Abstract: A modular accessory system is structured to be mounted in a panel board including a housing assembly and a number of conductors with each conductor having a number of stabs extending therefrom. The modular accessory system includes an interface assembly structured to be selectively coupled to the panel board and a number of modules disposed on the interface assembly. Each module is structured to at least monitor or regulate one or more attributes of the panel board.

Abstract: A modular accessory system is structured to be mounted in a panel board including a housing assembly and a number of conductors with each conductor having a number of stabs extending therefrom. The modular accessory system includes an interface assembly structured to be selectively coupled to the panel board and a number of modules disposed on the interface assembly. Each module is structured to at least monitor or regulate one or more attributes of the panel board.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a line terminal adapted to receive a line voltage having a nominal voltage value and an excessive voltage value, a load terminal, one or more neutral terminals, and separable contacts electrically connected between the line and load terminals. An operating mechanism opens and closes the separable contacts. A trip circuit cooperates with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The trip circuit includes a solenoid having a trip coil with a threshold voltage for energization, a circuit adapted to detect an arc fault or ground fault trip condition and to responsively energize the trip coil with the line voltage, and a MOV adapted to detect an excessive voltage condition associated with the load and neutral terminals and to responsively energize the trip coil with at least the threshold voltage.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a line terminal adapted to receive a line voltage having a nominal voltage value and an excessive voltage value, a load terminal, one or more neutral terminals, and separable contacts electrically connected between the line and load terminals. An operating mechanism opens and closes the separable contacts. A trip circuit cooperates with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The trip circuit includes a solenoid having a trip coil with a threshold voltage for energization, a circuit adapted to detect an arc fault or ground fault trip condition and to responsively energize the trip coil with the line voltage, and a MOV adapted to detect an excessive voltage condition associated with the load and neutral terminals and to responsively energize the trip coil with at least the threshold voltage.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a pair of separable contacts forming a pole, an operating mechanism for operating the electrical contacts, an electronic trip circuit responsive to currents flowing through the pole for operating the operating mechanism in response to predetermined current conditions to open the separable contacts, and a fail-safe mechanism for operating the operating mechanism in response to a failure in the electronic trip circuit. The fail-safe mechanism includes a solenoid that is electrically connected to be energized in response to a failure in the electronic trip circuit and a linkage that operates the operating mechanism in response to operation of the solenoid. An operating arm that moves in response to the solenoid, interacts with operating mechanism to prevent resetting of the operating mechanism following actuation of the solenoid.

Abstract: An arc fault detector of the type which generates a trip signal when a time attenuated accumulation of pulses produced each time an arc is struck reaches a selected value, includes a pulse conditioner which discriminates against false trips induced by phenomena such as tungsten bulb burn out and turn on of a cold tungsten bulb controlled by a dimmer. The pulse conditioner includes a zener diode which limits the amplitude of the pulses applied to the integrator, and stretches all of the pulses to reduce the variation in pulse duration. The latter can be accomplished by a peak detector which stretches pulses which reach the zener limit to a duration of at least about a half cycle.

Abstract: The stray inductance created by the loop formed by voltage sensing conductors connected to opposite ends of the bimetal in a miniature circuit breaker for determining load current is reduced by joining a voltage sense bar to the free end of the bimetal. The voltage sense bar extends beside the bimetal toward the fixed end of the bimetal where an insulated wire connected to the free end of the sense bar forms a twisted pair with an insulated wire secured to the fixed end of the bimetal.