Abstract: A protective device including: a plurality of line terminals and a plurality of load terminals a circuit interrupter including a solenoid and a set of interrupting contacts that connect at least one line terminal and at least one load terminal in a reset state and disconnect the at least one line terminal and the at least one load terminal in a tripped state; a voltage detection element configured to detect voltage across the plurality of line terminals and generate a line voltage rejection signal when greater than a predetermined overvoltage; a reset assembly including a reset button and a reset switch operatively coupled to the reset button; and a reset prevention mechanism configured to prevent the circuit interrupter from entering the reset state when the reset signal is absent.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to protective wiring devices, and more particularly, to a protective wiring device that meets the prevailing electrical codes and is convenient for a homeowner to reset after it has tripped.

Abstract: An AFCI protective system includes a MOV circuit that has a plurality of line terminals comprising at least one phase conductor, a neutral conductor or a ground conductor. A MOV is coupled to a pair of line terminals through a low impedance circuit, and a response circuit configured to activate a human readable indicator when the MOV is experiencing an end of life condition.

Abstract: An arc fault protective wiring device disposed in an electrical distribution system is disclosed, the device including a pulse frequency digitizer, the pulse frequency digitizer being configured to receive a plurality of pulses, each pulse being representative of an instance that the derivative of the current through a neutral conductor exceeds a first predetermined threshold, the pulse frequency digitizer further being configured to produce a digital signal, the digital signal being representative of the instances at which a frequency of the plurality of pulses exceeds a predetermined threshold; and at least one processor configured to trigger a trip mechanism to electrically decouple a line terminal from a load terminal based, at least in part, on the digital signal.

Abstract: A protective device for use in an electrical voltage distribution system providing voltage from a power source to a load, the device including: a housing having a user accessible surface; a plurality of line terminals configured to electrically connect to the power source and a plurality of load terminals configured to electrically connect to the load; a circuit interrupter including a solenoid and a set of interrupting contacts that connect at least one line terminal and at least one load terminal in a reset state and disconnect the at least one line terminal and the at least one load terminal in a tripped state, the solenoid driving the interrupting contacts from the reset state to the tripped state when activated by a switching device; a voltage detection element configured to detect voltage across the plurality of line terminals and generate a line voltage rejection signal when greater than a predetermined overvoltage; a reset assembly including a reset button available via the user accessible surface and

Abstract: The present invention is directed to protective wiring devices, and more particularly, to a protective wiring device that meets the prevailing electrical codes and is convenient for a homeowner to reset after it has tripped.

Abstract: An AFCI protective system includes a MOV circuit that has a plurality of line terminals comprising at least one phase conductor, a neutral conductor or a ground conductor. A MOV is coupled to a pair of line terminals through a low impedance circuit, and a response circuit configured to activate a human readable indicator when the MOV is experiencing an end of life condition.

Abstract: An AFCI protective system includes a MOV circuit that has a plurality of line terminals comprising at least one phase conductor, a neutral conductor or a ground conductor. A MOV is coupled to a pair of line terminals through a low impedance circuit, and a response circuit configured to activate a human readable indicator when the MOV is experiencing an end of life condition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a plurality of line terminals, a plurality of feed-through load terminals, and at least one set of receptacle load terminals. A circuit interrupter assembly includes a plurality of movable interconnection members. Each movable interconnection member includes a first interconnecting contact disposed on a first side thereof and a second interconnecting contact disposed on a second side thereof. The first interconnecting contact and the second interconnecting contact are offset from one another in a direction substantially orthogonal to a direction of movement. The movable interconnection members are movable in the direction of movement between a reset position wherein the line terminals, the feed-through load terminals and the receptacle load terminals are electrically connected, and a tripped position wherein the the various terminals are electrically disconnected.

