to secure and support the plurality of cables.

Abstract: A method for visualizing flow direction in a distribution network includes receiving, on a hardware device, Geographic Information System (GIS) data corresponding to the distribution network from a GIS database. The distribution network includes equipment to facilitate distribution of a commodity over a distribution area, and the GIS data includes information relating to distribution of the commodity. Commodity vectorized measurement data indicative of at least a flow direction of the commodity over the distribution area is generated based, at least in part, on a comparison of a current measurement value of the commodity to a reference measurement value of the commodity. The commodity vectorized measurement data is dynamically displayed on a geographic map display including imagery representative of the distribution network contained in the GIS data.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method and system are provided to create and analyze grouped events. The method and system involve obtaining, at a network node, event data of measured real events detected at one or more locations of a monitored system according to a first criterion. The event data for each real event defines one or more parameters/dimensions of the real event. The method and system further involve aggregating the detected real events into groups according to at least one or more parameters/dimensions of the detected real events, and analyzing one or more of the aggregated groups of detected events to identify conditions on the monitored system or take action when a condition is identified from the one or more aggregated groups of tracked events. The tracked real events may include an alarm event as well as a system event.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a circuit having load(s) includes receiving normal-mode data from circuit breakers operating in a normal mode, transforming the normal-mode data into first display data, providing the normal-mode display data to a remote user device for display by a GUI of the user device, and receiving an external diagnostics request via the GUI of the user device for selected circuit breaker(s) to enter a diagnostics mode. In response to the external diagnostics request, an internal diagnostics request is sent to the selected circuit breaker(s). Diagnostics-mode data is received from the selected circuit breaker(s), wherein the diagnostics-mode data was obtained by the selected circuit breaker(s) operating in a diagnostics mode responsive to the internal diagnostics request. The method further includes determining second display data as a function of the diagnostic-mode data and providing the second display data to the user device for display by the user device's GUI.

Abstract: A remote controlled miniature circuit breaker includes a helical gear that engages with mating teeth of a slider plate coupled to main contacts of the circuit breaker, the helical gear including a flat portion to allow the sliding plate to slide past the helical gear. A unidirectional motor responds to an external signal to drive the helical gear while engaging the mating teeth of the slider plate, thereby moving the slider plate to close the main contacts. The motor is configured to respond to an external signal to resume the unidirectional rotation of the helical gear to position the flat portion of the gear to allow the slider plate to slide past the helical gear and contact a kicker lever to thereby open the main contacts. A trip lever pivotally mounted separately from the kicker lever, pushes the kicker lever to open the main contacts in a trip operation.

Abstract: Methods and systems include identifying an abnormal condition in a PFC circuit comprising an input configured to be coupled to a 3-phase power source and to receive input 3-phase power from the 3-phase power source, a bus having a plurality of bus lines, each bus line configured to be coupled to the input and to carry one phase of the input 3-phase power, a PFC leg including a contactor configured to selectively couple a capacitor bank included in the PFC leg to the bus. In response to identifying the abnormal condition, the contactor is controlled to decouple the capacitor bank from the bus, and after a reset button has been activated, the contactor is recoupled to the capacitor bank to resume operating the PFC leg to provide power factor correction to the input 3-phase power.