Abstract: For a hybrid circuit interrupter that includes a secondary actuator disposed in series with a primary actuator, with the primary actuator used for opening the switch at ultra-fast speeds and the secondary actuator used for opening the switch at normal speeds, a performance monitoring system is disclosed. The monitoring system can use either an optical sensor or position sensitive device (PSD) to detect movement of the primary actuator. The optical sensor is coupled to the circuit interrupter housing, and a distance detection means is disposed within the secondary actuator in a manner that enables the optical sensor to detect the movement of a reference surface on the moving assembly of the primary actuator. The PSD is positioned to face a thru-hole formed in a drive shaft of the circuit interrupter, and to sense a change in position of light emitted through the thru-hole during an opening stroke.

Abstract: Gate control of power semiconductor devices using reduced gate drivers is disclosed. A circuit breaker may include a multitude of transistors, such as insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), connected in series with one another. Each transistor may be connected to a respective gate resistor. Diodes may be connected between various gate resistors. One or more resistor-capacitor (RC) snubber circuits may be provided in parallel with one or more of the transistors. Likewise, one or more metal-oxide varistors (MOVs) may be connected in parallel to one or more of the transistors. A gate driver (e.g., a single gate drive) may be connected to the one or more diodes and an emitter of at least one of transistors.

Abstract: A back-pack power supply module is for a circuit interrupter including an elongated line conductor. The back-pack power supply module includes a housing having an opening therethrough. The opening receives the elongated line conductor, which passes through the opening. A power supply circuit is housed by the housing and is adapted to input a line voltage from the elongated line conductor and output direct current voltages. A capacitive divider circuit includes two capacitors electrically connected in series between a first terminal and an output of the capacitive divider circuit. One of these two capacitors receives the line voltage. The two capacitors are embedded in insulation within one portion of the housing. Another capacitor is electrically connected between a second terminal and the capacitive divider circuit output. The other capacitor is disposed in another portion of the housing opposite the opening.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first circuit detecting when an absolute value of a current signal is less than a first predetermined value and outputting a signal after a first time period. A comparator compares that signal to an envelope of a rectified current signal, in order to provide an output with a plurality of pulses that persist for a relatively longer time for a relatively small value of the envelope, and persist for a relatively shorter time for a relatively large value of the envelope. A second circuit enables the comparator output if the rectified current signal exceeds a second predetermined value, and disables the comparator output after the rectified current signal is below the second predetermined value for a second time period. A third circuit accumulates the pulses and outputs a signal representative of a wet track arc fault.