Abstract: An AFCI protective system includes a MOV circuit that has a plurality of line terminals comprising at least one phase conductor, a neutral conductor or a ground conductor. A MOV is coupled to a pair of line terminals through a low impedance circuit, and a response circuit configured to activate a human readable indicator when the MOV is experiencing an end of life condition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a detection assembly coupled to a plurality of line terminals and a plurality of load terminals, the detection assembly being configured to detect a wiring state associated with the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals. The detection assembly includes a primary wiring state detection circuit coupled to the plurality of line terminals, and a secondary wiring state detection circuit coupled to the plurality of load terminals.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a detection assembly coupled to a plurality of line terminals and a plurality of load terminals, the detection assembly being configured to detect a wiring state associated with the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals. The detection assembly includes a primary wiring state detection circuit coupled to the plurality of line terminals, and a secondary wiring state detection circuit coupled to the plurality of load terminals.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a circuit coupled to the line terminals and configured to conduct a predetermined current flow when the line terminals are connected to a source of AC power, the predetermined current flow does not simulate a fault condition. An interrupting contact assembly includes four sets of interrupting contacts that are configured to provide electrical continuity between the line terminals, the load terminals and the at least one receptacle in a reset state and configured to interrupt the electrical continuity in tripped state. The interrupting contact assembly is energized to effect the tripped stated and substantially deenergized otherwise, the interrupting contact assembly being substantially prevented from effecting the reset state absent the predetermined current flow.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device including a plurality of line terminals configured to be connected to a source of AC power, and a plurality of load terminals. A detection assembly is coupled to the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals. The detection assembly is configured to detect a wiring state associated with the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals. The detection assembly includes a primary wiring state detection circuit, a secondary wiring state detection circuit, and an isolation circuit disposed therebetween, the isolation circuit being configured to electrically isolate the line terminals from the secondary wiring state detection circuit in the tripped state.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes at least one user accessible input mechanism and a test assembly configured to initiate a self-test in response to stimulus signal. The self test determines whether a sensor, a fault detection circuit or a circuit interrupter assembly are in an operational mode or are in a failure mode, the reset stimulus being provided in the operational mode and a reset lockout stimulus being provided in the failure mode. The device also including a reset lockout mechanism coupled to the circuit interrupter assembly and the test assembly. The reset lockout mechanism is configured to disable the reset stimulus in response to the reset lockout stimulus if any one of the at least one sensor, at least one fault detection circuit, or circuit interrupter assembly is determined to be in the failure mode after a predetermined time elapses.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes an actuator assembly that is responsive to the fault detection signal. The actuator assembly includes a breaker coil configured to generate an actuation force in response to being energized. A circuit interrupter includes four sets of movable contacts configured to be driven into a reset state in response to a reset stimulus, the four sets of movable contacts being configured to be driven into a tripped state in response to the actuation force. A self-test circuit is coupled to the plurality of line terminals or the at least one sensor. The self-test circuit is configured to automatically generate a test signal from time to time during a predetermined portion of an AC power line cycle. The self-test circuit is configured such that the test signal is sensed by the at least one sensor when the at least one sensor is operational, the sensor output signal being a function of the test signal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a plurality of line terminals including a line hot terminal and a line neutral terminal, and a plurality of load terminals including a load hot terminal and a load neutral terminal. An interrupting contact assembly includes four sets of interrupting contacts configured to provide electrical continuity at least between the line hot terminal and the load hot terminal and the line neutral terminal and the load neutral terminal in a reset state. The four sets of interrupting contacts are open in a tripped state. A miswire prevention arrangement is configured to prevent the interrupting contact assembly from maintaining the reset state when the load hot terminal and the load neutral terminal are connected to a source of AC power.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes at least one user accessible input mechanism and a test assembly configured to initiate a self-test in response to stimulus signal. The self test determines whether a sensor, a fault detection circuit or a circuit interrupter assembly are in an operational mode or are in a failure mode, the reset stimulus being provided in the operational mode and a reset lockout stimulus being provided in the failure mode. The device also including a reset lockout mechanism coupled to the circuit interrupter assembly and the test assembly. The reset lockout mechanism is configured to disable the reset stimulus in response to the reset lockout stimulus if any one of the at least one sensor, at least one fault detection circuit, or circuit interrupter assembly is determined to be in the failure mode after a predetermined time elapses.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective device that includes a plurality of line terminals and a plurality of load terminals, the plurality of load terminals including a plurality of hot load terminals and a plurality of neutral load terminals. The device also includes a circuit interrupter having four sets of moveable contacts, the four sets of moveable contacts being configured to couple the plurality of line terminal to the plurality of load terminals in a reset state and to decouple the plurality of line terminals from the plurality of load terminals in a tripped state. A test circuit includes an end of life detection circuit coupled to the plurality of line terminals or the plurality of load terminals by a switch mechanism associated with the four sets of moveable contacts.