A signaling device adapted to be electrically coupled to an electric potential applied to terminals of a fuse element or to clips of a fuse holder. The signaling device is adapted to signal to the outside at least one property of the fuse element. In addition, the signaling device includes at least one transmission layer having an electrically controllable transmission factor.

A signaling device adapted to be electrically coupled to an electric potential applied to terminals of a fuse element or to clips of a fuse holder. The signaling device is adapted to signal to the outside at least one property of the fuse element. In addition, the signaling device includes at least one transmission layer having an electrically controllable transmission factor.

The invention relates to a lightning protection spark gap assembly. The lightning protection spark gap assembly comprises: a lightning protection spark gap (1); a safety fuse device (8) which can be triggered by a bridge initiator (7) and which is connected between a first or second voltage line (S1, S2) and a corresponding main connection (1, 1b) of the lighting protection spark gap (1); and an indicator device (4′) for detecting a secondary current flow connecting to a pulse current flow or a corresponding portion of the secondary current flow, and for triggering the safety fuse device (8) by activating the bridge initiator (7) when the detected secondary current flow or the corresponding portion of the secondary current flow fulfills a first predefined criterion, wherein the lightning protection spark gap (1) has a first and a second divergent electrode (21a, 21b) and an arcing chamber (25), and wherein the indicator device (4′) is electrically connected to the first or second divergent electrode (21a, 21b) and/or the arcing chamber (25) in such a way that it detects the secondary current flow or the corresponding portion of the secondary current flow in the area (L) in which the secondary current arc flows.

A fluid-affected fuse includes a structural housing, a pair of electric terminals, one or more fuse elements, and a fluid arranged in an internal volume of the structure. The structure provides rigidity to the fuse. The terminals are coupled to the structural housing and are configured to be coupled to an electric power circuit of a battery circuit. The one or more fuse elements are electrically connected in series to the pair of electric terminals and are arranged in the internal volume. The fluid is configured to affect a temperature of the fuse element. A fluid-filled fuse is filled with fluid, optionally sealed, and operated with the increased heat capacity of the fluid to affect temperature of the fuse. A fluid-cooled fuse is filled with the fluid, undergoing a stream of the fluid thus allowing control of fuse temperature. A control system controls the fluid stream and fuse operation.

A surge arrester includes a polymer body or housing and a varistor assembly in the body or housing. The varistor assembly includes a plurality of varistor elements and a fuse electrically connected in series and forming a vertical stack of the plurality of varistor elements and the fuse. The stack has a first end surface, a second end surface, and a side surface extending between the first end surface and the second end surface. The varistor assembly includes a first end fitting at the first end surface of the stack and a second end fitting at the second end surface of the stack.

For providing data of an apparatus for applications, routing of the data via a communication node is provided. In this case, the apparatus communicates the data wirelessly to the communication node. This necessitates pairing the apparatus with the communication node beforehand, which is carried out with the aid of an installation key. The data transfer itself is then secured with a connection key defined during the pairing. If replacing or reconnecting the communication node necessitates carrying out re-pairing, at least one criterion relating to the reachability of the communication node is checked and the lack of reachability as per the criterion is made into the prerequisite for using the installation key instead of the connection key for re-pairing. At least one embodiment of the invention increases protection against interferers wanting to access the apparatus in an unauthorized manner.

A method of detecting welded contacts in a relay. The method includes performing, at a first point in time, the applying of a drive to the activation coil to conduct a coil current through the activation coil, the coil current increasing to a first current level, the first current level being less than a pull-in current of the relay; responsive to the coil current reaching the first current level, turning off the drive to the activation coil to discharge the coil current at a first clamping voltage; and measuring a first discharge time corresponding to a first inductance from the turning off of the drive to the activation coil to the coil current reaching a second current level, the second current level being less than the first current level. These operations are repeated at a second point in time to obtain a second inductance. Comparison of the first inductance and second inductance determines whether a difference between the first and second inductances exceeds a comparison criterion.

A method of detecting welded contacts in a relay. The method includes performing, at a first point in time, the applying of a drive to the activation coil to conduct a coil current through the activation coil, the coil current increasing to a first current level, the first current level being less than a pull-in current of the relay; responsive to the coil current reaching the first current level, turning off the drive to the activation coil to discharge the coil current at a first clamping voltage; and measuring a first discharge time corresponding to a first inductance from the turning off of the drive to the activation coil to the coil current reaching a second current level, the second current level being less than the first current level. These operations are repeated at a second point in time to obtain a second inductance. Comparison of the first inductance and second inductance determines whether a difference between the first and second inductances exceeds a comparison criterion.

A fuse includes an integrated measuring function. In an embodiment, the fuse includes a fuse housing including a first receiving space delimited by a pressure body and a second receiving space spatially separated from the first receiving space. A fusible conductor is mounted in the first receiving space and a measuring device is accommodated and mounted in the second receiving space. The measuring device has a current transformer and an electronic assembly, electrically conductively connected to the current transformer. Viewed in a direction of longitudinal extent, a height of the current transformer essentially corresponds to a height of the second receiving space. With the aid of the measuring device, it is possible to determine the electric current flowing through the fuse in the immediate vicinity of the fuse. Energy required is generated from the primary current of the fuse by electromagnetic induction, meaning no external power source is required.

Systems and methods for estimating a thermal-mechanical fatigue in an electrical conductor in a thermal-mechanical fatigue assessment system include an electrical conductor having a cold resistance and a non-linear resistance when connected to an electrical power system, and a controller receiving temperatures of the conductor as inputs, wherein the controller is operable to estimate a service life of the conductor based on at least the input temperatures of the conductor and the cold resistance of the conductor.