A direct current circuit breaker includes: a positive supply line between a positive input terminal and a positive output terminal; a negative supply line between a negative input terminal and a negative output terminal connecting a direct current load to a supply; a series connection of a first galvanic separation switch and a bypass switch in the positive supply line, and a second galvanic separation switch in the negative supply line; a semiconductor switch element connected parallel to the bypass switch; and a series connected inductor in the positive supply line. The first and second galvanic separation switch, the bypass switch, and the semiconductor switch element are controlled using a processing unit.

A separating device for interrupting a direct current of a current path, in particular for an on-board electrical system of a motor vehicle. The separating device has a hybrid switch with a current-conducting mechanical contact system and a first semiconductor switch connected to the hybrid switch in parallel and having a switchable resistance cascade with at least one ohmic resistor which is connected to the contact system of the hybrid switch in parallel.

A high-voltage direct current cut-off device, includes: a primary mechanical switch and a secondary mechanical switch placed successively between a primary point and a secondary point but either side of an intermediate point, a primary surge arrester arranged parallel with the primary switch, a secondary surge arrester arranged electrically parallel with the secondary switch. The secondary surge arrester is arranged electrically between the intermediate point and the secondary point, and in that the device comprises a capacitive buffer circuit electrically in parallel with the assembly formed by the primary switch and the secondary switch, and electrically in parallel with the assembly formed by the primary surge arrester and the secondary surge arrester, wherein the capacitive buffer circuit comprises an activation switch and a buffer capacitance.

Provided is an arc suppression device including one or more current-limiting circuits provided in parallel with a circuit breaker that switches between feeding and shutoff of power from a power supply. The current-limiting circuit shuts off a current from the power supply when the power from the power supply is fed to a load through a circuit breaker. The current from the power supply is shut off when a voltage generated by a potential difference between contacts of the circuit breaker becomes a predetermined voltage or higher in a case where feeding of the power from the power supply to the load is shut off by the circuit breaker. The potential difference is generated upon shutoff.

A circuit assembly includes a first signal branch connecting a signal connection to an electrical load via a semiconductor switch and a second signal branch connecting the signal connection to the electrical load via a relay. When a sensor detects a polarity change in an electrical signal within a test time interval, a controller may close the semiconductor switch at a first signal time such that electrical energy is supplied to the electrical load, actuate the relay at a second signal time after the semiconductor switch has been closed, and open the semiconductor switch after the relay has been closed such that electrical energy is supplied to the electrical load solely via the second signal branch.

A switching apparatus for conducting and interrupting electrical currents includes: a first mechanical contact arrangement; a semiconductor switch which is connected in parallel to the first mechanical contact arrangement; a second mechanical contact arrangement connected in series to the first mechanical contact arrangement; an auxiliary coil electrically isolated from a circuit of a switching drive used to move contacts of the first and second mechanical contact arrangements, and which is electromagnetically coupled to a coil of the switching drive such that a voltage is generated therein when a voltage supply of the switching drive is switched off; and a switching electronics for switching the semiconductor switch on and off, and which is supplied with the voltage generated in the auxiliary coil when the voltage supply of the switching drive is switched off. The switching electronics switches the semiconductor switch on and off multiple times according to a prespecified sequence.

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 device is for opening or closing a DC circuit with at least one busbar. The device includes an electric switch for opening or closing the DC circuit; a fault current detector; a trigger unit and a precharging device. The electric switch opens the DC circuit via the trigger unit upon a fault current being detected by the fault current detector. Further, the precharging device restores the voltage on the busbar prior to closing the electric switch. The device further includes a control unit for automatically closing the electric switch after the pre-charging process.

A low-voltage circuit breaker includes at least one current sensor for determining the magnitude of the electric current of a conductor of the low-voltage circuit breaker; and at least one electromechanical switching unit for connecting and disconnecting at least two electrical contact points. In a first switching position of the movable contact point, two contact points are connected and in a second switching position the contact points are not connected to one another. The circuit breaker further includes at least one electronic switching unit having a semiconductor switching element, electrically conductive in a first switching state and electrically blocking in a second switching state; an electronic tripping unit, connected to the current sensor, the electronic switching unit and the electromechanical switching unit. Further, when current and/or current/time-period limit values of the conductor are exceeded, first the electromechanical switching unit is opened and then the electronic switching unit is blocked.

A low-voltage circuit protection device includes: at least one outer conductor section from an outer conductor supply terminal of the low-voltage circuit protection device to an outer conductor load terminal of the low-voltage circuit protection device; a neutral conductor section from a neutral terminal of the low-voltage circuit protection device to a neutral load terminal of the low-voltage circuit protection device; an electrical measuring arrangement; at least one semiconductor circuit arrangement; and an electronic control unit which is connected to the electrical measuring arrangement and the semiconductor circuit arrangement. The measuring arrangement and/or the electronic control unit detects a predetermined combination of at least two electrical faults selected from the group including: overvoltage, undervoltage and overcurrent. The semiconductor circuit arrangement provides a specifiable reduction of an output voltage applied at the outer conductor supply terminal and the neutral conductor load terminal.