A disclosed apparatus may include (1) a power enclosure electrically coupled to a power supply module of a computing device, (2) a power connector that (A) is electrically coupled to a power cable that facilitates carrying electric current to the power supply module via the power enclosure and (B) is dimensioned to mate with the power enclosure, and (3) at least one power switch that (A) is electrically coupled to the power enclosure, (B) is configured to be engaged by at least one feature of the power connector while the power connector is fully mated with the power enclosure, and when engaged by the feature of the power connector, (C) enables electric current to flow from the power connector to the power supply module via the power enclosure. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Embodiments of an electrical outlet of the present invention generally include one or more sockets which include, in addition to positive, negative, and optionally, grounding electrical connections, at least one coupling/communication component, wherein AC electrical current flows through the outlet only when a plug comprising a complementary coupling/communication component is engaged with the socket, whereby the proximity of the coupling/communication component and the complementary coupling/communication component actuates the outlet to provide electrical current therethrough. In one embodiment, in lieu of a complementary coupling/communication component, a wireless transmission device is used to send a signal to the coupling/communication component to actuate the outlet. In other embodiments, an electrical outlet of the present invention includes a mechanism for maintaining engagement between the outlet and a receptacle/plug that provides for safe disengagement when they are inadvertently separated. Embodiments of a method of using embodiments of apparatuses of the present invention are also provided.

A sliding power contact and method includes a mobile load device connector and a socket. The mobile load device connector includes a non-current power pin having a first length, a current power pin having a second length less than the first length, a neutral pin, and a ground pin. The socket includes a non-current power contact configured to electrically couple with the non-current power pin, a current power contact configured to electrically couple with the current power pin, a neutral contact configured to electrically couple with the neutral pin, and a ground pin configured to electrically couple with the ground pin. An arc suppressor is directly coupled to at least one of the non-current power pin and the non-current power contact, wherein the arc suppressor, the non-current power pin and the non-current power contact form a current path between the current power pin and the current power contact.

An arc suppressing circuit configured to suppress arcing across a power contactor coupled to an alternating current (AC) power source having a predetermined number of phases, each contact of the power contactor corresponding to one of the predetermined number of phases includes a number of dual unidirectional arc suppressors equal to the predetermined number of phases of the AC power source. Each dual unidirectional arc suppressor includes a first phase-specific arc suppressor configured to suppress arcing across the associated contacts in a positive domain, a a second phase-specific arc suppressor configured to suppress arcing across the associated contacts in a negative domain, and a coil lock controller, configured to be coupled between a contact coil driver of the power contactor, configured to detect an output condition from the contact coil driver and inhibit operation of the first and second phase-specific arc suppressors over a predetermined time.

A method of operation of a controller and a controller are provided. The controller is configured to receive from a first electrical switch information indicating a state change at the first electrical switch. The controller is configured to determine, based on the received information from the first electrical switch, at least one of one or more electrical switches or one or more electrical outlets. Further, the controller is configured to send to the at least one of the one or more electrical switches or the one or more electrical outlets an action order to change a state pursuant to the information indicating the state change at the first electrical switch. The controller may be configured to receive a programming indicating the at least one of the one or more electrical switches or the one or more electrical outlets that are responsive to the state change at the first electrical switch.

An interface for a battery pack and an electrical combination. The interface may include a battery-receiving portion configured to receive a battery pack and including a cavity. The cavity is defined by a pair of sidewalls with rails defining a groove between the rails and a lower surface of the cavity. The rails are stepped or angled along a battery insertion axis and are configured to guide the sliding engagement of a battery pack within the battery-receiving portion.

An electrical junction box includes a conductive input busbar, a conductive output busbar electrically connectable to the input busbar, a semiconductor relay electrically connected to the input busbar and the output busbar and configured to switch a connected state and a disconnected state of the input busbar and the output busbar, a substrate having mounted thereon a control circuit configured to output a control signal for controlling the semiconductor relay, and a control terminal electrically connecting the control circuit and the semiconductor relay to each other to output the control signal to the semiconductor relay. The semiconductor relay is mounted on at least one of the input busbar and the output busbar. The input busbar, the output busbar, and the semiconductor relay are disposed away from the substrate.

Disclosed a device for the load-free disconnection of a plug-in connection, which has an electrical disconnecting device and a locking clip. The locking clip can be pivoted both into a position locking the plug-in connection and into a position unlocking the plug-in connection. The device also has a sensor system, which interacts with the locking clip in its locking position to detect the locked state, in order to control the electrical disconnecting device.

A high speed arc suppressor and method include a first phase-specific arc suppressor configured to suppress arcing across contacts of the power contactor in a positive domain and a second phase-specific arc suppressor configured to suppress arcing across the contacts in a negative domain. First and second high speed switches are configured to enable and disable operation of an associated one of the first and second phase-specific arc suppressors. First and second drivers are configured to drive the first and second high speed switches.

A smart adapter includes an insulating body, a plug fastened to the insulating body, at least one socket, at least one seven-segment displayer, at least one button and a main control unit. The at least one socket is mounted in the insulating body and is exposed to a front surface of the insulating body. The at least one seven-segment displayer is mounted in the insulating body. The at least one button is mounted in the insulating body and is exposed to the insulating body. The main control unit is mounted in the insulating body and is connected with the at least one socket, the plug and the at least one seven-segment displayer. The main control unit includes a cloud unit and a central processing unit. The cloud unit is connected to the at least one button and the central processing unit.