Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for maintaining the functionality of an electronic circuit breaker during a firmware update. The electronic circuit breaker includes at least two microcontrollers. When a first microcontroller of the at least two microcontrollers is updated, a second microcontroller of the at least two microcontrollers remain active and continues to run a safety algorithm allowing the electronic circuit breaker to continuously monitors its load without any disruptions.

Abstract: There are systems and methods for energy management of a power distribution panel. Circuit breakers and an energy management gateway are located in the power distribution panel, and an internal panel communication network is established among the circuit breakers and the gateway. The gateway exchanges data of the circuit breakers and sends commands to control the circuit breakers. The gateway provides the data to an external device that is part of a network external to the internal panel communication network for controlling one or more appliances.

Abstract: A system for identification of loads in a residential branch of electrical circuit including a plurality of electrical outlets is provided. It comprises a residential power distribution panel comprising an electronic circuit breaker. The electronic circuit breaker may experience unwanted tripping in the residential branch of electrical circuit. The system further comprises a residential fault diagnostics tool connected to the residential branch of electrical circuit. It can record, store, experience electrical conditions which are also experienced by the electronic circuit breaker. The system further comprises a communicating device to display relevant diagnostics information for an end user. The mobile device is configured to be in wireless communication with the residential fault diagnostics tool. The mobile application (APP) includes a classification analyzer for the identification of the loads. A decision of the identification is provided on the mobile application (APP).

Abstract: A branch fault analysis system is described that identifies a source of a fault such as arc fault or ground fault event in a communicating panel. The system comprises an application running on a mobile device is configured to display a physical location and conditions experienced by each electronic circuit breaker. The system further comprises an electronic circuit breaker including trip identification means to clearly identify a branch that resulted in a breaker trip event, record and relay this information to the mobile device for an end user and one or more proximity sensors to achieve the physical location of the electronic circuit breaker in a panel. A load current, a voltage and noise levels are continuously monitored and displayed in the application with time stamps. In an event of a trip condition, the application uses conditions of the time stamps to highlight the branch that resulted in a trip.

Abstract: A branch circuit thermal monitoring system comprises a housing and an electrical power distribution sub-system. The housing includes a plurality of thermal modules each connected with a thermal sensor assembly of a plurality of thermal sensor assemblies. The housing further includes a module rack wherein each of the thermal modules is installed on the module rack. The housing further includes a main controller configured to communicate with the thermal modules. The thermal modules are configured for individually monitoring corresponding identified connection points of interest with the attached thermal sensor assemblies such that the thermal modules and the thermal sensor assemblies provide continuous temperature monitoring of the corresponding identified connection points of interest. The thermal sensor assembly is configured to be directly applied to a connection point of interest thus avoiding any additional mounting assembly. The electrical power distribution sub-system is coupled to the thermal modules.

Abstract: A branch circuit thermal monitoring system comprises a housing and an electrical power distribution sub-system. The housing includes a plurality of thermal modules each connected with a thermal sensor assembly of a plurality of thermal sensor assemblies. The housing further includes a module rack wherein each of the thermal modules is installed on the module rack. The housing further includes a main controller configured to communicate with the thermal modules. The thermal modules are configured for individually monitoring corresponding identified connection points of interest with the attached thermal sensor assemblies such that the thermal modules and the thermal sensor assemblies provide continuous temperature monitoring of the corresponding identified connection points of interest. The thermal sensor assembly is configured to be directly applied to a connection point of interest thus avoiding any additional mounting assembly. The electrical power distribution sub-system is coupled to the thermal modules.

Abstract: A measurement and control system comprises a housing and an electrical power distribution sub-system. The housing includes a plurality of addressable and programmable modules, a module rack that is expandable and having a length, and a main controller configured to communicate with the plurality of addressable and programmable modules. Each of the addressable and programmable module is installed on the module rack in a sequential configuration and is addressable based on a specific physical location of it across the length of the module rack. The main controller communicates with the plurality of addressable and programmable modules by addressing through a communication network. The electrical power distribution sub-system is configured to monitor inputs and signals from the each addressable and programmable module.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of electrical arc fault detection when high frequency (e.g., RF noise) is present is disclosed. The method includes determining if first arcing criterion is met, determining if delay criterion is met, implementing a delay for a delay period if the delay criterion is met, and determining if second arcing criterion is met. If the second arcing criterion is met, then a trip signal may be sent to trip the circuit breaker. In another aspect, the method includes determining if first arcing criterion is met, starting delay period if the first arcing criterion is met, determining if delay criterion is met, and if the delay criterion is met, determining if second arcing criterion is met. An arc fault detection apparatus adapted to carry out the methods, and systems including the arc fault detection apparatus are disclosed, as are various other aspects.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for detecting arc faults with a dynamically-changeable slope threshold is disclosed. The method may include monitoring a current waveform to determine a peak amplitude of a half cycle and a slope at a zero crossing of a half cycle. An arc fault counter may be incremented if the maximum amplitude of the half cycle and the slope at a zero crossing are greater than a preset magnitude threshold level and the dynamically-changeable slope threshold, respectively. In another aspect, a decay of the amplitude of a predetermined number of half cycles of the current waveform is measured and an arc counter is not incremented, even if the conditions would otherwise indicate an arc counter increment, when the decay is above a decay threshold for greater than a predetermined number of half cycles. An arc fault detection apparatus adapted to carry out the methods, and systems including the arc fault detection apparatus are disclosed, as are various other aspects.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for detecting arc faults with a dynamically-changeable slope threshold is disclosed. The method may include monitoring a current waveform to determine a peak amplitude of a half cycle and a slope at a zero crossing of a half cycle. An arc fault counter may be incremented if the maximum amplitude of the half cycle and the slope at a zero crossing are greater than a preset magnitude threshold level and the dynamically-changeable slope threshold, respectively. In another aspect, a decay of the amplitude of a predetermined number of half cycles of the current waveform is measured and an arc counter is not incremented, even if the conditions would otherwise indicate an arc counter increment, when the decay is above a decay threshold for greater than a predetermined number of half cycles. An arc fault detection apparatus adapted to carry out the methods, and systems including the arc fault detection apparatus are disclosed, as are various other aspects.

