Abstract: A circuit interrupter including a first electrical conductor, a second electrical conductor, separable contacts, an operating mechanism configured to open and close said separable contacts, a trip circuit configured to trip open said separable contacts, a ground fault detection circuit configured to sense a difference between a current through the first electrical conductor and a current through the second electrical conductor and to output an output signal based on said sensed difference, a power supply, a confirmation circuit structured to input a confirmation signal to the power supply, and a processor configured to receive said direct current power and said output signal. The processor is configured to determine whether a characteristic of said confirmation signal is present in said output signal and to control the trip circuit based on said determination.

Abstract: An auto-monitoring circuit including a first input structured to receive a signal from a processor of a circuit interrupter, a second input structured to receive power from a circuit protected by the circuit interrupter, a first switch structured to remain closed while the signal is received at the first input and remains above a predetermined threshold level and to open when the signal ceases to be received at the first input or drops below the predetermined threshold level, a second switch structured to remain open while the first switch is closed and to close when the first switch opens, and an output electrically connected to a trip circuit of the circuit interrupter. Closing the second switch causes a trip signal to be output to the trip circuit that causes the trip circuit to trip open the separable contacts.

Abstract: A circuit interrupter including a first electrical conductor, a second electrical conductor, separable contacts, an operating mechanism configured to open and close said separable contacts, a trip circuit configured to trip open said separable contacts, a ground fault detection circuit configured to sense a difference between a current through the first electrical conductor and a current through the second electrical conductor and to output an output signal based on said sensed difference, a power supply, a confirmation circuit structured to input a confirmation signal to the power supply, and a processor configured to receive said direct current power and said output signal. The processor is configured to determine whether a characteristic of said confirmation signal is present in said output signal and to control the trip circuit based on said determination.

Abstract: An auto-monitoring circuit including a first input structured to receive a signal from a processor of a circuit interrupter, a second input structured to receive power from a circuit protected by the circuit interrupter, a first switch structured to remain closed while the signal is received at the first input and remains above a predetermined threshold level and to open when the signal ceases to be received at the first input or drops below the predetermined threshold level, a second switch structured to remain open while the first switch is closed and to close when the first switch opens, and an output electrically connected to a trip circuit of the circuit interrupter. Closing the second switch causes a trip signal to be output to the trip circuit that causes the trip circuit to trip open the separable contacts.

Abstract: A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) including separable contacts, a ground fault detection circuit structured to detect a ground fault based and to output a trip signal in response to detecting the ground fault, a trip circuit structured to trip open the separable contacts in response to the trip signal, a test button structured to be actuated by a user, a test unit structured to sequentially perform a GFCI self-test sequence and a ground fault test sequence in response to actuation of the test button, wherein the test unit is structured to determine whether the GFCI passed the GFCI self-test sequence and to output in an alarm signal in response to determining that the GFCI failed the GFCI self-test sequence, and an indicator structured to receive the alarm signal and to provide a visual or audible indication in response to receiving the alarm signal.

Abstract: A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) including separable contacts, a ground fault detection circuit structured to detect a ground fault based and to output a trip signal in response to detecting the ground fault, a trip circuit structured to trip open the separable contacts in response to the trip signal, a test button structured to be actuated by a user, a test unit structured to sequentially perform a GFCI self-test sequence and a ground fault test sequence in response to actuation of the test button, wherein the test unit is structured to determine whether the GFCI passed the GFCI self-test sequence and to output in an alarm signal in response to determining that the GFCI failed the GFCI self-test sequence, and an indicator structured to receive the alarm signal and to provide a visual or audible indication in response to receiving the alarm signal.