A device for monitoring a current in a primary conductor with respect to a predetermined current threshold, comprising: a magnetic circuit associable to the primary conductor and comprising a fixed part and an element which can rotate about a rotation axis; at least one spring operatively connected to the rotating element for keeping it in a first position, the spring being elastically deformable along a linear axis; and sensing means operatively associated to the magnetic circuit. The magnetic circuit is configured in such a way that the rotating element rotates from the first position to a second position when the current in the primary conductor exceeds the predetermined current threshold, so as to at least reduce one or more air gaps between the rotating element and the fixed part and to elongate the spring from a first length to a second length. The sensing means are configured for generating an output electrical signal caused by the rotation of the rotating element from the first position to the second position. The at least one spring is operatively connected to the rotating element in such a way to tilt towards the rotation axis moving above a surface of the rotating element which is transversal to the rotation axis, during the rotation of the rotating element from the first position to the second position.

In this method, the voltage outage load-side is an opening of the circuit breaker, and the circuit breaker is able to interrupt the flow of electric current in an electric connection including an electric conductor. The auxiliary unit comprises a current sensor for measuring the intensity of the current flowing in the electric conductor and a first detection means for detecting the voltage outage load-side from the circuit breaker. The method comprises the following steps: measuring the intensity of the current flowing in the electric conductor, detecting the voltage outage load-side from the electric circuit breaker, determining a cause of the detected voltage outage load-side from the circuit breaker, said cause being selected from the group consisting in: an electric overload, a short-circuit and a voltage drop.

A ground fault circuit interrupter device includes a switch module having a reset switch, a control switch mechanically linked to the reset switch, a ground fault detection module, a self-testing module and a tripping module. The switch module controls the electrical connection between the input and output ends of the device. The ground fault detection module detects a leakage current signal at the output end. The self-testing module is coupled to the ground fault detection module and periodically generates a self-test pulse signal which simulates the leakage current signal. The tripping module is electrically coupled to the ground fault detection module and mechanically coupled to the switch module and the control switch, to control the movement of the switch module and the control switch. The control switch, which opens and closes at the same time as the reset switch, controls the power supply to the self-testing module.

A circuit breaker is disclosed for an electrical circuit. The circuit breaker includes a tripping unit; at least one current sensor; and an input for a signal, at which a blocking signal for a circuit breaker arranged upstream on the energy sink side, can be received. The tripping unit; at least one current sensor; and an input are all connected to a control unit. A connectable blocking function is provided. The ascertained current is compared with a first current limit value, the exceeding of which requires this first current value to be present for a first period of time in order to prompt interruption of the electrical circuit; and is compared with a second current limit value. Different periods of time need to be present to prompt interruption when the blocking function is disengaged or engaged.

A circuit breaker protects an electric low-voltage circuit. The circuit breaker has a housing with grid-side connections and load-side connections for conductors of the low-voltage circuit and a series circuit containing a mechanical separating contact unit and an electronic interruption unit. The separating contact unit is paired with the grid-side connections, and the interruption unit is paired with the load-side connections. The mechanical separating contact unit has a handle for closing and opening contacts. A current sensor is arranged in a conductor path between the separating contact unit and the interruption unit, for ascertaining the level of the current of the low-voltage circuit. The circuit breaker is configured such that when current thresholds and/or current/time thresholds are exceeded, a process for preventing current flow in the low-voltage circuit is initiated. A power supply is connected to conductors of the low-voltage circuit between the grid-side connection and the separating contact unit.

A circuit breaker protects an electrical low-voltage circuit. The circuit breaker has a housing with first and second connections on the mains side and first and second connections on the load side, and an isolating contact unit connected to an electronic interrupting unit. The isolating contact unit can be switched by opening contacts to prevent current flow or by closing contacts for current flow in the low-voltage circuit. The electronic interrupting unit is switched by semiconductor-based switching elements into a high-impedance state for preventing the current flow or into a low-impedance state of the switching elements for the current flow in the low-voltage circuit. A current sensor determines the level of the current of the low-voltage circuit. A controller is connected to the current sensor, the isolating contact unit and the electronic interrupt unit, such that a first measuring impedance is provided between the first and the second load-side connection.

A circuit breaker protecting an electrical low-voltage circuit includes a housing with grid-side and load-side connections for the circuit. A mechanical isolating contact unit is series-connected to an electronic interruption unit. The isolating contact unit is paired with the load-side connections. The interruption unit is paired with the grid-side connections. The isolating contact unit is switchable by opening contacts preventing, or by closing contacts allowing, current flow in the low-voltage circuit. Semiconductor-based switch elements of the interruption unit are switchable to high-ohmic state preventing, or to low-ohmic state allowing, current flow in the low-voltage circuit. A current sensor unit ascertains current level of the low-voltage circuit and a control unit is connected to the current sensor unit, isolating contact unit, and interruption unit. Exceeding current and/or current/time thresholds prevents current flow in the low-voltage circuit.

A method and an apparatus for controlling a circuit breaker in an electrical energy supply network. A switching signal is generated by a protective or control device of the energy supply network and the switching signal is transmitted to a control unit of the circuit breaker. The control unit is caused to open the switching contacts of the circuit breaker upon reception of the switching signal. In order to ensure a switching operation which is as fast as possible even in those energy supply networks in which phases of the current to be switched by a circuit breaker which are free of zero crossings can occur, a current flowing through the circuit breaker is recorded and is checked for the occurrence of zero crossings. The transmission of the signal for opening the switching contacts is prevented until at least one zero crossing has been detected.

This monitoring unit (1) for monitoring an electrical circuit breaker (D) includes: a central body including: an interconnection device (120) capable of receiving primary voltages (V1) from the circuit breaker, and comprising an electrical power circuit (1220) for converting the primary voltages to secondary voltages (V2); a control device (110), for measuring the secondary voltages (V2) delivered by the power circuit (1220), a removable electrical power supply module (20), comprising a power converter (203), configured to transform the collected primary voltages (V1) into an additional secondary voltage (V2) and to supply electrical power to a shared electrical power supply bus (1102) of the control device (110).

A current sensing assembly includes a conductor having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a third side, and a fourth side opposite the third side. The first side has a first notch formed therein and the second side has a second notch formed therein opposite the first notch. The current sensing assembly also includes a sensor assembly including a first magnetic sensor disposed in the first notch or proximate to the third side of the conductor between the first and second notches, and a second magnetic sensor disposed in the second notch or proximate to the fourth side of the conductor between the first and second notches.