Abstract: An annunciation system which will detect the majority of failed breakers and indicate to the consumer when a breaker needs to be replaced, but does not put the consumer in an emergency situation where critical loads have lost power. The annunication system provides a visible and audible indication of the failure of a breaker to trip either as a result of fault current conditions or a test of a ground fault or arc fault circuit.

Abstract: A GFCI/AFCI circuit breaker includes a housing, separable contacts, and an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts. A first trip mechanism includes a GFCI/AFCI trip circuit having a resistor. The resistor is energized in response to a trip condition. The first trip mechanism cooperates with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts in response to the trip condition. The resistor has a body which burns open in response to a failure of the separable contacts to trip open. A second trip mechanism engages the body of the resistor and cooperates with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts in response to the body of the resistor burning open.

Abstract: An annunciation system which will detect the majority of failed breakers and indicate to the consumer when a breaker needs to be replaced, but does not put the consumer in an emergency situation where critical loads have lost power. The annunication system provides a visible and audible indication of the failure of a breaker to trip either as a result of fault current conditions or a test of a ground fault or arc fault circuit.

Abstract: A GFCI/AFCI circuit breaker includes a housing, separable contacts, and an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts. A first trip mechanism includes a GFCI/AFCI trip circuit having a resistor. The resistor is energized in response to a trip condition. The first trip mechanism cooperates with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts in response to the trip condition. The resistor has a body which burns open in response to a failure of the separable contacts to trip open. A second trip mechanism engages the body of the resistor and cooperates with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts in response to the body of the resistor burning open.

Abstract: Circuit breakers in an electric power distribution system, such as in a residence or a light commercial facility, are remotely reclosed using a power line communications system such as an X10 or CEBus system, which transmits a reclose signal over the power conductors to a recloser controlling the separable contacts of the circuit breaker in the load center. A remote master unit which generates the reclose signal is connected to an unaffected branch circuit, preferably by plugging into a receptacle located in a convenient part of the house or office remote from the load center. The reclosers may be addressed individually or globally.

Abstract: A multiwire branch circuit including two line conductors and a grounded, common neutral conductor is protected by a two pole circuit breaker connected to independently interrupt overcurrent conditions in the two ungrounded line conductors. Three separate protection circuits provide arc fault protection for each of the ungrounded line conductors and ground fault protection for all three conductors. The arc fault detectors use the bimetal of the thermal-magnetic trip device for the associated line conductor for current detection, and therefore, are individually referenced to the associated line voltage. Hence, the outputs of the arc fault detectors are electrically isolated from each other and from the output of the ground fault detector, but operate a common trip circuit to simultaneously open both poles of the two pole circuit breaker. The arc fault detectors have separate isolated power supplies.

Abstract: A remote control residential and commercial circuit breaker system (320) provides overload current protection and load management. The system includes a plurality of remote control circuit breakers (20, 322) each including a switch (188, 190, 150, 152) responsive to a control signal (330) for controllably completing and interrupting a respective load circuit (184), a plurality of pole controllers (336, 338) each responsive to a respective address signal (342, 344) and coupled to a respective circuit breaker and supplying the respective control signal to the respective switch. Each pole controller includes a status circuit responsive to actuation of the switch and supplying a status signal indicative thereof. A common controller (348) is coupled to the pole controllers and supplies addresses signals.

Abstract: A remote control residential and commercial lighting and appliance branch circuit breaker provides both overload current protection and load management. Structure is provided enabling packaging in a three-quarter inch width case, including a first set of contacts in the case provided by a pair of separable overload breaker contacts, trip structure in the case for causing separation of the overload breaker contacts in response to overload currents therethrough, a second set of contacts in the case provided by a pair of switching relay contacts having open and closed conditions and electrically connected in series with the overload breaker contacts, and an actuator in the case energizable to mechanically actuate the switching relay contacts. Feedback circuitry is included providing status indication of the condition of the switching relay contacts. Structure is provided for reducing actuator and spring requirements and sizes.

Abstract: A plastic load center box economically provided by duplicate molded end sections joined by an intermediate section of uniform cross-section which is readily provided in selected lengths in either molded or extruded form. End walls receive metal inserts electrically interconnected to provide grounding when attached to grounded conduit, or plastic inserts where the load center application does not require grounded conduit. Molded end sections have formed knockouts and wire clamping tabs. A metal cover for the box is grounded to the metal inserts or to the interconnection. Additional plastic inserts in the end walls provide forwardly open pockets in which cable may be laid, and closing inserts overlying the pockets to grip the cable and retain it in the pockets.

