A GFCI latching apparatus and circuit is provided. The latching apparatus includes a solenoid; a solenoid plunger, wherein the solenoid plunger comprises a groove; a conical spring disposed at one end of the solenoid plunger; a forked latch, wherein the forked latch engages the groove with its forks. The latch also includes a bevel surface. Also included is a contact carrier having a first position when the solenoid is energized and a second position when the solenoid is deenergized. The contact carrier includes a bevel surface for mating with the latch bevel surface when the solenoid is energized. Also included is a GFCI configured to deenergize the solenoid upon the occurrence of a fault to disengage the latch, the latch thereby disengaging from the contact carrier, causing the contact carrier to move from the first position to the second position. The GFCI circuit detects ground faults and deenergizes the solenoid when a ground fault is detected. The GFCI includes GFCI detection circuitry, wherein the GFCI detection circuitry includes an SCR switch for controlling energizing current for the solenoid; SCR Test Bias circuit for biasing the SCR switch; Self-Test Fault circuit for testing the operation of the GFCI detection circuitry; an Isolation circuit for isolating GFCI detection circuit while self-test is preformed; and power supply circuits for powering the GFCI circuit.

A GFCI latching apparatus and circuit is provided. The latching apparatus includes a solenoid; a solenoid plunger, wherein the solenoid plunger comprises a groove; a conical spring disposed at one end of the solenoid plunger; a forked latch, wherein the forked latch engages the groove with its forks. The latch also includes a bevel surface. Also included is a contact carrier having a first position when the solenoid is energized and a second position when the solenoid is deenergized. The contact carrier includes a bevel surface for mating with the latch bevel surface when the solenoid is energized. Also included is a GFCI configured to deenergize the solenoid upon the occurrence of a fault to disengage the latch, the latch thereby disengaging from the contact carrier, causing the contact carrier to move from the first position to the second position. The GFCI circuit detects ground faults and deenergizes the solenoid when a ground fault is detected. The GFCI includes GFCI detection circuitry, wherein the GFCI detection circuitry includes an SCR switch for controlling energizing current for the solenoid; SCR Test Bias circuit for biasing the SCR switch; Self-Test Fault circuit for testing the operation of the GFCI detection circuitry; an Isolation circuit for isolating GFCI detection circuit while self-test is preformed; and power supply circuits for powering the GFCI circuit.

For providing a very simple and reliable monitoring of the functionality of contacts together with a high flexibility of selection of the contacts a method for monitoring the functionality of redundantly interconnected contacts is provided, preferably within a load current circuit, wherein said n contacts, n=2, provide an electrical connection between a power supply and a load, wherein said n contacts are switchable by a controller and wherein each of said n contacts is designed for providing the electrical connection between the power supply and the load all alone. The method is characterized in that the controller switches on said n contacts during n subsequent activations according to a defined schedule according to which at the first of said n subsequent activations one of said n contacts is switched on first and the remaining n1 contacts are switched on afterwards, so that a verification regarding the functionality of said one of said n contacts is possible, and according to which at each of the n1 remaining subsequent activations a further one of said n contacts is switched on first with switching on of the remaining n1 contacts afterwards, so that after said n subsequent activations each of said n contacts has once been switched on first and a verification regarding the functionality of each of said n contacts is possible. Further, a corresponding method for subsequent deactivations and corresponding apparatuses are provided.

For providing a very simple and reliable monitoring of the functionality of contacts together with a high flexibility of selection of the contacts a method for monitoring the functionality of redundantly interconnected contacts is provided, preferably within a load current circuit, wherein said n contacts, n=2, provide an electrical connection between a power supply and a load, wherein said n contacts are switchable by a controller and wherein each of said n contacts is designed for providing the electrical connection between the power supply and the load all alone. The method is characterized in that the controller switches on said n contacts during n subsequent activations according to a defined schedule according to which at the first of said n subsequent activations one of said n contacts is switched on first and the remaining n1 contacts are switched on afterwards, so that a verification regarding the functionality of said one of said n contacts is possible, and according to which at each of the n1 remaining subsequent activations a further one of said n contacts is switched on first with switching on of the remaining n1 contacts afterwards, so that after said n subsequent activations each of said n contacts has once been switched on first and a verification regarding the functionality of each of said n contacts is possible. Further, a corresponding method for subsequent deactivations and corresponding apparatuses are provided.

