A method for discharging a high-voltage system in a vehicle, the high-voltage system having at least one energy store and a plurality of high-voltage consumers. To discharge the high-voltage system, the electrical energy store is first separated from the rest of the vehicle electrical system, and at least one of the high-voltage consumers is switched on, so that the charge stored within the system drains via the consumers.

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.

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.

Described are system and method embodiments for establishing a weak ground path, comprising: disabling a first ground path for a shield pin of a cable connection interface, the first ground path including a first switch; enabling a second ground path for the shield pin, the second ground path comprises a second switch, and the second ground path having a higher resistance than the first ground path; determining a connection of a device to the cable connection interface with the second ground path; and enabling the first ground path based on the connection of the device being determined.

A method for detecting an insulation fault in a vehicle on-board electrical system having an HV and LV on-board electrical system branches. The LV branch has at least one first LV potential and a second LV potential that differs therefrom and corresponds to a ground potential of the vehicle on-board electrical system. The HV branch has positive HV negative HV potentials. These HV potentials are DC-isolated from the LV branch potentials. An insulation fault between at least one of the HV potentials and the first LV potential is detected by identifying a current flow. The current flow runs through a voltage limiting circuit connected between the ground potential and the first LV potential. This circuit connects the first LV potential, via a plurality of diodes, to a voltage limiting element connected to the ground potential of the vehicle on-board electrical system. A vehicle overvoltage protective circuit is also described.

An electrical apparatus comprises an earth input (10a) for connection to an earth wire (10) of an electrical supply from a distribution network, an earth interface for providing an earth connection from the earth input (10a) to an appliance (2) and current sensing means (40) for sensing a current flow through the earth input (10a). The electrical apparatus further comprises earth-wire disconnection means (48) for disconnecting the earth interface from the earth input (10a) when a sensed current flow through the earth input (10a) satisfies an earth-wire disconnection condition and live-wire disconnection means (42) for initiating a disconnection of a live wire (4) of the electrical supply to the appliance (2) before or at the same time as the disconnecting of the earth interface.

An automatic ground fault circuit interrupt (GFCI) circuit reset system and apparatus which attaches to a faceplate of an electrical outlet and includes a linear actuator. The linear actuator faces directly at a reset button on a GFCI outlet circuit and automatically actuates to depress the reset button after a predetermined amount of time after the GFCI outlet circuit becomes tripped and no longer transmits electrical power therefrom.

An automatic ground fault circuit interrupt (GFCI) circuit reset system and apparatus which attaches to a faceplate of an electrical outlet and includes a linear actuator. The linear actuator faces directly at a reset button on a GFCI outlet circuit and automatically actuates to depress the reset button after a predetermined amount of time after the GFCI outlet circuit becomes tripped and no longer transmits electrical power therefrom.

A DI-circuit breaker device includes a summation current converter for detecting fault currents in a phase conductor and a neutral conductor, and a detection device for detecting fault states of a protective ground conductor. The detection device detects the presence of a phase voltage on the protective ground conductor as a fault state. The detection device has a capacitive sensor which, when touched by a user, forms an electric capacitor with an impedance relative to ground potential. The detection device further has evaluating electronics adapted to determine a phase position by connecting the sensor to the phase conductor and, separately therefrom, to the neutral conductor. The evaluating electronics determine the absence of a phase voltage on the protective ground conductor when there is no voltage between the neutral conductor and the protective ground conductor when phase is present at the phase conductor. Further, a corresponding operating method is described.

An overvoltage protection circuit includes an input terminal, an output terminal, a clamp transistor, and a selector circuit. The clamp transistor is configured to control current flow between the input terminal and the output terminal. The clamp transistor includes a first terminal coupled to the input terminal, a second terminal coupled to the output terminal. The selector circuit is configured to control a resistance of the clamp transistor based on a voltage at the input terminal. The selector circuit includes a first terminal coupled to the first terminal of the clamp transistor, a second terminal coupled to the second terminal of the clamp transistor, and a third terminal coupled to a third terminal of the clamp transistor.