A shunt trip assembly structured to be operatively coupled to a number of circuit breakers uses a lever to actuate an operating mechanism of the circuit breakers and uses a selectively powered solenoid to power the lever. The shunt trip assembly is composed from a standardized shunt assembly designed for use with a plurality of different solenoid coils, such that a given standardized shunt assembly will be operative regardless of which of the solenoid coils are added to the standardized shunt assembly. The shunt trip assembly requires less than 10 amps of current to operate; can be powered by any of a 12 volt AC/DC, 24 volt AC/DC, or 48 volt AC/DC power source; and is functional in temperatures ranging from −40° C. to +60° C.

A rail-mountable electrical device having a “plug-in” receptacle for receiving a pluggable power cord in series with the circuit breaker while mounted on a hot bus bar within a breaker panel. In a first embodiment, the AC circuit breaker/receptacle combination device provides an accessible power outlet direct inside the breaker panel, for example during early construction when wiring of peripheral outlets has not been completed. Disclosed in a second embodiment is a dummy breaker body which comprises a plug receptacle and no circuit breaker. The dummy breaker body seats on the hot bus bar in a breaker panel but does not draw electricity directly, and instead is wired in series with a true circuit breaker proximate on the hot bus bar in a cis- or trans-position. The two body parts, dummy breaker body and circuit breaker, function independently but in series electrical connection. In the various embodiments, NEMA-type or aviation-type plug receptacles are conveniently made accessible within the breaker panel using these devices.

An electrical device for supplying power to a plurality of power units comprises a fixed support and a plurality of contactor blocks. The fixed support comprises input terminals, for receiving a polyphase power current, and a distribution circuit that is configured to distribute the power current to power lines that each comprise a plurality of single-phase supply lines, the fixed support comprising a number of power lines that is the same as the number of contactor blocks of the electrical device, and each power line comprising a number of supply lines that is the same as the number of phases of the power current, each of the supply lines of a contactor block being connected to a respective phase of the power current, the supply lines being accessible on the outside of the fixed support via intermediate terminals. Each contactor block comprises secondary lines, each secondary line being connected to a respective supply line via a respective intermediate terminal, the contactor blocks being movable between a joined position, in which each secondary line is electrically connected to a specific primary line via an intermediate terminal and is accessible on the outside of the contactor block via an output terminal block, and a disjoined position, in which each secondary line is not connected to a primary line, each contactor block further comprising a switching device, which is switchable between an open position, in which all of the secondary lines of this contactor block are open, and a closed position, in which all of the secondary lines of this contactor block are closed and do not prevent the current from flowing between the intermediate terminals and the output terminal block. The electrical device also comprises a control block, which is movable between a joined position, in which the control block cooperates mechanically and electrically with the rest of the electrical device, and a disjoined position, in which the control block does not cooperate, either mechanically or electrically, with the rest of the electrical device. When the control block is in the joined position, each contactor block is, on the one hand, held in the joined position, an electronic monitoring device of the control block also being connected to the switching device of each of the contactor blocks, the electronic monitoring device being configured to control the switching of each switching device independently of the other switching devices. When the control block is in the disjoined position, the switching device of each of the contactor blocks is in the open state, while each of the contactor blocks is movable between its joined position and its disjoined position, independent

Embodiments of the disclosure provide for a system and method for determining a circuit breaker position in a power distribution/load center. In one embodiment, the load center includes a plurality of circuit breakers. Each circuit breaker includes a base and a plurality of contact components coupled to the base. In that regard, an activation of a combination of the contact components indicates a position of the circuit breaker within the load center. The activation of the combination indicates that one or more of the contact components is in contact with one or more pegs coupled to the load center. When this occurs, a data transceiver coupled to each of the contact components transmits a data signal. The data signal includes a plurality of data bits, where each data bit indicates whether a corresponding contact component of the combination is activated or not activated.

A multipolar electrical protection system including a plurality of devices for switching an electric current. Each switching device has a plurality of compartments each comprising an extinguishing chamber and a pair of separable electrical contacts that are connected to upstream and downstream connection terminals, the separable electrical contacts being movable between open and closed positions under the action of a tripping device. The switching devices are separate from one another, while the upstream terminals of each device are connected by a first connector in order to keep them at one and the same electrical potential and the downstream terminals of each device are connected by a second connector in order to keep them at one and the same electrical potential. The switching devices are controlled by one and the same common tripping device.

A panelboard assembly for a harsh and/or hazardous environment is provided. The panelboard assembly includes a main breaker assembly, a first subpanel assembly, and a second subpanel assembly. The first subpanel assembly includes a first contactor assembly, and a first branch breaker assembly electrically connected to the first contactor assembly and configured to be electrically connected to a first group of loads. The first contactor assembly is configured to switch the first group of loads on and off all at once. The second subpanel assembly is electrically connected in parallel to the first subpanel assembly, and includes a second contactor assembly and a second branch breaker assembly electrically connected to the second contactor assembly and configured to be electrically connected to a second group of loads. The second contactor assembly is configured to switch the second group of loads on and off all at once.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide for a system and method for determining a circuit breaker position in a power distribution/load center. In one embodiment, the load center includes a plurality of circuit breakers. Each circuit breaker includes a base and a plurality of contact components coupled to the base. In that regard, an activation of a combination of the contact components indicates a position of the circuit breaker within the load center. The activation of the combination indicates that one or more of the contact components is in contact with one or more pegs coupled to the load center. When this occurs, a data transceiver coupled to each of the contact components transmits a data signal. The data signal includes a plurality of data bits, where each data bit indicates whether a corresponding contact component of the combination is activated or not activated.

Accessory device for a low or medium voltage switching device including an outer housing, first electrical connection means adapted to electrically connect the accessory device with an auxiliary power line and first mechanical connection means adapted to mechanically connect the accessory device with a mechanical support component of the switching device. The accessory device includes a power line communication unit electrically connectable with the auxiliary power line through the first electrical connection means and adapted to communicate with outer electronic equipment electrically connected with the auxiliary power line by transmitting and receiving communication signals along the auxiliary power line.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide for a system and method for determining a circuit breaker position in a power distribution/load center. In one embodiment, the load center includes a plurality of circuit breakers. Each circuit breaker includes a base and a plurality of contact components coupled to the base. In that regard, an activation of a combination of the contact components indicates a position of the circuit breaker within the load center. The activation of the combination indicates that one or more of the contact components is in contact with one or more pegs coupled to the load center. When this occurs, a data transceiver coupled to each of the contact components transmits a data signal. The data signal includes a plurality of data bits, where each data bit indicates whether a corresponding contact component of the combination is activated or not activated.

A circuit breaker includes a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact moveable between an open state and a closed state; an armature, wherein movement of the armature from a first position to a second position initiates the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact to move from the closed state to the open state; a first electromagnetic device configured to move the armature from the first position to the second position in response to being energized by a first signal; and a second electromagnetic device configured to move the armature from the first position to the second position in response to being energized by a second signal and in response to generation of the first signal and the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact still being in the closed state. Other circuit breakers and methods of operating circuit breakers are disclosed.