Abstract: A circuit interrupting device including a fault detection circuit and an auto-monitoring circuit. The fault detection circuit is configured to output a pre-trigger signal, wherein the pre-trigger signal is configured to not place the circuit interrupting device in a tripped condition. The auto-monitoring circuit is configured to monitor an auto-monitoring input signal, wherein the value of the auto-monitoring signal is at least partially determined by a value of a pre-trigger signal generated.

Abstract: A circuit interrupting device including a fault detection circuit and an auto-monitoring circuit. The fault detection circuit is configured to output a pre-trigger signal, wherein the pre-trigger signal is configured to not place the circuit interrupting device in a tripped condition. The auto-monitoring circuit is configured to monitor an auto-monitoring input signal, wherein the value of the auto-monitoring signal is at least partially determined by a value of a pre-trigger signal generated.

Abstract: A circuit interrupting device including a fault detection circuit and an auto-monitoring circuit. The fault detection circuit is configured to detect a fault condition of the circuit interrupting device, and output a fault detection signal in response to detecting the fault condition. Wherein the fault detection signal is configured to place the circuit interrupting device in a tripped condition. The fault detection circuit is further configured to output a pre-trigger signal, wherein the pre-trigger signal is configured to not place the circuit interrupting device in the tripped condition. The auto-monitoring circuit is configured to monitor an auto-monitoring input signal, wherein the value of the auto-monitoring signal is at least partially determined by a value of a pre-trigger signal generated.

Abstract: A wiring device including a fault detection circuit, an actuating device, a first switching device, a second switching device, and a third switching device. The fault detection circuit is configured to detect one or more fault conditions and generate a trigger signal. The first switching device is activated to turn on when said trigger signal is received from said fault detection circuit. The second switching device includes a first pin, a second pin, and a third pin, said second switching device is electrically connected to a first conductive winding of the actuating device and said first switching device. The third switching device includes a first pin, a second pin, and a third pin, said third switching device is electrically connected to a second conductive winding of the actuating device and said first switching device.

Abstract: A wiring device including one or more line contact arms electrically connected to a line terminal. Each line contact arm has an upper line contact located on a bent portion of the line contact arm, and a lower line contact located on a substantially straight portion of the line contact arm. The wiring device further includes one or more load contact arms electrically connected to a load terminal. Each load contact arm has a load contact located on a bent portion of the load contact arm.

Abstract: A delay circuit configured to delay the disconnection of one or more line conductors from one or more load conductors, wherein the one or more line conductors are disconnected from the one or more load conductors in a tripped condition. The delay circuit includes a first switch, a second switch, and a third switch. The first switch is configured to receive a fault detection signal and trigger in response to receiving the fault detection signal. Wherein the triggering of the second switch and the third switch is delayed for an amount of time, and after the amount of time has elapsed, the second switch and the third switch are activated to place the one or more line conductors and the one or more load conductors in the tripped condition.

Abstract: A recordable medium on which software code is stored. The software code including code for monitoring a test signal. The software code further including code for determining an end-of-life state of an electrical wiring device if the test signal is less than a threshold value a first predetermined number of times within a first predetermined time period, and code for generating an alarm signal when the end-of-life state is determined.

Abstract: A wiring device including a fault detection circuit, an actuating device, a first switching device, a second switching device, and a third switching device. The fault detection circuit is configured to detect one or more fault conditions and generate a trigger signal. The first switching device is activated to turn on when said trigger signal is received from said fault detection circuit. The second switching device includes a first pin, a second pin, and a third pin, said second switching device is electrically connected to a first conductive winding of the actuating device and said first switching device. The third switching device includes a first pin, a second pin, and a third pin, said third switching device is electrically connected to a second conductive winding of the actuating device and said first switching device.

Abstract: A circuit interrupting device having a dual-coil solenoid for delivering an increased magnetic field to the solenoid plunger when a fault is detected and it is desired to place the device into a tripped condition. Independent switching devices control the flow of current through the respective coils of the solenoid and a third switching device controls the operation of the two coil driving switch devices. A detection circuit detects faults and controls the third switching device to activate the coil driving switching devices when a fault is detected. A programmable device runs a self-test program to determine whether the device is operating properly and faults can be detected. The programmable device can also independently control the operation of the two coil driving switching devices.

Abstract: A wiring device including one or more line contact arms electrically connected to a line terminal. Each line contact arm has an upper line contact located on a bent portion of the line contact arm, and a lower line contact located on a substantially straight portion of the line contact arm. The wiring device further includes one or more load contact arms electrically connected to a load terminal. Each load contact arm has a load contact located on a bent portion of the load contact arm.

Abstract: A delay circuit configured to delay the disconnection of one or more line conductors from one or more load conductors, wherein the one or more line conductors are disconnected from the one or more load conductors in a tripped condition. The delay circuit includes a first switch, a second switch, and a third switch. The first switch is configured to receive a fault detection signal and trigger in response to receiving the fault detection signal. Wherein the triggering of the second switch and the third switch is delayed for an amount of time, and after the amount of time has elapsed, the second switch and the third switch are activated to place the one or more line conductors and the one or more load conductors in the tripped condition.

