Abstract: A power distribution communication system includes a plurality of network protectors, a plurality of sensors or devices, a plurality of wirelessly communicating user interfaces, and a gateway. The gateway includes a wired communication network interface structured to communicate with at least one of the network protectors, the sensors or the devices, a first wireless communication network interface structured to wirelessly communicate with at least one of the network protectors, the sensors or the devices, and a plurality of second wireless communication network interfaces structured to wirelessly communicate with the wirelessly communicating user interfaces. A processor is operatively associated with the wired communication network interface, the first wireless communication network interface and the second wireless communication network interfaces, and is structured to pass data, information and commands between the various interfaces.

Abstract: An electrical switching apparatus includes a housing, separable contacts within said housing, an operating mechanism structured to open and close said separable contacts, and a trip assembly cooperating with said operating mechanism to trip open said separable contacts in response to a trip signal. The trip assembly includes a sensor structured to sense current flowing through said separable contacts, a number of breakpoint trip mechanisms providing a number of breakpoint trips in response to a number of time-current functions of said sensed current over a number of ranges of predetermined values of said sensed current, and a mechanism structured to provide said trip signal responsive to said number of breakpoint trips. A method of operating the electrical switching apparatus and a power distribution system incorporating the electrical switching apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: An electrical distribution system includes a switchgear or motor control center cabinet, a plurality of first protective, metering or control devices internal to the cabinet, and one or more second devices. The second devices include display devices mounted on the cabinet, display devices external to the cabinet and monitoring devices structured to monitor the system and communicate to a remote location. Communications among the first devices and the second devices are wireless communications.

Abstract: Maintenance trip functions override the normal or specified trip functions of a low voltage circuit breaker to reduce pickup currents and/or time delays to effect faster trips, which reduces arc energy produced by faults during maintenance or testing on a live circuit breaker.

Abstract: A system includes a first communication network, such as the Internet, having a client; a second INCOM communication network including a plurality of communicating devices; and a server. The server includes a first Ethernet transceiver communicating with the Internet, a second INCOM transceiver communicating with the INCOM communication network and the communicating devices, and a processor cooperating with the first and second transceivers. The processor being adapted to learn at least some of the communicating devices, to periodically obtain a plurality of values from the communicating devices, to associate the values with a web page, to communicate the web page to the client over the Internet, and to periodically communicate the values associated with the web page to the client over the Internet.

Abstract: A power distribution monitoring system includes a wireless gateway/controller, a network protector subnetwork including a plurality of network protectors and a portable electronic device having wireless communication functionality. Each of the network protectors is in electronic communication with the wireless gateway/controller. The wireless gateway/controller receives data from one or more of the network protectors, and wirelessly transmits at least a portion of the data to the portable electronic device. Also, a method of monitoring a power distribution system including receiving data at a first location from a network protector subnetwork that includes a plurality of network protectors, wirelessly transmitting at least a portion of the data from the first location, and wirelessly receiving the at least a portion of the data at a second location separate from the first location.

Abstract: A system displays information from and controls electrical switching apparatus, such as circuit breakers. The system includes a plurality of circuit breakers having separable contacts and a plurality of conditions, such as bus temperature and contact wear. A plurality of sensors are structured to sense the conditions of the circuit breakers and to communicate the sensed conditions over corresponding wireless signals. A display and control unit is operatively associated with the circuit breakers and is structured to receive the corresponding wireless signals and display information corresponding to the sensed conditions or to control the circuit breakers based upon one or more of the sensed conditions.

Abstract: Maintenance trip functions override the normal or specified trip functions of a low voltage circuit breaker to reduce pickup currents and/or time delays to effect faster trips, which reduces arc energy produced by faults during maintenance or testing on a live circuit breaker.