Abstract: An intelligent power management system that includes a circuit breaker containing a PLC module that spans open contacts of the circuit breaker to provide a communication path for PLC messages between communication paths on each of the line and load sides of the circuit when the contacts are open. The contacts are motorized to permit remote operation through PLC messaging. Coupled to the PLC module is a controller, which controls the opening and closing of the motorized contacts under user control or via an adaptive load management algorithm that reduces peak power consumption and adapts a set of loads to changed power supply conditions. The controller can also dynamically alter operational current and fault threshold levels on a real-time basis based upon circuit requirements or environmental conditions. The algorithm runs a state machine and also manages loads in a limited power source environment such as when loads are powered by a generator.

Abstract: An intelligent power management system that includes a circuit breaker containing a PLC module that spans open contacts of the circuit breaker to provide a communication path for PLC messages between the line and load sides of the circuit when the contacts are open. The contacts are motorized to permit remote operation through PLC messaging. Coupled to the PLC module is a controller, which controls the opening and closing of the motorized contacts under user control or via an adaptive load management algorithm that reduces peak power consumption and adapts a set of loads to changed power supply conditions. The controller can also dynamically alter operational current and fault threshold levels on a real-time basis based upon circuit requirements or environmental conditions. The algorithm runs a state machine and also manages loads in a limited power source environment such as when loads are powered by a generator.

Abstract: An intelligent power management system that includes a circuit breaker containing a PLC module that spans open contacts of the circuit breaker to provide a communication path for PLC messages between the line and load sides of the circuit when the contacts are open. The contacts are motorized to permit remote operation through PLC messaging. Coupled to the PLC module is a controller, which controls the opening and closing of the motorized contacts under user control or via an adaptive load management algorithm that reduces peak power consumption and adapts a set of loads to changed power supply conditions. The controller can also dynamically alter operational current and fault threshold levels on a real-time basis based upon circuit requirements or environmental conditions. The algorithm runs a state machine and also manages loads in a limited power source environment such as when loads are powered by a generator.

Abstract: An arcing fault protection assembly in an electrical outlet, and a corresponding method determine whether arcing is present in an electrical device connected to the outlet. The assembly comprises a sensor, a broadband noise circuit, a controller and s an electrical device. The sensor detects a current and develops a corresponding sensor signal. The broadband noise circuit determines the presence of broadband noise in the sensor signal and produces a corresponding output signal. The controller processes the sensor signal and the output signal in a predetermined fashion to determine whether an arcing fault is present. The sensor, the broadband noise circuit and the controller are mounted to the outlet receptacle or to an outlet box which houses the receptacle. The electrical device is connected in parallel to the first electrical outlet on the load side of the sensor.

Abstract: An arcing fault protection assembly in an electrical device, and corresponding methods determine whether arcing is present in the device. The assembly comprises a sensor, a broadband noise circuit, and a controller. The sensor detects a current and develops a corresponding sensor signal. The broadband noise circuit determines the presence of broadband noise in the sensor signal and produces a corresponding output signal. The controller processes the sensor signal and the output signal in a predetermined fashion to determine whether an arcing fault is present. The sensor, broadband noise circuit, and controller are mounted to the device.

Abstract: An arcing fault protection assembly and a corresponding method determine whether arcing is present in electrical circuits. The assembly powers-up quickly without dissipating excessive heat while power is being supplied to the assembly. The assembly comprises a sensor, a broadband noise circuit, a controller, and a dual-mode power supply. The sensor detects a current flowing in an electrical circuit and develops a corresponding sensor signal. The broadband noise circuit determines the presence of broadband noise in the sensor signal and produces a corresponding output signal. The controller processes the sensor signal and the output signal in a predetermined fashion to determine whether an arcing fault is present in the circuit. The dual-mode power supply supplies power to the sensor, broadband noise circuit and controller using a first mode and later switching to a second mode. The first mode reaches steady state faster than the second mode.

Abstract: A system for determining whether arcing is present in an electrical circuit includes a sensor for monitoring a current waveform in the electrical circuit, and an arc fault detection circuit which determines whether an arc fault is present in response to the sensor. The arc fault detection circuit includes a controller which produces a trip signal in response to a determination that an arcing fault is present in the electrical circuit, and an inhibit/blocking function for preventing the production of the trip signal under one or more predetermined conditions.

Abstract: An arc fault circuit interrupter system for use with an electrical circuit includes an arcing fault detector which monitors the electrical circuit and a controller which generates a trip signal in response to the detection of arcing faults. The controller may also generate one or more communication signals corresponding to information relating to the operation of the arcing fault circuit interrupter. The system may also include one or more of the following: a communication port which communicates to a user the information relating to operation of the arc fault circuit interrupter in response to the communication signals; a memory for retaining predetermined information related to the condition and operation of the arcing fault circuit interrupter, with or without a backup memory; and a combined self-test/reset switch.

Abstract: A system for producing a simulated ground fault when arcing is present in an electrical circuit includes a sensor which monitors the electrical circuit. An arcing fault detection circuit determines whether an arcing fault is present in response to the sensor and produces a trip signal in response to a determination that an arcing fault is present in the electrical circuit. A ground fault simulator circuit produces a simulated ground fault in response to the trip signal.

Abstract: An arcing fault protection assembly in an electrical outlet, and a corresponding method determine whether arcing is present in circuits connected to the outlet. The assembly comprises a sensor, a broadband noise circuit, and a controller. The sensor detects a current and develops a corresponding sensor signal. The broadband noise circuit determines the presence of broadband noise in the sensor signal and produces a corresponding output signal. The controller processes the sensor signal and the output signal in a predetermined fashion to determine whether an arcing fault is present. The sensor, broadband noise circuit, and controller are mounted to the outlet receptacle or to an outlet box which houses the receptacle.