Abstract: A recordable medium on which software code is stored. The software code including code for monitoring a test signal. The software code further including code for determining an end-of-life state of an electrical wiring device if the test signal is less than a threshold value a first predetermined number of times within a first predetermined time period, and code for generating an alarm signal when the end-of-life state is determined.

Abstract: A circuit interrupting device that includes a line conductor, a load conductor, an interrupting device, a delay circuit, and a fault detection circuit. The interrupting device disconnects the line conductor from the load conductor when the circuit interrupting device is in a tripped condition. The delay circuit includes a first switch, a second switch, and a third switch, and delays the disconnecting of the line conductor from the load conductor. The fault detection circuit detects a fault condition and generates a fault detection signal when the fault condition is detected. The fault detection circuit provides the fault detection signal to the first switch to trigger the first switch, and the delay circuit delays the triggering of the second switch and the third switch. After an amount of time has elapsed, the second switch and the third switch are triggered to place the circuit interrupting device in the tripped condition.

Abstract: A wiring device including a face contact; one or more line contact arms; one or more load contact arms; and a fault detection circuit. The one or more line contact arms having an upper line contact located on a bent portion of the line contact arm, and a lower line contact located on a substantially straight portion of the line contact arm. The one or more load contact arms having a load contact located on a bent portion of the load contact arm. The fault detection circuit that detects a fault condition in said wiring device and generates a fault detection signal when said fault condition is detected, wherein said fault detection signal electrically disconnects the face contact from the upper line contact and the lower line contact from the load contact.

Abstract: A software code operates with a circuit interrupting device having an auto-monitoring circuit including a controller for automatically testing various functions and structures of the device. The auto-monitoring circuit initiates the software code which includes an auto-monitoring routine which, among other things, establishes a self-test fault during the positive or negative half-wave of an AC power cycle and determines whether the detection mechanisms within the device properly detect the self-test fault. Moreover, the software code executed by the controller compares sensed voltages from test signals with a determined or set maximum voltage value and compares the sensed voltages with a set or determined minimum voltage value. The sensed voltages must be greater than the maximum voltage value or lower than the minimum voltage value for a predetermined number of counts before an end-of-life state is determined for the circuit interrupting device.

Abstract: A circuit interrupting device including a fault detection circuit and an auto-monitoring circuit. The fault detection circuit is configured to detect a fault condition of the circuit interrupting device, and output a fault detection signal in response to detecting the fault condition. Wherein the fault detection signal is configured to place the circuit interrupting device in a tripped condition. The fault detection circuit is further configured to output a pre-trigger signal, wherein the pre-trigger signal is configured to not place the circuit interrupting device in the tripped condition. The auto-monitoring circuit is configured to monitor an auto-monitoring input signal, wherein the value of the auto-monitoring signal is at least partially determined by a value of a pre-trigger signal generated.

Abstract: A circuit interrupting device having an auto-monitoring circuit for periodically testing various functions and structures of the device. The auto-monitoring circuit initiates an auto-monitoring routine which, among other things, generates a self-test fault condition and determines whether the detection mechanisms within the device properly detect the self-test fault. Processing an early detection signal determines whether the self-test fault was properly detected without interfering with the normal operation of the detection circuitry and without causing a false trip within the device. Additional functionality of the auto-monitoring circuit permits automatic verification that the device is properly wired, that is, not miswired, and determines whether the device has reached the end of its useful life.

Abstract: A circuit interrupting device that includes a line conductor, a load conductor, an interrupting device, a delay circuit, and a fault detection circuit. The interrupting device disconnects the line conductor from the load conductor when the circuit interrupting device is in a tripped condition. The delay circuit includes a first switch, a second switch, and a third switch, and delays the disconnecting of the line conductor from the load conductor. The fault detection circuit detects a fault condition and generates a fault detection signal when the fault condition is detected. The fault detection circuit provides the fault detection signal to the first switch to trigger the first switch, and the delay circuit delays the triggering of the second switch and the third switch. After an amount of time has elapsed, the second switch and the third switch are triggered to place the circuit interrupting device in the tripped condition.

Abstract: A wiring device including a face contact; one or more line contact arms; one or more load contact arms; and a fault detection circuit. The one or more line contact arms having an upper line contact located on a bent portion of the line contact arm, and a lower line contact located on a substantially straight portion of the line contact arm. The one or more load contact arms having a load contact located on a bent portion of the load contact arm. The fault detection circuit that detects a fault condition in said wiring device and generates a fault detection signal when said fault condition is detected, wherein said fault detection signal electrically disconnects the face contact from the upper line contact and the lower line contact from the load contact.

Abstract: A software code operates with a circuit interrupting device having an auto-monitoring circuit including a controller for automatically testing various functions and structures of the device. The auto-monitoring circuit initiates the software code which includes an auto-monitoring routine which, among other things, establishes a self-test fault during the positive or negative half-wave of an AC power cycle and determines whether the detection mechanisms within the device properly detect the self-test fault. Moreover, the software code executed by the controller compares sensed voltages from test signals with a determined or set maximum voltage value and compares the sensed voltages with a set or determined minimum voltage value. The sensed voltages must be greater than the maximum voltage value or lower than the minimum voltage value for a predetermined number of counts before an end-of-life state is determined for the circuit interrupting device.