A disconnecting device for interrupting a direct current between a direct current source and an electric apparatus, having a current-conducting mechanical switch, a power electronics unit connected thereto, and an energy store which is charged by an arcing voltage generated on the switch by an arc as the switch is being disconnected. A pulse generator that is connected to the energy store triggers at least one semiconductor switch of the power electronics unit in such a way that the power electronics unit short-circuits the switch and the arc is extinguished.

A switching device is provided for disconnecting or connecting an electric machine, a converter or a plurality of electrical loads supplied with AC power from a power supply and controlled by a control unit. The switching device includes a current sink and at least one mechanical switch in the switching device are arranged in a circuit. The current sink is arranged, upon receipt of a signal, to close and sink the current, and the at least one mechanical switch is arranged to open and break the current on receipt of a signal to open supplied to the electric machine when the current load is at or close to zero. A method and a computer program for carrying out the method are described.

The present disclosure relates to a shared transfer switching system with built in relay testing ability, for transferring power received by a load from a preferred AC power source to an alternate AC power source, or transferring power being received by the load from the alternate AC power source to the preferred AC power source. The system selectively controls various ones of the relays used to apply power from either the preferred or alternate power sources to the load, such that the relays are switched from open to closed states at controlled times, while voltage measurements are made at select locations between the relays. The system can identify which specific ones of a plurality of relays associated with each of the preferred and alternate power sources has properly opened and closed, and thus verify that all of the relays needed to switch between the preferred and alternate power sources are operating properly.

A low-voltage circuit breaker includes: at least one external conductor section of an external conductor power terminal of the low-voltage circuit breaker connected to an external conductor load terminal of the low-voltage circuit breaker; and a neutral conductor section of a neutral conductor connection of the low-voltage circuit breaker connected to a neutral conductor load terminal of the low-voltage circuit breaker. A mechanical bypass switch is arranged in the at least one external conductor section. A semiconductor circuit arrangement of the low-voltage circuit breaker is switched parallel to the bypass switch. A first current measuring arrangement is arranged in the at least one external conductor section, which is connected to an electronic control unit of the low-voltage circuit breaker. The electronic control unit is configured to actuate the bypass switch and the semiconductor circuit arrangement when a prespecifiable overcurrent is detected by the current measuring arrangement.

The present disclosure relates to direct current arc extinguishing circuit and apparatus. The direct current arc extinguishing circuit and apparatus are suitable for quickly extinguishing arc of mechanical contacts such as mechanical switches, where a mechanical switch requiring arc extinguishing is connected with a load in series. It includes a voltage detection switch and a capacitor, wherein the voltage detection switch is connected with the capacitor. During the breaking of the mechanical switch, the capacitor forms a discharge loop by the voltage detection switch and the load, and is used for breaking arc extinguishing of the mechanical switch. The present disclosure is reasonable in design and has the advantages of low cost and high arc extinguishing speed.

A switching apparatus includes first and second electric terminals, and first and second electric branches comprising one or more switching devices. The second electric branch is electrically connected in parallel with said first electric branch between said first and second electric terminals. The switching apparatus comprises a current blocking circuit adapted to block a current along said second branch. The current blocking circuit includes a first switching device of solid-state type and a first electronic circuit electrically connected in parallel to said first switching device of solid-state type. The switching apparatus further comprises a current limiting circuit adapted to limit a current flowing along said second electric branch. Said current limiting circuit is electrically connected in series with said current blocking circuit and it includes a second switching device of solid-state type and a second electronic circuit electrically connected in parallel to said second switching device of solid-state type.

A switching apparatus for an electric grid includes first and second electric terminals, each having first and second electric branches having a plurality of switching devices. The first electric branch includes a first switching device switchable between open and closed states, which is driven by a current flowing along said first switching device and without receiving an external control signal or an external power supply, said first switching device switching from said closed state to said open state, when the current flowing along said switching apparatus exceeds a corresponding predefined threshold value or when the changing rate of the current flowing along said switching apparatus exceeds a corresponding predefined threshold value or upon a combination of these two conditions. A second switching device is connected in series with the first switching device and is switchable between closed and open states upon receiving a corresponding input control signal.

A circuit breaker includes a circuit breaker housing, an air-gap switch disposed within the housing, and a first visual indicator configured to provide an indication of an open state and a closed state of the air-gap switch. The first visual indicator includes a first window that is formed as part of the circuit breaker housing, and first and second indicator elements disposed within the circuit breaker housing. The first indicator element is configured to move into position behind the first window as the air-gap switch is placed into the open state and thereby provide a visual indication of the open state of the air-gap switch. The second indicator element is configured to move into position behind the first window as the air-gap switch is placed into the closed state and thereby provide a visual indication of the closed state of the air-gap switch.

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.

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.