H02H3/16

MULTIPLE FREQUENCY GROUND FAULT PROTECTION
20220311234 · 2022-09-29 ·

A GFCI includes a current sensor system providing a current sensor signal indicating a leakage current of the AC power system. At least one signal conditioning channel conditions the current sensor signal to provide a conditioned current sensor signal. An integrated circuit-based controller is configured to receive the conditioned current sensor signal. The integrated circuit-based controller is configured to execute instructions stored in at least one nontransitory memory medium to determine at least one frequency value and at least one magnitude value of the conditioned current sensor signal, evaluate a trip condition in response to the at least one frequency value and the at least one magnitude value, and provide a fault trip signal in response to evaluation of the trip condition. A circuit breaker mechanism is configured to open a circuit of the AC power system in response to the fault trip signal.

MULTIPLE FREQUENCY GROUND FAULT PROTECTION
20220311234 · 2022-09-29 ·

A GFCI includes a current sensor system providing a current sensor signal indicating a leakage current of the AC power system. At least one signal conditioning channel conditions the current sensor signal to provide a conditioned current sensor signal. An integrated circuit-based controller is configured to receive the conditioned current sensor signal. The integrated circuit-based controller is configured to execute instructions stored in at least one nontransitory memory medium to determine at least one frequency value and at least one magnitude value of the conditioned current sensor signal, evaluate a trip condition in response to the at least one frequency value and the at least one magnitude value, and provide a fault trip signal in response to evaluation of the trip condition. A circuit breaker mechanism is configured to open a circuit of the AC power system in response to the fault trip signal.

Electrical wiring device with protective features

The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes an automatic test circuit configured to commence an automatic test at a predetermined time such that a test current propagates on a test conductor. The sensor assembly provides a sensor test output responsive to the test current only if both the differential transformer and the grounded neutral transformer are operative. A fault detector circuit is configured to generate a test detection signal in response to the sensor test output only if the fault detector circuit is operable and the at least one power supply is substantially charged. A device integrity evaluation circuit includes a timer that effects a tripped state when a time measurement exceeds a threshold, the test detection signal resetting the time measurement when properly wired before the time measurement exceeds the predetermined threshold but does not reset the time measurement when miswired.

POWER SUPPLY DEVICE AND DETERMINING METHOD

A power supply device includes: a first system; a second system; an inter-system switch configured to be able to connect and disconnect between the first system and the second system; a determining unit configured to keep the inter-system switch in an ON state in a normal time, and turn off the inter-system switch and determine which system a ground fault has occurred in, if detecting a ground fault of the first system or the second system; and a suppression circuit configured to suppress an electric discharge of the second power supply and supply electric power for ground fault detection to the second system, and the determining unit determines whether any ground fault has occurred in the second system or not, based on the electric power which is supplied from the suppression circuit to the second system.

Leakage protection socket with reverse connection protection

The present disclosure provides an improved leakage protection socket with reverse connection protection function. The electromagnetic tripping mechanism comprises a trip coil, an iron core and a permanent magnet that fit with a return spring, the iron core has, in its front end, a boss to pull the lock for horizontal movement, the movable input contacts are clamped by a rib slot of an upper tripper that can moves upward and downward along with the reset button. There is also provided a reverse connection trip device, which has a slope that coordinates with the boss of the iron core, upon reverse connection, the trip coil generates a magnetic field in the same orientation with the permanent magnet.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIFFERENTIAL PROTECTION UNDER GEOMAGNETICALLY INDUCED CURRENT
20220037084 · 2022-02-03 ·

A system and method for differential protection of a transformer under geomagnetically induced current (GIC). The method including: receiving differential currents associated with the transformer; outputting a high GIC signal where second harmonic phasors of the differential currents are in a negative-sequence format and at least one magnitude of the second harmonic phasors is greater than a magnitude threshold, or waveforms of three phases of the differential currents are all asymmetrical in a positive or negative direction; determining derivatives of the differential currents of three phases of the transformer; outputting a high supplementary signal where at least one of the derivatives of the differential currents is greater than a supplementary threshold; combining the GIC signal with the supplementary signal; combining the supplemented GIC signal with a second harmonic blocking signal; and outputting a trip signal for electrically tripping the transformer based on a supplemented second harmonic blocking signal.

GROUND FAULT INTERRUPTER SELF TEST CIRCUITS AND RELATED METHODS

Implementations of ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) self-test circuits may include: a current transformer coupled to a controller, a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) test loop coupled to the controller, a ground fault test loop coupled to the controller, and a solenoid coupled to the controller. The SCR test loop may be configured to conduct an SCR self-test during a first half wave portion of a phase and the ground fault test loop may be configured to conduct a ground fault self-test during a second half wave portion of a phase. An SCR may be configured to activate the solenoid to deny power to a load upon one of the SCR self-test or the ground fault self-test being identified as failing.

Systems and methods for detecting turn-to-turn faults in windings

System and method for detecting turn-to-turn faults in one or more windings of various objects are provided. In one implementation, a fault detector receives a set of current measurements associated with a transformer and uses these measurements to execute a procedure for detecting a turn-to-turn fault in the transformer. The procedure can include dividing a steady-state differential current value by a steady-state voltage value to obtain one or more compensating factors, determining a magnetizing current amplitude indicator by multiplying the steady-state voltage value by the one or more compensating factors, determining a compensated differential current value by combining the steady-state differential current value with a modifier value that incorporates the magnetizing current amplitude indicator, comparing the compensated differential current value against a threshold value, and declaring an occurrence of the turn-to-turn fault in the transformer when the compensated differential current value exceeds the threshold value.

Methods and devices for selective insulation monitoring in ungrounded Isolé Terre (IT) power supply systems
11456589 · 2022-09-27 · ·

Methods and devices for insulation monitoring of an ungrounded IT power supply system having at least two phase conductors includes determining an insulation resistance separately for each phase conductor using a separate response value. In one embodiment of the invention, relevant current and voltage distributions are calculated. In another embodiment, a change time window is set within which a second response value is activated. In yet another embodiment, an option of shutting down/continuing operation of the IT power supply system is offered.

POWER SWITCHING ARRANGEMENT FOR LINE INSULATION MONITORING

A method of performing line insulation monitoring of a pair of conductor lines at least partially located in a cable is provided, comprising the steps of providing a first power switch in a first conductor line of the pair and a second power switch in a second conductor line of the pair, providing a line insulation monitor at a first end of the pair of conductor lines, electrically connected to the pair of conductor lines, at the second end of the pair of conductor lines, electrically connecting the first and second conductor lines, placing the first and second power switches into a monitoring configuration wherein the first power switch is closed while the second power switch is open, and using the line insulation monitor to monitor the insulation of the conductor lines.