Abstract: An antenna mount (120, 220) is provided for an enclosure (100) of a panelboard. The mount includes an antenna cover (130, 230) mountable on the enclosure via a hole on a wall of the enclosure. The cover includes an opening (146, 246) at one end to receive an antenna in the cover and a mounting assembly (140 and 150, 240 and 250) to mount the one end onto the enclosure via the hole. The mounting assembly includes a flange (140, 240) which abuts against or is proximate the wall of the enclosure around the hole when the cover is arranged in the hole at a mounted position. The mount also includes a retainer (170, 270) which engages the opposite end of the cover to close the opening and retain the antenna in the cover. The mounting assembly can be a snap-in mounting assembly or a screw-on mounting assembly.

Abstract: An optical waveguide sheet 50 is fastened to an inward facing access door 4 of the load center 2. When the door is closed, the optical waveguide sheet is positioned so that one portion is juxtaposed with the circuit breaker 10A in the load center, to enable the optical waveguide sheet to receive an optical signal 70A characterizing current in the circuit breaker. The optical waveguide sheet 50 is further positioned so that another portion is juxtaposed with an optical window 48 of an aggregator. The optical waveguide sheet is configured to internally reflect the optical signal 70A within its body and to conduct the internally reflected optical signal from the circuit breaker to the optical window of the aggregator. The aggregator may provide information characterizing current usage to an alarm, a measurement device, the smart grid, or a storage device for later use.

Abstract: An antenna mount (120, 220) is provided for an enclosure (100) of a panelboard. The mount includes an antenna cover (130, 230) mountable on the enclosure via a hole on a wall of the enclosure. The cover includes an opening (146, 246) at one end to receive an antenna in the cover and a mounting assembly (140 and 150, 240 and 250) to mount the one end onto the enclosure via the hole. The mounting assembly includes a flange (140, 240) which abuts against or is proximate the wall of the enclosure around the hole when the cover is arranged in the hole at a mounted position. The mount also includes a retainer (170, 270) which engages the opposite end of the cover to close the opening and retain the antenna in the cover. The mounting assembly can be a snap-in mounting assembly or a screw-on mounting assembly.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for minimizing exposure to live parts in the panelboard allow safe insertion and removal of a circuit breaker from the panelboard. The method and apparatus provide a shutter assembly that automatically closes off access to conductors in the panelboard until a circuit breaker is inserted in the panelboard. Inserting the circuit breaker in the panelboard causes the shutter assembly to open and allow the circuit breaker to contact the conductors. When the circuit breaker is removed from the panelboard, access to the conductors is automatically closed off again. Such a shutter assembly allows operators to safely insert and remove a circuit breaker and other electrical device from the panelboard.

Abstract: An optical waveguide sheet 50 is fastened to an inward facing access door 4 of the load center 2. When the door is closed, the optical waveguide sheet is positioned so that one portion is juxtaposed with the circuit breaker 10A in the load center, to enable the optical waveguide sheet to receive an optical signal 70A characterizing current in the circuit breaker. The optical waveguide sheet 50 is further positioned so that another portion is juxtaposed with an optical window 48 of an aggregator. The optical waveguide sheet is configured to internally reflect the optical signal 70A within its body and to conduct the internally reflected optical signal from the circuit breaker to the optical window of the aggregator. The aggregator may provide information characterizing current usage to an alarm, a measurement device, the smart grid, or a storage device for later use.

Abstract: Methods and systems for minimizing exposure to live parts in a panelboard allow safe insulation and removal of a circuit breaker or other electrical devices from the panelboard. The methods and systems provide an isolation assembly for the panelboard that isolates and prevents contact with energized portions of the circuit breaker as well as the conductors in the panelboard. The isolation assembly covers up the energized part of the circuit breaker, including the line terminal extending from the circuit breaker, and any accessible portion of the conductors in the panelboard. Additionally, for bolt-on type circuit breakers, the isolation assembly replaces the bolts or screws typically used to fasten the line terminals to the conductors in the panelboard with standoff screws that insulate metal screwdrivers and similar tools from the energized part of the circuit breaker.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for minimizing exposure to live parts in the panelboard allow safe insertion and removal of a circuit breaker from the panelboard. The method and apparatus provide a shutter assembly that automatically closes off access to conductors in the panelboard until a circuit breaker is inserted in the panelboard. Inserting the circuit breaker in the panelboard causes the shutter assembly to open and allow the circuit breaker to contact the conductors. When the circuit breaker is removed from the panelboard, access to the conductors is automatically closed off again. Such a shutter assembly allows operators to safely insert and remove a circuit breaker and other electrical device from the panelboard.

Abstract: Methods and systems for minimizing exposure to live parts in a panelboard allow safe insulation and removal of a circuit breaker or other electrical devices from the panelboard. The methods and systems provide an isolation assembly for the panelboard that isolates and prevents contact with energized portions of the circuit breaker as well as the conductors in the panelboard. The isolation assembly covers up the energized part of the circuit breaker, including the line terminal extending from the circuit breaker, and any accessible portion of the conductors in the panelboard. Additionally, for bolt-on type circuit breakers, the isolation assembly replaces the bolts or screws typically used to fasten the line terminals to the conductors in the panelboard with standoff screws that insulate metal screwdrivers and similar tools from the energized part of the circuit breaker.