Abstract: A zone selective interlocking system for electronic trip circuit breakers includes a plurality of downstream terminals, each downstream terminal connecting with at least one of a plurality of downstream electronic trip circuit breakers having input terminals. A restraint input circuit module, including a voltage comparator, is connected to the input terminals of each of the downstream electronic trip circuit breakers and the input terminals are shorted together providing a self-restraint signal for each downstream electronic trip circuit breaker at the occurrence of a downstream fault condition. The system also includes a plurality of upstream terminals, each upstream terminal connecting with at least one of a plurality of upstream electronic trip circuit breakers having input terminals.

Abstract: An arc fault detector system detects arcing faults in an electrical distribution system by monitoring one or more conductors and producing an input signal representing one or more electrical signal conditions in the circuit to be monitored. This input signal is processed to develop signals representing the electrical current flow through the monitored circuit and broadband noise signal components. The system analyzes these signals to determine whether an arcing fault is present, and if so, outputs a trip signal which may be used directly or indirectly to trip a circuit breaker or other circuit interruption device.

Abstract: A circuit protection apparatus employs a PTC element for overload and/or short circuit protection and an arcing fault interruption arrangement. The circuit protection apparatus may be employed in a ground fault receptacle for interrupting the flow of electrical current in a line in response to any of a plurality of different types of fault conditions on the line. The circuit protection apparatus may include a set of contacts connected in series with the line, and having an open position and a closed position, a trip device coupled to the contacts, adapted to be actuated by a trip signal, to move the contacts from the closed position to the open position and an element having a positive temperature coefficient of resistivity (PTC) connected in series with the contacts. The PTC element is connected to the trip device to provide the trip signal to the device in response to overload or short circuit conditions in the line.

Abstract: A current sensor has a closed loop magnetic hoop with a gap and a central aperture for receiving a conductor. An IC chip incorporating a Giant MagnetiResistive (GMR) sensor is positioned in the gap to provide a measure of the current in the conductor. A relatively small current transformer provides the necessary information about the direction of the current to an electronic trip unit for a circuit breaker as well as power supply for the IC chip and the trip unit. The trip unit operates in the presence of AC and DC faults. In a three phase power system, a single GMR chip in the proximity of three closely spaced phase conductors, together with a current measurement from the neutral line, enables trip units to operate on the occurrence of AC and DC faults.

Abstract: A Positive Temperature Coefficient Resistivity (PTC) element has a resistivity that increases as the temperature increases. Circuit breakers having PTC elements can achieve better overload and short circuit protection than existing products. Breakers with PTC elements can also be combined with ground fault detection circuits to activate the circuit breaker under ground fault conditions that are less severe than the overcurrent conditions that would normally activate the circuit breaker. A shunt trip assembly incorporating a PTC resistor reduces the required power rating of the clearing switch.

Abstract: A compact coil assembly is provided for protecting electrical components from transient voltage surges. The assembly includes a bobbin having a cylindrical core with two ends. A first and second flange are each perpendicularly mounted and extended outwardly from one of the ends. A lead pin is perpendicularly upstanding on the top surface of the first flange. The first flange has a parallel outer and inner wall defining a channel therebetween. The inner wall has a slot therethrough. The slot is open at one end to the top surface of the first flange and extends downward to the core. The slot is positioned on the top surface of the first flange opposite the lead pin. The channel extends from the lead pin across to the end of the slot near the core. The width of the channel and the slot are adapted for guiding a winding wire therethrough.

Abstract: For use in a trip unit, a switched current shunting arrangement in a circuit interruption tripping system couples the current transformers to a relatively low voltage and it accumulates a high level of energy quickly at power-up so that the tripping solenoid can promptly be energized after the detection of a spurious fault condition. The arrangement regulates supply current from the current transformers to a trip voltage capacitor and to a supply capacitor at the input of a voltage regulation circuit. The current transformer charges the trip voltage capacitor to a first prescribed voltage level, and a current shunting circuit shunts current passing from the current transformer to the supply capacitor, such that during normal operation the supply capacitor is charged to a second prescribed voltage level, which is less than the first prescribed voltage level.

Abstract: A current regulator circuit for shunting excess current from a current supply utilizes two separate shunting paths, depending on the amount of excess current on the supply line. The first shunting circuit is activated when the current exceeds some minimum level established by a zener diode. The second current shunting circuit is selectively activated by a switching circuit which compares the current in the first shunting circuit to a reference voltage that is proportional to the line current. This arrangement is advantageous in that it shunts excess current without generating significant levels of heat or adversely affecting current sensing devices.

Abstract: An addressable relay module is provided for controlling a plurality of relay outputs associated with an electronic circuit breaker system using a trip unit for monitoring system functions or network parameters. The relay module is linked to a multi-drop serial communications network through which data pertaining to system functions is relayed to and from a communications microcontroller which controls the operational status of relay contacts linked thereto. The microcontroller addresses specific ones of associated relay outputs in accordance with address information contained within the network data. The addressable relay module effectively maps the plurality of relay contact outputs linked thereto to a corresponding plurality of network device parameters received through the multi-drop network.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement is used to interface a fault-powered circuit breaker trip unit to a communication network. The circuit arrangement includes a diode protected line which draws power from the trip unit, a battery acting as a backup power source and a control circuit, responsive to the trip unit, which detects a trip unit alarm condition, receives data from a circuit breaker trip unit and processes the data for subsequent use. In response to the control circuit detecting the trip unit alarm condition, a switch circuit enables the backup power source such that power is provided to the control circuit after the trip unit alarm condition is received so that the control circuit can process the received data after the power provided by the trip unit expires.