Abstract: An arc fault detector includes a means for repeatedly measuring an elapsed time. The arc fault detector also includes at least one means to perform arc detection at each repeated elapsed time. Means for initiating a tripping mechanism is activated after the elapsed time. When a fault occurs, means for generating at least one fault code is activated. The fault code is stored in at least one non-volatile memory. The fault code is selected from a group consisting of an arc fault interrupt code, a ground fault interrupt code, and a push-to-test interrupt code. The arc fault detector includes at least one means to display the fault code such as at least one LED. At least a first LED indicates an arc fault interrupt code and at least a second LED indicates a ground fault interrupt code. At least a third LED indicates a push-to-test interrupt code.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of electrical arc fault detection when high frequency (e.g., RF noise) is present is disclosed. The method includes determining if first arcing criterion is met, determining if delay criterion is met, implementing a delay for a delay period if the delay criterion is met, and determining if second arcing criterion is met. If the second arcing criterion is met, then a trip signal may be sent to trip the circuit breaker. In another aspect, the method includes determining if first arcing criterion is met, starting delay period if the first arcing criterion is met, determining if delay criterion is met, and if the delay criterion is met, determining if second arcing criterion is met. An arc fault detection apparatus adapted to carry out the methods, and systems including the arc fault detection apparatus are disclosed, as are various other aspects.

Abstract: An electrical fault detection device for use in a branch of a power circuit that utilizes signals from an AC line current sensor coupled to an electrical distribution line having a primary and neutral lines, a line high-frequency sensor coupled to the electrical distribution line, a differential current sensor coupled to the primary and neutral lines, and a ground fault current sensor coupled to the primary and neutral lines. A signal conditioner receives the signals outputted by AC current line current sensor, the line high frequency sensor, the differential current sensor and the ground fault current sensor and generates a signal indicative of the load current associated with a branch of the power circuit. Output of the signal conditioner is sampled and processed by a processing resource. The processing resource has stored therein data representing a plurality of time-versus-current curves that define a plurality of regions in which tripping may or may not occur.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect the present disclosure is directed toward a method for detecting arc faults on a power line. The method may include monitoring power signals associated with a power line and filtering the power signals to produce a high frequency signal and a low frequency signal. A mask signal may generated based on the low frequency signal, and the high frequency signal may be analyzed to extract a broadband portion of the high frequency signal. A fault counter may be incremented if the magnitude of the broadband portion is approximately greater than a first threshold level. A fault counter may be decremented if the magnitude of the broadband portion is approximately less than the first threshold level. A trip signal is provided to a switching device associated with the power line if the fault counter exceeds a predetermined fault limit.

Abstract: An arc fault detector includes a means for repeatedly measuring an elapsed time. The arc fault detector also includes at least one means to perform arc detection at each repeated elapsed time. Means for initiating a tripping mechanism is activated after the elapsed time. When a fault occurs, means for generating at least one fault code is activated. The fault code is stored in at least one non-volatile memory. The fault code is selected from a group consisting of an arc fault interrupt code, a ground fault interrupt code, and a push-to-test interrupt code. The arc fault detector includes at least one means to display the fault code such as at least one LED. At least a first LED indicates an arc fault interrupt code and at least a second LED indicates a ground fault interrupt code. At least a third LED indicates a push-to-test interrupt code.

Abstract: An electrical fault detection device for use in a branch of a power circuit that utilizes signals from an AC line current sensor coupled to an electrical distribution line having a primary and neutral lines, a line high-frequency sensor coupled to the electrical distribution line, a differential current sensor coupled to the primary and neutral lines, and a ground fault current sensor coupled to the primary and neutral lines. A signal conditioner receives the signals outputted by AC current line current sensor, the line high frequency sensor, the differential current sensor and the ground fault current sensor and generates a signal indicative of the load current associated with a branch of the power circuit. Output of the signal conditioner is sampled and processed by a processing resource. The processing resource has stored therein data representing a plurality of time-versus-current curves that define a plurality of regions in which tripping may or may not occur.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect the present disclosure is directed toward a method for detecting arc faults on a power line. The method may include monitoring power signals associated with a power line and filtering the power signals to produce a high frequency signal and a low frequency signal. A mask signal may generated based on the low frequency signal, and the high frequency signal may be analyzed to extract a broadband portion of the high frequency signal. A fault counter may be incremented if the magnitude of the broadband portion is approximately greater than a first threshold level. A fault counter may be decremented if the magnitude of the broadband portion is approximately less than the first threshold level. A trip signal is provided to a switching device associated with the power line if the fault counter exceeds a predetermined fault limit.