The present invention is directed to a protective device configured to be disposed in an electrical distribution system between a source of electrical power and an electrical load. The electrical distribution system includes at least one line hot conductor, a line neutral conductor, and a line ground conductor. The line neutral conductor is connected to the line ground conductor at a termination point in the electrical distribution system. The electrical load includes at least one load hot conductor, a load neutral conductor, and a load ground conductor, the device comprises a conditioning circuit configured to monitor a differential current flowing through the plurality of line termination elements and configured to generate a conditioning signal in response thereto. The conditioning signal propagates in a path formed by the line neutral conductor and the line ground conductor to thereby reduce a differential current propagating in the at least one line hot conductor and the line neutral conductor. The conditioning circuit also is configured to neutralize a substantial portion of a current associated with a non-fault related electrical perturbation.

Protective device for an electrical supply facility

Resettable circuit interrupting devices, such as GFCI devices, that include reverse wiring protection, and optionally an independent trip portions and/or a reset lockout portion are provided. The reverse wiring protection operates at both the line and load sides of the device so that in the event line side wiring to the device is improperly connected to the load side, fault protection for the device remains. The trip portion operates independently of a circuit interrupting portion used to break the electrical continuity in one or more conductive paths in the device. The reset lockout portion prevents the reestablishing of electrical continuity in open conductive paths if the circuit interrupting portion is non-operational or if an open neutral condition exists.

Circuit interrupting device with reverse wiring protection

Resettable circuit breakers having an independent trip mechanism and a reset lockout are provided. The trip mechanism operates independently of the fault protection operations, and the reset lockout prevents the resetting of the circuit breaker if the fault protection is non-operational or if an open neutral condition exists.

Circuit breaker with independent trip and reset lockout

An apparatus for testing the life of a leakage current protection device having a leakage current detection circuit and a trip mechanism having a switch device. In one embodiment, the apparatus a ground fault simulation unit, a fault detector of the leakage current detection circuit and the trip mechanism, and a life testing detection control unit having an MCU for controlling operation of the fault detector. In operation, a first signal (pulse signal) is sent to the gate of the switching device to generate a first voltage at the cathode of the switching device, a second signal is sent to the ground fault simulation unit to generate a simulated ground fault for the leakage current detection circuit to generate a second voltage at the gate of the switching device, and the first and second voltages are measured to determine whether a fault exists in the leakage current detection circuit and the trip mechanism.

Intelligent life testing methods and apparatus for leakage current protection

Resettable circuit interrupting devices, such as GFCI devices, that include reverse wiring protection, and optionally an independent trip portions and/or a reset lockout portion are provided. The reverse wiring protection operates at both the line and load sides of the device so that in the event line side wiring to the device is improperly connected to the load side, fault protection for the device remains. The trip portion operates independently of a circuit interrupting portion used to break the electrical continuity in one or more conductive paths in the device. The reset lockout portion prevents the reestablishing of electrical continuity in open conductive paths if the circuit interrupting portion is non-operational, if an open neutral condition exists or if the device is reverse wired. Methods for ensuring a reset lock out state before shipment are provided.

Circuit interrupting device with reset lockout and reverse wiring protection and method of manufacture

A leakage current protection device, such as a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), is provided that can be used in single phase or polyphase systems, with a range of input voltages from 70 to 264 volts AC, frequencies of 50 or 60 hertz, and ground fault trip currents of 6 to 30 milliamperes. A leading power factor circuit is connected to the secondary winding of the GFCI differential transformer to permit the magnetic circuit to respond to pulsating DC signals. Provision is made for continuing to provide GFCI protection in the event of an open neutral lead, with a timing circuit to prevent current flow to the ground lead until current flow in the neutral lead is completely discontinued. Various types of circuit interrupting devices, such as a circuit breaker or a power converter, may be selectively utilized.

Legatti Raymond H

Papers

Leakage current protection device adapted to a wide variety of domestic and international applications

Disjoncteur de protection contre des défauts à la terre.