Abstract: An electrical circuit is provided for actuating the trip mechanism of a circuit interrupter and includes a current sensor having a pair of output terminals and designed to cooperate with at least one electrical power conductor to sense the amount of current flowing in that conductor. The circuit further includes a circuit neutral terminal. A power supply is provided having input terminals with one of the input terminals being connected to one of the output terminals of the current sensor for receiving the sensed current signal therefrom, the other of the input terminals being connected to the circuit neutral terminal. The power supply produces output power at a first voltage level during a first mode of operation of the electrical circuit and produces output power at a second voltage level during a second mode of operation of the electrical circuit, with the second voltage level being substantially higher than the first voltage level.

Abstract: A chemiluminescence apparatus and method for determining polymer stability by measuring the intensity of the light emitted during thermal oxidation. The apparatus described in the invention measures the light intensity vs. time from polymers in an oxidative atmosphere. On the basis of this information, important parameters such as induction time and oxidation rate can be obtained. The apparatus has the advantage of simultaneous multi-sample analysis and the mathematical approach enables data computerization.