Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a system for increasing the protection of a person in the region of an electrical system against electric shocks when touching conducting or live parts of the electrical system. In some embodiments, the system includes a protective device to be worn by a person that detects an electrical body current, wherein at least one further person with another protective device or an external communication device is in the vicinity of the person having an electrical accident. The protective device including a communication unit, in response to the electrical accident having an electrical accident with an unacceptable body current detected by the protective device, a communication link between the communication unit of the protective device of the person having the accident and the other protective device of the further person.

An intermediate power supply unit for distributing lower voltage power to remote devices is disclosed. The intermediate power supply unit includes a higher voltage power input configured to receive power distributed by a power source and a power coupling circuit configured to couple the higher voltage power input to a plurality of power coupling outputs. If it is determined that a wire coupling the power source to the higher voltage power input is touched, the higher voltage power input is decoupled from the power coupling outputs. The intermediate power supply unit also includes a power converter circuit configured to convert voltage on higher voltage inputs to a lower voltage applied to one or more lower voltage outputs. The power converter circuit is also configured to distribute power from the one or more lower voltage outputs over a power conductor coupled to an assigned remote device.

A method and a device for protecting a person from electric shock includes detecting a physical-medical factor by means of a sensor device (6) carried on the body (4) of the person; evaluating the physical medial factor, which has been detected by the sensor device (6) as sensor data (20), by means of an evaluation device (8) to discover whether a risk from a body current (I.sub.B) is to be anticipated; and switching off a power supply (12), which is allocated to the person and causes the possible body current (I.sub.B), by means of a switch-off device (10) if this risk exists.

Systems and techniques are disclosed that monitor an area adjacent to power system components and detect objects that may pose a probable risk of causing a fault, for example, making contact with the power system component. Various embodiments initiate a preventative, a corrective, and/or a mitigative action in advance of the fault. Examples of possible actions include, but are not limited to, an audible alert, a visual alert, a tactile alert, a remote notification, a limiting of machinery motion, a stopping of machinery motion, a reversing of machinery motion, de-energization of the power system component, or combinations thereof.

Systems and techniques are disclosed that monitor an area adjacent to power system components and detect objects that may pose a probable risk of causing a fault, for example, making contact with the power system component. Various embodiments initiate a preventative, a corrective, and/or a mitigative action in advance of the fault. Examples of possible actions include, but are not limited to, an audible alert, a visual alert, a tactile alert, a remote notification, a limiting of machinery motion, a stopping of machinery motion, a reversing of machinery motion, de-energization of the power system component, or combinations thereof.

The disclosure describes a system for monitoring and mitigating damage to electrical utility structures and the surrounding environment. In some embodiments, the system includes fire boxes, arc sensors, angle switches, and disconnect switches configured to generate alert signals when a hazard is detected. In some embodiments, the system includes cameras configured to detect a hazard such as a fire or moving object. In some embodiments, the system includes light transmitters and light receivers positioned at a predetermined location away from power lines to detect objects that interrupt a line of site. In some embodiments, the system can electrically isolate a power line before a detected hazard impacts a power line.

The disclosure describes a system for monitoring and mitigating damage to electrical utility structures and the surrounding environment. In some embodiments, the system includes fire boxes, arc sensors, angle switches, and disconnect switches configured to generate alert signals when a hazard is detected. In some embodiments, the system includes cameras configured to detect a hazard such as a fire or moving object. In some embodiments, the system includes light transmitters and light receivers positioned at a predetermined location away from power lines to detect objects that interrupt a line of site. In some embodiments, the system can electrically isolate a power line before a detected hazard impacts a power line.

Line capacitance discharge in a power distribution system employing safety power disconnection is disclosed. The power distribution system is configured to remotely distribute power from a power source over current carrying electrical conductors (“power conductors”) to remote units to provide power-to-power consuming components of the remote units for operation. The power distribution system is configured to detect an unsafe condition, such as a touching or causing of a short circuit on the power conductors by a human. A line discharge circuit is provided in the power distribution system that is coupled to the power conductors and the controller circuit. The line discharge circuit is configured to be controlled to discharge charge from the power conductors in response to disconnection of the remote unit(s) from the power conductors.

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to increasing protection against electric shocks when a person is working on an electrical system. In some embodiments, the electrical system includes at least two different circuits and a safety module. An emergency signal input is provided on the safety module, and when an external emergency signal is received via the emergency signal input, the safety module shuts off a configured first circuit the associated switch and at least one further circuit via the associated switch if the safety module still receives the emergency signal at the emergency signal input after a predetermined period of time.

A power source is proposed comprising an output for a load. The power source is configured to provide a first voltage at the output. The power source is configured to detect a feedback at the output. The power source is further configured to provide a second voltage at the output based on the detected feedback. A high second voltage is only provided if an appropriate load is detected. This has the advantage that people are protected from electric shock e.g. when handling unconnected cables.