An electrical network includes feed-in devices, loads, and a distribution grid, which is arranged therebetween and comprises at least one busbar and at least one device for opening or closing a DC circuit. The at least one device includes: an electric switch for opening or closing the DC circuit; a fault current detection device; a trigger unit; a precharging device; and a control unit for automatically closing the electric switch after the precharging process. The electric switch opens the DC circuit via the trigger unit if a fault current is detected by the fault current detector, and the precharging device restores the voltage on the busbar prior to closing the electric switch. Multiple loads can be individually electrically separated via a respective electromechanical switch, and multiple loads can be electrically separated as a group via the at least one device.

Modular circuit protection devices and configurable panelboard systems include arc-free operation, thermal management features providing safe operation in hazardous environments at lower cost and without requiring conventional explosion-proof enclosures and without entailing series connected separately provided packages such as circuit breaker devices and starter motor contactors and controls.

A circuit breaker includes an electromechanical switch, a current sensor, a voltage sensor, and a processor. The electromechanical switch is serially connected between a line input terminal and a load output terminal of the circuit breaker, and configured to be placed in a switched-closed state or a switched-open state. The current sensor is configured to sense a magnitude of current flowing in a path between the line input and load output terminals and generate a current sense signal. The voltage sensor is configured to sense a magnitude of voltage at a point on the path between the line input and load output terminals and generate a voltage sense signal. The processor is configured to receive and process the current sense signal and the voltage sense signal to determine operational status information of the circuit breaker and determine power usage information of a load connected to the load output terminal.

A sliding power contact and method includes a mobile load device connector and a socket. The mobile load device connector includes a non-current power pin having a first length, a current power pin having a second length less than the first length, a neutral pin, and a ground pin. The socket includes a non-current power contact configured to electrically couple with the non-current power pin, a current power contact configured to electrically couple with the current power pin, a neutral contact configured to electrically couple with the neutral pin, and a ground pin configured to electrically couple with the ground pin. An arc suppressor is directly coupled to at least one of the non-current power pin and the non-current power contact, wherein the arc suppressor, the non-current power pin and the non-current power contact form a current path between the current power pin and the current power contact.

An arc suppressing circuit configured to suppress arcing across a power contactor coupled to an alternating current (AC) power source having a predetermined number of phases, each contact of the power contactor corresponding to one of the predetermined number of phases includes a number of dual unidirectional arc suppressors equal to the predetermined number of phases of the AC power source. Each dual unidirectional arc suppressor includes a first phase-specific arc suppressor configured to suppress arcing across the associated contacts in a positive domain, a a second phase-specific arc suppressor configured to suppress arcing across the associated contacts in a negative domain, and a coil lock controller, configured to be coupled between a contact coil driver of the power contactor, configured to detect an output condition from the contact coil driver and inhibit operation of the first and second phase-specific arc suppressors over a predetermined time.

Device, circuit, system, and method for contact sequencing are discussed. An electrical circuit includes a first pair of terminals adapted to be connected across a first set of switchable contacts, and a second pair of terminals adapted to be connected across a second set of switchable contacts that are coupled to an arc suppression circuit. A controller circuit is coupled to the first and second pairs of terminals and is configured to sequence activation or deactivation of the first and second sets of contacts based on a contact control signal. A first power switching circuit is coupled to the first pair of terminals and the controller circuit. The first power switching circuit is configured to switch power from an external power source and to trigger the activation or the deactivation of the first set of switchable contacts based on a first logic state signal from the controller circuit.

A two terminal arc suppressor for protecting switch, relay or contactor contacts and the like comprises a two terminal module adapted to be attached in parallel with the contacts to be protected and including a circuit for deriving an operating voltage upon the transitioning of the switch, relay or contactor contacts from a closed to an open disposition, the power being rectified and the resulting DC signal used to trigger a power triac switch via an optoisolator circuit whereby arc suppression pulses are generated for short predetermined intervals only at a transition of the mechanical switch, relay or contactor contacts from an closed to an open transition and, again, at an open to a close transition during contact bounce conditions.

A circuit-breaker includes: an input terminal for connecting the circuit-breaker to a voltage source; an output terminal for connecting t the circuit-breaker to a load; a switching circuit having an input side connected to the input terminal and having an output side; and a separation switching unit connected to the output terminal and to the output side of the switching circuit. The switching circuit includes a first current path and a second current path, the first and the second current path being connected in parallel between the input side and the output side. The switching circuit includes a varistor device and a controllable switching component, the varistor device and the controllable switching component being connected in series between the first and the second current path.

A changeover apparatus for interruption-free changeover between two energy supply systems includes: at least one first outer conductor section and one second outer conductor section; a first mechanical bypass switch arranged in the first outer conductor section; a first semiconductor circuit arrangement connected in parallel with the first mechanical bypass switch; a first measuring device for recording a first voltage and/or a first mains frequency, which first measuring device is connected to the first outer conductor section; a second mechanical bypass switch arranged in the second outer conductor section; a second semiconductor circuit arrangement connected in parallel with the second mechanical bypass switch; and an electronic control unit for actuating, in a predeterminable manner, the first mechanical bypass switch, the first semiconductor circuit arrangement, the second mechanical bypass switch, and the second semiconductor circuit arrangement. The first measuring device is connected for communication with the electronic control unit.

A high speed arc suppressor and method include a first phase-specific arc suppressor configured to suppress arcing across contacts of the power contactor in a positive domain and a second phase-specific arc suppressor configured to suppress arcing across the contacts in a negative domain. First and second high speed switches are configured to enable and disable operation of an associated one of the first and second phase-specific arc suppressors. First and second drivers are configured to drive the first and second high speed switches.