A circuit breaker arrangement includes a housing, a contact seated in the housing, and a lead in electrical communication with the at least one contact and disposed outside the housing. The circuit breaker arrangement includes a heat sink in thermal communication with the lead to transfer heat between the contact and the lead.

In a circuit breaker arrangement, this disclosure describes a method and circuit design enables a current transformer to be used to detect ground faults in circuit breakers (such as a main-tie-main circuit breakers) that have been designed to receive signals from Rogowski coils.

In a circuit breaker arrangement, this disclosure describes a method and circuit design enables a current transformer to be used to detect ground faults in circuit breakers (such as a main-tie-main circuit breakers) that have been designed to receive signals from Rogowski coils.

A device with “plug-in” receptacle that mounts in a breaker panel. The plug receptacle receives a power cord inserted by the operator. The device includes a multifunction circuit interrupt that offers overload, thermal, and ground fault (GFCI) protection for the operator in hazardous environments such as garages, shops and spider boxes at construction sites. The devices may include a networkable node or port and onboard comm circuitry that is compatible with a wired or wireless TOT network. In another embodiment, a dummy breaker body includes a plug receptacle with a GFCI interrupt circuit but no direct electrical connection to the hot bus bar, and is wired in series with a conventional circuit breaker module in a breaker panel. Using solid state electronics, the GFCI panel-mounted devices may be configured to perform an automatic fault test prior to each use. Network systems using smart breaker devices are described.

A device with “plug-in” receptacle that mounts in a breaker panel. The plug receptacle receives a power cord inserted by the operator. The device includes a multifunction circuit interrupt that offers overload, thermal, and ground fault (GFCI) protection for the operator in hazardous environments such as garages, shops and spider boxes at construction sites. The devices may include a networkable node or port and onboard comm circuitry that is compatible with a wired or wireless TOT network. In another embodiment, a dummy breaker body includes a plug receptacle with a GFCI interrupt circuit but no direct electrical connection to the hot bus bar, and is wired in series with a conventional circuit breaker module in a breaker panel. Using solid state electronics, the GFCI panel-mounted devices may be configured to perform an automatic fault test prior to each use. Network systems using smart breaker devices are described.

A protection device comprises a substrate, a fusible element and a heating element. The substrate comprises a first electrode and a second electrode on its surface. The fusible element is disposed on the substrate and connects to the first electrode and the second electrode at two ends. The fusible element comprises a first metal layer and a second metal layer disposed on the first metal layer. The second metal layer has a lower melting point than that of the first metal layer. The heating element is disposed on the substrate. In the event of over-voltage or over-temperature, the heating element heats up to melt and blow the fusible element. The second metal layer is 40-95% of the fusible element in thickness.

An improved multi-pole circuit interrupter includes an improved trip deck assembly adjacent one pole and further includes an accessory deck adjacent another pole. The accessory deck includes conventional accessory devices such as an auxiliary switch, etc., and the trip deck assembly includes switches and one or more other devices that can interact with a crossbar and a trip bar of the circuit interrupter. Such switches can be easily installed by a technician in the field after manufacture of the circuit interrupter. One switch is held in place by a support, and the other switch is held in place by a retainer, with the support and the retainer holding the switches in a fixed position on the trip deck assembly in order to interact with the crossbar and the trip bar.

An improved multi-pole circuit interrupter includes an improved trip deck assembly adjacent one pole and further includes an accessory deck adjacent another pole. The accessory deck includes conventional accessory devices such as an auxiliary switch, etc., and the trip deck assembly includes switches and one or more other devices that can interact with a crossbar and a trip bar of the circuit interrupter. Such switches can be easily installed by a technician in the field after manufacture of the circuit interrupter. One switch is held in place by a support, and the other switch is held in place by a retainer, with the support and the retainer holding the switches in a fixed position on the trip deck assembly in order to interact with the crossbar and the trip bar.

A circuit interrupting device with a temperature activated permanent lockout trip mechanism is provided. The temperature activated permanent lockout trip mechanism is located in close proximity to a section of conductor that generates heat. An energized first solenoid generates a magnetic force capable of moving an armature that unlatches a latch releasing a spring to open a main contactor removing power from an electrical circuit. The temperature activated permanent lockout trip mechanism upon reaching a predetermined temperature which is higher than the predetermined temperature threshold of the temperature sensing switch also generates a mechanical force capable of moving the armature that unlatches the latch releasing the spring to open the main contactor removing power from the electrical circuit. Once activated, the temperature activated permanent lockout trip mechanism inhibits the latch from latching which prevents a reset of the circuit interrupting device thus the circuit interrupting device is permanently disabled as the main contactor cannot be closed, and power no longer be reconnected to the electrical circuit.

A circuit interrupting device with a temperature activated permanent lockout trip mechanism is provided. The temperature activated permanent lockout trip mechanism is located in close proximity to a section of conductor that generates heat. An energized first solenoid generates a magnetic force capable of moving an armature that unlatches a latch releasing a spring to open a main contactor removing power from an electrical circuit. The temperature activated permanent lockout trip mechanism upon reaching a predetermined temperature which is higher than the predetermined temperature threshold of the temperature sensing switch also generates a mechanical force capable of moving the armature that unlatches the latch releasing the spring to open the main contactor removing power from the electrical circuit. Once activated, the temperature activated permanent lockout trip mechanism inhibits the latch from latching which prevents a reset of the circuit interrupting device thus the circuit interrupting device is permanently disabled as the main contactor cannot be closed, and power no longer be reconnected to the electrical circuit.