Abstract: An electrical device having a heat conductive housing has a flexible circuit board attached to the surface of the housing to control or take readings from the electrical. The flexible circuit board preferably has an adhesive coating on at least a portion of one side for adhering the flexible circuit board to the surface of the metal housing. At least one component mounted on the flexible circuit breaker generates heat, which is dissipated via the conductive housing. This arrangement provides a compact design that reduces the overall size of the electrical device and its associated circuitry, and also avoids the problem of dielectric separation between the electronic components and the heat sink. The electrical device may be a solenoid, a motor, a position detector, or a relay.

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 electrical device having a heat conductive housing has a flexible circuit board attached to the surface of the housing to control or take readings from the electrical. The flexible circuit board preferably has an adhesive coating on at least a portion of one side for adhering the flexible circuit board to the surface of the metal housing. At least one component mounted on the flexible circuit breaker generates heat, which is dissipated via the conductive housing. This arrangement provides a compact design that reduces the overall size of the electrical device and its associated circuitry, and also avoids the problem of dielectric separation between the electronic components and the heat sink. The electrical device may be a solenoid, a motor, a position detector, or a relay.

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: 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.