Abstract: A load center featuring a two-piece dielectric barrier that securely retains a plug-on neutral rail and methods of assembling the same. The barrier includes a shield and a base having a protrusion that cooperates with fingers of the shield to securely retain the conductor in the load center. The shield is installed over the base and rests on hooks protruding from the base. This creates a distance between the protrusion and the fingers to allow the conductor to be inserted through a gap between the fingers along the conductor's skinny edge. The conductor rotates 90 degrees until it rests on the protrusion. The base and shield are snapped together, causing the hooks of the base to attach to the shield. At the same time, the fingers of the base move downward to rest against the conductor so that it is sandwiched securely between the protrusion and the fingers.

Abstract: Rotary switch interlock mechanisms and electrical switch assemblies with a rotary switch interlock mechanism are presented herein. An electrical distribution device with at least two electrical switches is disclosed. Each of the electrical switches has a switch actuator that is movable between engaged and disengaged positions. A rotary interlock member is rotatably mounted to the housing of the electrical distribution device adjacent the first and second electrical switches. The rotary interlock member is rotatable 180 degrees between a first orientation, whereat the rotary member allows the switch actuator of the second electrical switch into its engaged position while preventing the switch actuator of the first electrical switch from being moved into its engaged position, and a second orientation, whereat the rotary member allows the first switch actuator to be moved into its engaged position while preventing the second switch actuator from being moved into its engaged position.

Abstract: Electrical load spreading arrangements reduce peak power demand. An enclosure houses an electronic circuit board, which receives at a first input terminal a first thermostat control signal from a thermostat intended to control a first air conditioning unit and at a second input terminal a second thermostat control signal from a thermostat intended to control a second AC unit. A controller on the circuit board is programmed with instructions stored in a memory coupled to the controller causing the controller to monitor the first and second input terminals to determine the timing and duration of the thermostat control signals passed to the output terminals for activating or deactivating the AC units such that overlapping operation of the AC units is reduced particularly during peak demand periods. A similar arrangement may be applied to a broader class of HVAC equipment, including water heaters, for example.

Abstract: Rotary switch interlock mechanisms and electrical switch assemblies with a rotary switch interlock mechanism are presented herein. An electrical distribution device with at least two electrical switches is disclosed. Each of the electrical switches has a switch actuator that is movable between engaged and disengaged positions. A rotary interlock member is rotatably mounted to the housing of the electrical distribution device adjacent the first and second electrical switches. The rotary interlock member is rotatable 180 degrees between a first orientation, whereat the rotary member allows the switch actuator of the second electrical switch into its engaged position while preventing the switch actuator of the first electrical switch from being moved into its engaged position, and a second orientation, whereat the rotary member allows the first switch actuator to be moved into its engaged position while preventing the second switch actuator from being moved into its engaged position.

Abstract: A load center is equipped with a neutral phase conductive rail with breaker mounting and retention features providing automatic neutral connection for a plug-on mounted AFI and/or GFI circuit breaker. Breakers may be designed to have specific interfaces to the breaker mounting and retention features of the load center rails. The neutral rail may have two pieces including a breaker undercut positioning rail shorted to a standard neutral rail, or a neutral rail may be designed to have all mounting features integrated therewith. The new panel is compatible with non-AFI and non-GFI breakers.

Abstract: Electrical load spreading arrangements reduce peak power demand. An enclosure houses an electronic circuit board, which receives at a first input terminal a first thermostat control signal from a thermostat intended to control a first air conditioning unit and at a second input terminal a second thermostat control signal from a thermostat intended to control a second AC unit. A controller on the circuit board is programmed with instructions stored in a memory coupled to the controller causing the controller to monitor the first and second input terminals to determine the timing and duration of the thermostat control signals passed to the output terminals for activating or deactivating the AC units such that overlapping operation of the AC units is reduced particularly during peak demand periods. A similar arrangement may be applied to a broader class of HVAC equipment, including water heaters, for example.

Abstract: A load center is equipped with a neutral phase conductive rail with breaker mounting and retention features providing automatic neutral connection for a plug-on mounted AFI and/or GFI circuit breaker. Breakers may be designed to have specific interfaces to the breaker mounting and retention features of the load center rails. The neutral rail may have two pieces including a breaker undercut positioning rail shorted to a standard neutral rail, or a neutral rail may be designed to have all mounting features integrated therewith. The new panel is compatible with non-AFI and non-GFI breakers.

Abstract: A load center enclosure with displaceable end wall plates for easily accessing the wall cavity above and below the load center and adding additional electrical conductors in post installation applications.

Abstract: A load center enclosure with displaceable end wall plates for easily accessing the wall cavity above and below the load center and adding additional electrical conductors in post installation applications.

Abstract: A knockout providing either bundled wiring or multiple electrical conduit connector access to an electrical enclosure. The knockout provides one large knockout for use with bundled wiring or a large conduit connector when activated and a number of small knockouts, each for use with one small conduit connector when activated. The small knockouts are arranged tangentially within the larger knockout in a radial pattern.

Abstract: The present invention provides a connector bar for making electrical connections to terminals having a lug body with an externally accessible interior cavity and a binding screw. The connector bar includes an elongated body having two ends and made of electrically conductive material. At least one of the ends having a solid cross-section with a configuration which creates less distortion in the sides of the lug body compared to a round cross-section configuration when the binding screw contacts the end with torque applied for making the pre-determined mechanical and electrical connection. Preferably, the cross-section configuration of the end is defined by a flat top surface larger in width than the contact area of the binding screw, two arcuate sides having an arc value approximately the same as the interior cavity of the lug body, and a flat bottom surface smaller in width than the top surface.