An electromagnetic relay diagnostic device includes: an operation detection unit including a first light-emitting unit emitting light when a current flows through a wiring line connected to a coil of an electromagnetic relay; an operation detection unit including a second light-emitting unit emitting light when a current stops flowing through the wiring line; an operation detection unit including a third light-emitting unit emitting light when detecting a change in conductive state of a wiring line connected to a contact of the electromagnetic relay; an operation detection unit including a fourth light-emitting unit emitting light when detecting that the change in conductive state of the wiring line has disappeared; an imaging unit capturing a moving image of the operation detection units; and a diagnostic unit calculating a contact-on operation time and a contact-off operation time using the moving image, and diagnosing whether an abnormality has occurred in the electromagnetic relay.

An electromagnetic relay diagnostic device includes: an operation detection unit including a first light-emitting unit emitting light when a current flows through a wiring line connected to a coil of an electromagnetic relay; an operation detection unit including a second light-emitting unit emitting light when a current stops flowing through the wiring line; an operation detection unit including a third light-emitting unit emitting light when detecting a change in conductive state of a wiring line connected to a contact of the electromagnetic relay; an operation detection unit including a fourth light-emitting unit emitting light when detecting that the change in conductive state of the wiring line has disappeared; an imaging unit capturing a moving image of the operation detection units; and a diagnostic unit calculating a contact-on operation time and a contact-off operation time using the moving image, and diagnosing whether an abnormality has occurred in the electromagnetic relay.

The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring system having a frame assembly that includes a frame opening at a central portion thereof. The frame opening provides access to the interior of the device wall box. At least one electrical wiring device is configured to snap into the frame opening such that the interior of the device wall box is completely enclosed by the frame assembly and the at least one electrical wiring device such that access to wiring disposed within the device wall box is substantially prevented. The at least one electrical wiring device includes at least one user-interface. An aesthetic overlay may be coupled to the frame assembly. The aesthetic overlay includes an overlay opening configured to accommodate the at least one user-interface such that the at least one user-interface is accessible to a user.

The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring system having a frame assembly that includes a frame opening at a central portion thereof. The frame opening provides access to the interior of the device wall box. At least one electrical wiring device is configured to snap into the frame opening such that the interior of the device wall box is completely enclosed by the frame assembly and the at least one electrical wiring device such that access to wiring disposed within the device wall box is substantially prevented. The at least one electrical wiring device includes at least one user-interface. An aesthetic overlay may be coupled to the frame assembly. The aesthetic overlay includes an overlay opening configured to accommodate the at least one user-interface such that the at least one user-interface is accessible to a user.

A high-voltage DC relay of the present disclosure, including a housing, two main lead-out terminals, a main movable piece and a pushing rod component; and the relay further including two auxiliary lead-out terminals, an auxiliary movable spring, and an insulating partition plate, the two auxiliary lead-out terminals are respectively installed on the same side of a connecting line of the two main lead-out terminals corresponding to the top of the housing, and bottoms of the two auxiliary lead-out terminals are respectively located in the housing; the auxiliary movable spring is insulated from the movable assembly and fixed to the movable assembly through the insulating partition plate, so as to follow a movement of the movable assembly to achieve bridging with the two auxiliary lead-out terminals.

A system for sequentially interconnecting battery modules of a battery pack is disclosed. The battery pack may comprise first, second and third battery modules. Each of the first, second and third battery modules includes a first power output terminal and a second power output terminal. Each of the first power output terminals is of a first polarity and the each of the second power output terminals is of a second, opposite polarity. The system comprises a control module for providing a control signal to sequentially interconnect the battery modules, a first interconnect controller electrically disposed between the first and second battery modules, and a second interconnect controller electrically disposed between the second and third battery modules. Each of the first and second interconnect controllers includes a contactor comprising a main contact, an auxiliary contact and an actuating coil for closing the respective main contact and auxiliary contact. The actuating coil of the first interconnect controller responds to the control signal to close the respective main contact, coupling the first battery module to the second battery module, and to close the respective auxiliary contact to pass the control signal to the second interconnect controller. The actuating coil of the second interconnect controller responds to the passed control signal from the first interconnect controller to close the respective main contact of the second interconnect controller, coupling the third battery module to the previously connected first and second battery modules.