A device includes an electro-mechanical switching device having an open-circuit and closed-circuit conditions and a path of least resistance having a path input and a path output with the switching device between the input and the output. The device includes a bypass power switch device that comprises a solid-state circuit interrupter and that is configured to conduct current between the input and the output in response to an open-circuit condition of the switching device. The device includes a current sensor that is connected to the output and configured to detect a fault current event. The device includes an actuator that is coupled to the switching device and a controller that is configured to generate a trigger signal to activate the actuator to cause the open-circuit condition of the switching device and to interrupt the fault current event by the power switch device, based on the detected fault current event.

An earthing module for a switchgear includes: a cylinder; a piston; a stored energy unit; and at least one photovoltaic cell. The cylinder connects to a part of a switchgear at earth potential. The piston moves within the cylinder from a standby position to a released position along an axis of the cylinder. When in the released position, the piston is in electrical connection with the cylinder. The stored energy unit is located within or associated with the earthing module such that activation of the stored energy unit moves the piston from the standby position to the released position. One or more of the at least one photovoltaic cell activates the stored energy unit based on radiation from an electrical arc of the switchgear impinging upon the one or more of the at least one photovoltaic cell.

A power contact electrode plasma therapy circuit includes a pair of terminals adapted to be connected to a set of switchable contact electrodes of a power contact. A plasma ignition detector is configured to detect an electrical parameter over the switchable contact electrodes indicative of the formation of plasma between the switchable contact electrodes and output a plasma ignition signal based on the electrical parameter as detected. A plasma burn memory is configured to receive and store the plasma ignition signal. A controller circuit is configured to receive from the plasma burn memory the plasma ignition signal, start a time based on receipt of the plasma ignition signal, and upon the timer meeting a time requirement, output a plasma extinguish command. A plasma extinguishing circuit, configured to bypass the pair of terminals upon receiving the trigger signal to extinguish the plasma between the switchable contact electrodes.

A power contact electrode plasma therapy circuit includes a pair of terminals adapted to be connected to a set of switchable contact electrodes of a power contact. A plasma ignition detector is configured to detect an electrical parameter over the switchable contact electrodes indicative of the formation of plasma between the switchable contact electrodes and output a plasma ignition signal based on the electrical parameter as detected. A plasma burn memory is configured to receive and store the plasma ignition signal. A controller circuit is configured to receive from the plasma burn memory the plasma ignition signal, start a time based on receipt of the plasma ignition signal, and upon the timer meeting a time requirement, output a plasma extinguish command. A plasma extinguishing circuit, configured to bypass the pair of terminals upon receiving the trigger signal to extinguish the plasma between the switchable contact electrodes.

A set of electrical protection devices with two levels that are connected in series, the first level including a circuit breaker that is referred to as the first or upstream circuit breaker and the second level including one or more circuit breakers referred to as second or downstream circuit breakers, which are connected in parallel with respect to one another.

The trip for the upstream circuit breaker, instead of including what are referred to as instantaneous protection means, includes, firstly, a first trip chain making it possible to adjust the long-delay trip curve for inverse time and the short-delay trip curve with a no-trip time and, secondly, a second trip chain including an optical sensor that is capable of discerning light between 300 and 450 nm by eliminating visible and infrared light so as to eliminate the light that is characteristic of gas jets emitted by the one or more circuit breakers referred to as downstream circuit breakers during a switching operation, and means for simultaneously measuring the current level and the maximum threshold of light emitted at the busbars, this second trip chain being capable of causing the upstream circuit breaker to trip when the current exceeds a predetermined value and the light emitted exceeds a predetermined threshold for emitted light.

High-voltage switch with a first terminal contact connected to a first fixed contact, a second terminal contact connected to a second fixed contact, a bridge contact arranged between the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact and connecting the first fixed contact to the second fixed contact, the bridge contact being pressed against at least one of the fixed contacts with a contact pressing force and being able to be released from at least one of the fixed contacts with a pull-off force, and a drive acting on the bridge contact in the direction of the pull-off force. A measuring circuit senses a voltage drop between the fixed contacts in case of levitation between at least one fixed contact and the bridge contact and depending on the sensed voltage drop controls the drive in such a way that the drive acts on the bridge contact with a force in the direction of the pull-off force.

An electronic device (10) includes: a power supply (11); a first switch (12) that is connected at least to one pole of the power supply (11) and interrupts power supplied from the power supply (11) to a load (13); a second switch (14) that is positioned on a load (13) side with reference to the first switch (12) and interrupts power supplied from the power supply (11) to the load (13); a first power line (L11) that is connected to one end portion of an electric contact of the second switch (14), the one end portion being located on a first-switch (12) side; a second power line (L12) that is connected to another end portion of the electric contact of the second switch (14); a third power line (L13) that is connected to another pole of the power supply (11); and an electric element (resistor 15) that is connected between the first and second power lines (L11, L12) in parallel to the electric contact or connected between the first and third power lines (L11, L13), such that the electric contact of the second switch (14) is not charged when the first and second switches (12, 14) interrupt power.

A power contact electrode plasma therapy circuit includes a pair of terminals adapted to be connected to a set of switchable contact electrodes of a power contact. A plasma ignition detector is configured to detect an electrical parameter over the switchable contact electrodes indicative of the formation of plasma between the switchable contact electrodes and output a plasma ignition signal based on the electrical parameter as detected. A plasma burn memory is configured to receive and store the plasma ignition signal. A controller circuit is configured to receive from the plasma burn memory the plasma ignition signal, start a time based on receipt of the plasma ignition signal, and upon the timer meeting a time requirement, output a plasma extinguish command. A plasma extinguishing circuit, configured to bypass the pair of terminals upon receiving the trigger signal to extinguish the plasma between the switchable contact electrodes.

A power contact electrode plasma therapy circuit includes a pair of terminals adapted to be connected to a set of switchable contact electrodes of a power contact. A plasma ignition detector is configured to detect an electrical parameter over the switchable contact electrodes indicative of the formation of plasma between the switchable contact electrodes and output a plasma ignition signal based on the electrical parameter as detected. A plasma burn memory is configured to receive and store the plasma ignition signal. A controller circuit is configured to receive from the plasma burn memory the plasma ignition signal, start a time based on receipt of the plasma ignition signal, and upon the timer meeting a time requirement, output a plasma extinguish command. A plasma extinguishing circuit, configured to bypass the pair of terminals upon receiving the trigger signal to extinguish the plasma between the switchable contact electrodes.

A power contact electrode plasma therapy circuit includes a pair of terminals adapted to be connected to a set of switchable contact electrodes of a power contact. A plasma ignition detector is configured to detect an electrical parameter over the switchable contact electrodes indicative of the formation of plasma between the switchable contact electrodes and output a plasma ignition signal based on the electrical parameter as detected. A plasma burn memory is configured to receive and store the plasma ignition signal. A controller circuit is configured to receive from the plasma burn memory the plasma ignition signal, start a time based on receipt of the plasma ignition signal, and upon the timer meeting a time requirement, output a plasma extinguish command. A plasma extinguishing circuit, configured to bypass the pair of terminals upon receiving the trigger signal to extinguish the plasma between the switchable contact electrodes.