Techniques for determining whether a downed conductor is present in an electrical power distribution network that includes a neutral line and a plurality of energized conductors are disclosed. For example, a sampled neutral current signal is received, the sampled current signal including a plurality of values, each of the values representing an amplitude of current that flows in of the neutral conductor at a particular time; an unfiltered current signal is generated based on the sampled current signal; the sampled current signal is filtered to generate a filtered current signal; the unfiltered current signal and the filtered current signal are compared to generate an error signal; and the error signal is analyzed to determine whether at least one of the plurality of conductors is a downed conductor.

An apparatus for electrically connecting a first structural member and a second structural member is disclosed. The apparatus has a first mating connector assembly configured to be attached to the first structural member, the first mating connector assembly including a first neutral terminal ring, a second mating connector assembly configured to be attached to the second structural member, the second mating connector assembly including a second neutral terminal ring, a first neutral lead electrically connected to the first neutral terminal ring, and a second neutral lead electrically connected to the second neutral terminal ring. The first neutral terminal ring is slidably disposed adjacent to the second neutral terminal ring when the first mating connector assembly and the second mating connector assembly are in contact. A first wall member forming the first neutral terminal ring includes a first plurality of slits.

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.

An eMarker device is used in a cable electrically connected between a first port and a second port, wherein the cable includes a configuration channel communication wire. The eMarker device comprises: a first eMarker disposed near the first port and including a first active protection module coupled to the configuration channel communication wire, wherein the first eMarker is electrically connected to a first power pin of the first port and a second power pin of the second port; and a second eMarker disposed near the second port and including a second active protection module coupled to the configuration channel communication wire, wherein either of the first active protection module and the second active protection module changes an electric characteristic of the configuration channel communication wire to have the first port detect a disconnecting status of the second port when a specified event happens.

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for reducing geomagnetically-induced currents. The method includes connecting a plurality of switching devices at a neutral grounding connection point of at least one transformer bank. In a system having two terminals, the method includes grounding one transformer bank through a switch so as to reduce geomagnetically induced current. In a system having more than two terminals, the method includes grounding transformer banks through multiple switches, where the reduction is performed independently for each transformer bank. The method further involves determining a switching frequency and a duty cycle based on an evaluation of factors including effectiveness and fault current detection.

A Leakage Current Detection and Interruption (LCDI) device, for use as a safety device for a load cable. The LCDI circuit card assembly incorporates a load input cavity having fire retardant materials surrounding the load input terminals, a separated containment cavity structure for a first Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV), and a contact actuator which encases the switch or contact arm at the source input section of the LCDI. The circuit design incorporates redundant safety features for containment of spurious ignitions.

An electrical protection circuit breaker comprises a microprocessor chip part, a circuit breaker part connected between a power line and a power supply, a temperature detection part for detecting a temperature of the power line, a current detection part for detecting a current of the power line, and a voltage detection part for detecting a voltage of the power line. A memory of the microprocessor chip part stores a data collection S=f(temp, I, V, time), wherein S represents a diameter of the power line, temp represents the temperature, I represents the current, V represents the voltage, and time represents a set time period. The microprocessor chip part matches electronic data of real-time temperature changes, electronic data of an import current, and electronic data of a voltage with data sets in the data collection, and sets a corresponding safety protection current according to matching results.

A Leakage Current Detection and Interruption (LCDI) device, for use as a safety device for a load cable. The LCDI circuit card assembly incorporates a load input cavity having fire retardant materials surrounding the load input terminals, a separated containment cavity structure for a first Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV), and a contact actuator which encases the switch or contact arm at the source input section of the LCDI. The circuit design incorporates redundant safety features for containment of spurious ignitions.

Real-time detection of high-impedance faults in a distribution circuit is described. The real-time detection of high-impedance faults includes two steps. First, adaptive soft denoising is employed to perform a filtering process on a healthy dataset, and to determine a threshold. This reduces the rate of false alarms. Second, faulty datasets are prefiltered via adaptive soft denoising, then the denoised signals are processed via discrete wavelet transform to perform high-impedance fault detection using the threshold.

Circuits, methods, and apparatus that may provide power supply voltages in a safe and reliable manner that meets safety and regulatory concerns and does not exceed physical limitations of cables and other circuits and components used to provide the power supply voltages. One example may provide a cable having a sufficient number of conductors to provide power without exceeding a maximum current density for the conductors. Another example may provide a cable having more than the sufficient number of conductors in order to provide an amount of redundancy. Current sense circuits may be included for one or more conductors. When an excess current is sensed, a power source in the power supply may be shut down, the power source may be disconnected from one or more conductors, or both events may occur.