A method and a system for the detection and passivation of an electric arc on at least one connecting element of an electrical device. The system comprises an acoustic acquisition channel configured for the acquisition of acoustic signals emitted by the connecting element, an electric acquisition channel configured for the acquisition of electric signals which are representative of the electric current intensities supplying the connecting element, and a correlator coupled to the acoustic and electric acquisition channels, configured for the evaluation of a correlation between the acoustic and electric signals and for the tripping of an appropriate cut-off signal for the interruption of an electric circuit relative to the connecting element, where the correlation is representative of the initiation of an electric arc.

Multiple relays are connected in parallel by including one or more semiconductor devices connected across the relay contacts. The semiconductor devices are triggered to conduct and shunt transient currents during the opening and closing of the relay contacts to protect the relay contacts from overcurrent and to eliminate arcing during relay switching. This permits a combination of smaller relays to replace a larger and more expensive relay in applications that require switching of large load currents.

An apparatus for switching and/or protection of a load connected to said apparatus, said apparatus (1) comprising: a power switch (5) through which the connected load receives an electrical current; a sensor component (4) connected in series with said power switch (5) and adapted to generate directly an electrical voltage drop corresponding to a current rise speed of the electrical current flowing via the sensor component (4) and via the power switch (5) to said load; and a driver circuit (6) adapted to detect an occurring overcurrent depending on a voltage drop generated by said sensor component (4) with or without a voltage drop along the power switch (5) and to switch off said power switch (5) upon detection of an overcurrent within a switch-off period to protect said power switch (5) and said load.

Disclosed are an apparatus for transmitting power and a control method thereof. The apparatus includes a first main relay electrically controlling connection between a positive (+) terminal of a high voltage power source and a positive (+) terminal of a high voltage load, a second main relay electrically controlling connection between a negative (−) terminal of the high voltage power source and a negative (−) terminal of the high voltage load, a semiconductor switch connected in parallel to the first main relay, a reverse current preventer interposed between the semiconductor switch and the high voltage power source and preventing reverse current to the high voltage power source, a drive state measurer measuring a drive state of a power relay assembly, and a relay controller supplying or shutting off power to the high voltage load by operating the first and second main relays and the semiconductor switch in response to a relay enable signal from a battery controller and shutting off the power to the high voltage load upon determining that the drive state of the power relay assembly measured through the drive state measurer is abnormal or upon determining based on a vehicle state received from the battery controller that a vehicle is in an emergency state.

An arc protection system for an electrical enclosure having an electrical component positioned in an interior thereof. The system includes two busbars and at least one arc routing device positioned in the interior and an arc containment device defining a cavity and including an electrode assembly positioned within the cavity, wherein the electrode assembly is electrically coupled to the two busbars. The system also includes at least one arc routing device having a first end proximate the electrical component and a second end proximate the arc containment device. The at least one arc routing device is operative to i) attract arc plasma generated during an arc event at the electrical component, and ii) transport the arc plasma to the arc containment device, wherein the arc containment device is configured to transfer electrical energy of the arc plasma to an exterior of the electrical enclosure.

A direct current circuit breaker includes main circuit for carrying a main-path current, and a transient circuit for carrying a transient-path current. The main circuit includes a first solid state switch and a main contactor. The first solid state switch is coupled in series with the main contactor. The transient circuit is coupled in parallel with the main circuit. The transient circuit includes an auxiliary contactor coupled in series with a second solid state switch. The second solid state switch closes when the main-path current exceeds a first threshold. The first solid state switch then opens. The main contactor opens when the main-path current falls below a second threshold. Then the second solid state switch opens. The auxiliary contactor opens when the transient-path current falls below the second threshold and after the second solid state switch opens.

A switching apparatus for electric power distribution grids including: a withdrawable first switching unit having one or more first electric poles; a withdrawable second switching unit having one or more second electric poles and electrically connected ins series with said first switching unit; wherein said second switching unit includes an emergency control arrangement activatable by a user to make said second switching unit to carry out an opening manoeuvre.

A protective circuit includes a first field-effect transistor having a first drain terminal, a first source terminal and a first gate terminal, a control device by which an electrical first voltage between the first drain terminal and the first source terminal can be determined, and a first temperature sensor by which a first temperature of the first field-effect transistor can be detected, wherein a first resistance of the first field effect transistor and an electrical first current conducted via the first field-effect transistor can be determined by the control device based on the first temperature.

The magnetic coil driving circuit of the magnetic contactor according to the present invention comprises a semiconductor switch configured to open or close a circuit for magnetizing or demagnetizing a magnetic coil; a pulse width modulation unit configured to output a pulse signal as a control signal for turning on or off the semiconductor switch; a control unit configured to output a control signal for changing a pulse width of the pulse signal to the pulse width modulation unit; and a temperature detection and protection unit configured to detect a temperature inside the magnetic contactor, output an output signal for turning off the semiconductor switch when the temperature exceeds an allowable temperature, and control the semiconductor switch by the pulse signal from the pulse width modulation unit when the temperature is within the allowable temperature.

A device having an armature including a main wall; a rotary part intended to be mechanically coupled to a control shaft of an electrical switching unit; a bar integral with the rotary part and able to rotate between a first position and a second position and extending through a slot in the main wall; a position sensor having a movable contact pushed into a retracted position by the bar when the bar is in the first position; a stabilizing device having a resilient strip extending along the slot in order to exert a retaining force on the bar when it is in the first position.