A DC circuit breaker includes: a first current section of a first electrical polarity from a first supply terminal of the DC circuit breaker to a first load terminal of the DC circuit breaker; a second current section of a second electrical polarity from a second supply terminal of the DC circuit breaker to a second load terminal of the DC circuit breaker; a mechanical bypass switch arranged in the first current section or the second current section, the mechanical bypass switch having at least one bypass switch excitation coil; a first semiconductor circuit arrangement connected in parallel with the mechanical bypass switch; an electronic control unit of the DC circuit breaker for actuating the first semiconductor circuit arrangement; a second semiconductor circuit arrangement to be actuated by the electronic control unit, which second semiconductor circuit arrangement is connected to the bypass switch excitation coil by circuitry.

Circuit interrupter positioned between supply circuit and load circuit includes fault detection circuit that senses wave forms to the load circuit, fault processing circuit that detects presence of fault and generates fault output signal when fault detected, and control circuit switch connected to fault processing signal output, wherein control circuit switch is opened by presence of fault output signal, thus isolating load circuit from supply circuit. Preferably fault processing circuit and control circuit are optically linked, such that when fault is detected, control circuit switch is opened by optical fault output signal, thus isolating load circuit from the supply circuit. Circuit interrupter may couple another circuit interrupter via power distribution control unit, optionally manageable remotely via automated control interface.

An electrical wiring device including a ground fault interrupt assembly, the ground fault interrupt assembly comprising a ground fault interrupt circuit, being formed on a first printed circuit board, and a trip mechanism, the ground fault interrupt circuit being configured to detect a differential current between the line conductor and the neutral conductor and to trigger the trip mechanism to electrically decouple the plurality of line terminals from the plurality of load terminals, according to a predetermined criterion, based, at least in part, on the different current; and a USB power supply circuit being formed on a second printed circuit board disposed within the compartment, the USB power supply circuit providing to the at least one USB port, wherein the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board are separated by a distance within the inner compartment.

The line power and neutral conductors for a circuit interrupter such as a miniature circuit breaker, using ground fault sensing via a current transformer, are arranged as a rigid conductor formed from a flat plate and surrounding and holding an insulated flexible conductor when passing through the Ground Fault Interrupter current transformer. The rigid conductor can provide a shaped current path to maximize the effectiveness of the current transformer.

A DC circuit breaker includes: a first current section of a first electrical polarity from a first supply terminal of the DC circuit breaker to a first load terminal of the DC circuit breaker; a second current section of a second electrical polarity from a second supply terminal of the DC circuit breaker to a second load terminal of the DC circuit breaker; a mechanical bypass switch arranged in the first current section or the second current section, the mechanical bypass switch having at least one bypass switch excitation coil; a first semiconductor circuit arrangement connected in parallel with the mechanical bypass switch; an electronic control unit of the DC circuit breaker for actuating the first semiconductor circuit arrangement; a second semiconductor circuit arrangement to be actuated by the electronic control unit, which second semiconductor circuit arrangement is connected to the bypass switch excitation coil by circuitry.

A system and method for suppressing EMP-induced electrical system voltage surges due to detonation of a nuclear weapon, the EMP comprising E1, E2, and E3 component pulses. A plurality of shunting assemblies, each including MOVs, gas discharge tubes, other mechanical, electrical and ionization discharge devices and combinations thereof, detect and react to the overvoltage according to timing parameters associated with each of the E1, E2, and E3 components and shunt the overvoltage to decrease to under a predetermined allowable level. Respective shunting assemblies may include automatic self-monitoring of any faults in respective circuitry and also a challenge mode for on-demand circuit monitoring using an optical coupling switch, the optocoupler including an infrared light supplied by an LED flashlight and having a phototransistor light receiver.

There is provided an analog signal gauge that monitors an analog signal at a node and a non-volatile memory element to store an event that occurs at the node when a certain criteria, such as exceeding a maximum safe threshold, is satisfied. This way, the analog signal gauge can help to provide an accurate picture of the operating characteristics in the analog circuit which it is monitoring, including indications of faults that occur in the analog system.

A modular residential circuit breaker comprises an assembly including an operation module and a first application module. The operation module includes an operation mechanism, a trip system, and an arc suppression system except a specific mounting and a current application. The first application module is configured to mate with the operation module to form a complete circuit breaker and define a replacement breaker frame for having an external modularity for the modular residential circuit breaker.

A power pedestal is described. The power pedestal includes a plurality of receptacles that are configured to connect to external devices. The plurality of receptacles includes a first receptacle and a second receptacle of the plurality of receptacles. The first receptacle and the second receptacle are electrically interlocked with one another. The power pedestal includes a first circuit breaker connected to the first receptacle and a second circuit breaker connected to the second receptacle, and a shunt trip circuit that is configured to trip the first circuit breaker to disable power to the first receptacle of the power pedestal, responsive to the second circuit breaker associated with the second receptacle of the power pedestal being in an active state. Related devices and methods are also described.

A leakage current protection device with automatic reset after power outage includes a switch, a power supply module, a leakage current detection module, a self-testing module, a drive control module, and a first reset module. The drive control module drives the switch based on a leakage current signal from the leakage current detection module and/or a self-test fault signal from the self-testing module. The first reset module functions to automatically set the leakage current protection device in a connected state when power resumes after an outage. Another leakage current protection device with manual reset after power outage includes similar components above and also a second reset module, which functions to automatically set the leakage current protection device in a disconnected state when power resumes after an outage; the device can then be manually reset using a reset switch. These two devices can suit different needs of different electrical appliances.