Abstract: A neutral connector of a standard three-phase, three-wire panelboard is replaced by a specific multiple termination assembly having a limited number of terminations specifically adapted for connection to ground at the panelboard, for grounding the termination assembly to the panelboard enclosure, and for connecting the multiple termination assembly to the power conductor of the system grounded phase which is also connected to one pole of the main circuit breaker, main switch or main lug of the panelboard. Standard AIC rated three-pole circuit breakers or fusible switches are wired to three-phase loads in the branch circuits and connected to the three bus bars of the panelboard to connect the grounded phase to the load through the circuit breaker or switch, and to open all phases when operated.

Abstract: An arc detection method and apparatus is provided for an electric circuit having an electrified conductor (46) connecting a voltage source (26) to a load (30). The system senses the electromagnetic field established about the conductor by the occurrence of an electrical arc in the electric circuit, and generates a field responsive signal. Arc discrimination circuitry responding to the field responsive signal and generates an arc indicative signal in response to a given characteristic of the field responsive signal. The system includes an E field sensor (66) and a B field sensor (68).

Abstract: A plastic load center box economically provided by duplicate molded end sections joined by an intermediate section of uniform cross-section which is readily provided in selected lengths in either molded or extruded form. End walls receive metal inserts electrically interconnected to provide grounding when attached to grounded conduit, or plastic inserts where the load center application does not require grounded conduit. Molded end sections have formed knockouts and wire clamping tabs.

Abstract: An adapter converting a standard plug-on, bolt-in power distribution panelboard type circuit breaker for use in industrial control applications comprises a molded insulating base having a rail engaged by a hook of the circuit breaker and a conductor having a first terminal compatible with the circuit breaker terminal and a second terminal comprising a wiring connector. The adapter is mountable to a panel or within an enclosure, flat against a panel or on a DIN rail or is attached to the breaker when the latter is front-mounted to a door or panel. A snap-on catch for mounting plate and DIN rail mounting is deflectable by an attached breaker to pinch the grip of the catch on the plate or DIN rail to prevent lateral movement, and by a screwdriver or the like from the front to release the base from the plate or rail. The plate accommodates plural bases in ganged relation to provide multiple capability mountable as a unit.

Abstract: One end of an internal barrier assembly is attached to a forward side of a cabinet below a door of the cabinet by bolt and nut fasteners threadably assembled together at the exterior of the cabinet to be readily visible to an observer inspecting similar bolt and nut fasteners for the cabinet door, all such fasteners preferably being disposed on a common face of the cabinet. The bolt and nut fasteners have holes therein through which a wire loop of a lead security seal is wound and the integrity of all seals may be visibly observed without opening the door.

Abstract: Plug-on enclosed fusible switches, enclosed lug devices and non-enclosed molded case circuit breakers are attached to a panelboard in a single or side-by-side double row. Spring biased latches retain the devices to the panelboard. Locating notches on the panelboard locate the devices at incremental spacing to provide a variable, compact arrangement for the devices. Filler plates and end structures on the devices cooperate with a cover for the panelboard to provide an integral dead front. The panelboard is particularly adapted for field assembly, including attachment of a main feed device which effects a plug-on feed in either a single or electrically parallel double panel arrangement.

Abstract: Plug-on enclosed fusible switches, enclosed lug devices and non-enclosed molded case circuit breakers are attached to a panelboard in a single or side-by-side double row. Spring biased latches retain the devices to the panelboard. Locating notches on the panelboard locate the devices at incremental spacing to provide a variable, compact arrangement for the devices. Filler plates and end structures on the devices cooperate with a cover for the panelboard to provide an integral dead front. The panelboard is particularly adapted for field assmebly, including attachment of a main feed device which effects a plug-on feed in either a single or electrically parallel double panel arrangement.

Abstract: A meter center enclosure (4) is divided into a metering section (8) and service disconnect section (10) by a barrier (6,12,14) which is laterally supported along a back wall of the enclosure by brackets (30) cooperatively engaging slots (22) in the barrier. Grooved insulator supports (24) are slidingly received in the slots (22) and are locked in a forward position by the brackets (30). Bus conductors (26,28) extend from the metering section (8) into the service disconnect section (10) through openings in the insulators (24) and are supported by the insulators (24). In one embodiment, insulator (24) provides the sole support (24e) for a service disconnect circuit breaker, and connectors (44) are provided for the bus conductors (26,28) which may selectively receive either plug-in (CBP) or bolt-in (CBB) circuit breakers. In another embodiment, the insulator (52) cooperates with a reversible bracket (58) to support a selected one of two dimensionally different circuit breakers (CB').