A method for controlling a switching circuit including an input port electrically coupled to a photovoltaic device and an output port electrically coupled to a load includes (1) entering a voltage limiting operating mode and (2) in the voltage limiting operating mode (i) causing a control switching device of the switching circuit to repeatedly switch between its conductive and non-conductive states in a manner which limits magnitude of an output voltage to a maximum voltage value, the output voltage being a voltage across the output port, and (ii) varying the maximum voltage value as a function of magnitude of an output current, the output current being a current flowing through the output port.

A switching device includes: a header, a first magnet and a second magnet, a first magnetic sensing element and a second magnetic sensing element, a first inductor and a second inductor, a printed circuit board including an upper face on which are mounted upfront the first magnetic sensing element and the second magnetic sensing element and a lower face on which are mounted upfront the first inductor and the second inductor, a first microcontroller unit and a second microcontroller unit, wherein the first microcontroller unit and the second microcontroller unit are configured to send a stimulus signal respectively to the second conductor and to the first conductor, wherein the first microcontroller unit is configured to read a response produced by the first magnetic sensing element, the response corresponding to a magnetic field produced by the first inductor having received the stimulus signal sent by the second microcontroller unit, wherein the second microcontroller unit is configured to read a response produced by the second magnetic sensing element, the response corresponding to a magnetic field produced by the second inductor having received the stimulus signal sent by the first microcontroller unit, wherein the first microcontroller unit and the second microcontroller unit are configured to determine a state of the switching device based on the read responses.

A control circuit for a switch device including a first switch element including a movable contact and a drive coil that controls the movable contact of the first switch element, the control circuit for returning the movable contact when the drive coil turns off the movable contact after the drive coil turns on the movable contact during supply of a source voltage from a power source, the control circuit includes a second switch element inserted between a rectifier circuit or a surge absorbing element and the first switch element, the second switch element being turned off when the supply of the source voltage is turned off. The rectifier circuit or the surge absorbing element is connected between the power source and the control circuit. The first switch element is turned off the movable contact is returned by turning off the second switch element to turn off the first switch element.

A control circuit for a switch device including a first switch element including a movable contact and a drive coil that controls the movable contact of the first switch element, the control circuit for returning the movable contact when the drive coil turns off the movable contact after the drive coil turns on the movable contact during supply of a source voltage from a power source, the control circuit includes a second switch element inserted between a rectifier circuit or a surge absorbing element and the first switch element, the second switch element being turned off when the supply of the source voltage is turned off. The rectifier circuit or the surge absorbing element is connected between the power source and the control circuit. The first switch element is turned off the movable contact is returned by turning off the second switch element to turn off the first switch element.

Magnetic coupling devices are disclosed having magnetic field sensors. The magnetic coupling device may include degaussing coils wrapped about pole extension shoes of the magnetic coupling device.

An input circuit for reading in an analog input signal of a sensor comprises: first and second input ports connectable to the sensor; a first current-measuring signal converter connected to the first input port and comprising a current-measuring apparatus to determine a first output signal from the analog input signal; a current-limiting apparatus inside the first current-measuring signal converter for limiting a maximum current flowing through the first current-measuring signal converter; and a second current-measuring signal converter connected to the second input port and comprising a current-measuring apparatus to determine a second output signal from the analog input signal, wherein the first and second current-measuring signal converters are connected in series; and a testing apparatus for comparing the first and second output signals to detect faults of the first and second current-measuring signal converters in response to deviations between the first and second output signals exceeding a limit value.

A circuit for a circuit interrupter is provided. The circuit may in include a first SCR configured to receive a first trigger signal at a gate of the first SCR, a second SCR configured to receive a second trigger signal at a gate of the second SCR, and a third SCR configured to receive a third trigger signal at a gate of the third SCR. A cathode of the first SCR may be connected to an anode of the third SCR. A cathode of the second SCR and a cathode of the third SCR may be connected to a ground. Methods of operating a circuit interrupter and a circuit are also provided.

Electromechanical relay constructions comprise an external housing, a pair of switchable electrical contacts disposed within the housing, an element for activating the pair of electrical contacts, and a temperature sensing element disposed within the housing adjacent the electrical contracts. The temperature sensing element provides a signal for determining the temperature within the relay housing. The relay may comprise two or more temperature sensing elements disposed within the housing a desired distance from one another. The temperature sensing element may be attached to a member or substrate disposed within the housing, may be attached to an existing internal structure of the housing, or may be attached to one of the contacts. The temperature sensing element may be selected from the group consisting of resistance temperature detectors, negative temperature coefficient thermistors, thermopile sensors, thermocouples, and combinations thereof.

A high-voltage switch is disclosed. The switch includes a substrate, a first contact fixedly coupled to the substrate, a second contact having a first position in conductive contact with the first contact and a second position not in conductive contact with the first contact; and an actuator comprising a body fixedly coupled to the substrate and a movable element coupled to the second contact. The actuator is configured to selectably move the second contact between its first and second positions. The switch has a breakdown voltage greater than or equal to 500V and does not include an arc suppression element.

Disclosed are a circuit with a timing function and a leakage protection plug. An output terminal of a timing chip U2 is connected to an isolating switch U3; the isolating switch U3 is connected to a rectifier module D3; the rectifier module D3 is connected to a circuit breaker X1; a switch tube Q4 and the switch tube Q3 are connected to a resistor R21, and a second switch terminal of the switch tube Q4 is grounded; an output terminal of a zero sequence current transformer is connected to a first input terminal of a microprocessor U1; and an output terminal of the microprocessor U1 is connected to a control terminal of the switch tube Q4. The leakage protection plug of this disclosure has both leakage protection and timing functions.