Abstract: A preferred embodiment of a system comprises a recloser electrically coupled to a voltage source of a power-distribution network and adapted to isolate a section of a distribution feeder of the power-distribution network from the voltage source in response to an overcurrent condition in the section of the distribution feeder. The system also comprises a sectionalizer electrically coupled to the section of the distribution feeder. The sectionalizer and the recloser are adapted to communicate via a data network and the recloser is responsive to control inputs sent to the recloser from the sectionalizer over the data network.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of control unit for a power-distribution network comprises a processor, a memory-storage device electrically coupled to the processor, a set of computer-executable instructions stored on the memory-storage device, and an input/output interface electrically coupled to the processor. The control unit receives data from a plurality of switching devices of a power-distribution network, identifies ones of the switching devices located immediately up-line and down-line of a fault in a faulted section of the power-distribution network based on predetermined characteristics of the data, and generates and sends a first control input to at least one of the switching devices located immediately up-line and down-line of the fault to cause the at least one of the switching devices to open and thereby isolate the faulted section from a second section of the power-distribution network.