A system for monitoring a circuit breaker includes: at least one sensor and a processor. The at least one sensor is configured to be located and utilized to obtain at least one sensor data of a main shaft of an operational circuit breaker, and the at least one sensor is configured to provide the at least one sensor data of the main shaft of the operational circuit breaker to the processor. The processor is configured to determine position and/or velocity information for a moveable contact of the operational circuit breaker, where the determination comprises analysis of the at least one sensor data of the main shaft of the operational circuit breaker by a trained neural network implemented by the processor.

There is provided an electrical assembly comprising of a latching device including a latching member configured to be positionable in a first position and a second position, the latching device further including an actuator configured to selectively move the latching member between the first and second positions and an operating state detection unit configured to detect an abnormal operating state of the latching device; and a controller configured to selectively drive the actuator to move the latching member to a selected one of the first and second positions in response to the detection of the abnormal operating state.

A switching device includes at least one main contactor, a control power supply and an actuator configured to cause the main contactor to change from an open to a closed state against a force generated by the spring. The contactor has a blade and at least one terminal, the blade being configured to assume a position in contact with the terminal and a position not in contact with the terminal. The switching device includes a detection system configured to determine the contact or non-contact blade position of the main contactor, to generate at least one second signal as a function of the determined blade position of the main contactor and to transmit the second signal to the control power supply. The control power supply is configured to generate a control signal configured to keep the main contactor in the closed state upon reception of the second signal.

An electric storage apparatus includes: an electric storage device; a potential difference measuring unit for measuring a potential difference at two arbitrary points on a charging/discharging path for the electric storage device; a self-holding switch disposed between the two points on the charging/discharging path; a current measuring unit for measuring a current flowing on the charging/discharging path; a switch controller for controlling switching of the self-holding switch based on at least the state of the electric storage device; and an operational state determining unit for determining the operational state of the self-holding switch based on the control state of the switch controller and at least one of a result measured by the potential difference measuring unit and a result measured by the current measuring unit.

A relay protection device is disclosed for use with a magnetic latching relay, the relay having two stable states. The relay comprises an electromagnetic device which under the effect of a switching impulse current, causes the relay to switch from one of the states to the other. The relay protection device comprises a current detector for connection with electrical control contacts of the relay, which measures a current induced by the switching mechanism, a comparator operable to determine if the current exceeds a predetermined threshold, and a controller for connection with the electrical control contacts and, based on the determination of the comparator, operable to apply a retention voltage across the electrical control contacts so as to cause the electromagnetic device to generate a magnetic field to retain the switching mechanism in its current state.

A system for monitoring a circuit breaker includes: at least one sensor and a processor. The at least one sensor is configured to be located and utilized to obtain at least one sensor data of a main shaft of an operational circuit breaker, and the at least one sensor is configured to provide the at least one sensor data of the main shaft of the operational circuit breaker to the processor. The processor is configured to determine position and/or velocity information for a moveable contact of the operational circuit breaker, where the determination comprises analysis of the at least one sensor data of the main shaft of the operational circuit breaker by a trained neural network implemented by the processor.

Provided are embodiments for operating an autonomous mode change circuit for solenoid drivers. The embodiments include initiating an operation of a solenoid, and receiving a command to control the operation of the solenoid. The embodiments also include controlling, by a drive circuit, a switch coupled to the solenoid based at least in part on the command, and detecting at least one of a current or voltage of the solenoid, and subsequently controlling the operation of the solenoid based at least in part on the detection.

A method includes detecting a failure in a contactor economizer that is configured to provide a first current to a coil of a contactor to close the contactor, and to provide a second current lower than the first current to the coil after the contactor is closed to hold the contactor closed. The method includes at least one of: driving contactor actuation based on economizer failure status; and/or signaling failure of the economizer through built in test (BIT) indication.

An air conditioner includes an outdoor unit, a relay circuit which includes a contact and a relay coil, and a control unit which causes a first voltage equal to or higher than an operating voltage or a second voltage lower than the operating voltage and equal to or higher than a retention voltage to be applied to the relay coil. One end portion of the contact is connected to an alternating-current power supply and the other end portion of the contact is connected to the outdoor unit. One end portion of the relay coil is connected to a power supply for driving the relay circuit. The control unit causes a second voltage to be applied to the relay coil after the contact is turned ON, and causes the first voltage to be applied to the relay coil at a predetermined constant period.

A relay protection device is disclosed for use with a magnetic latching relay, the relay having two stable states. The relay comprises an electromagnetic device which under the effect of a switching impulse current, causes the relay to switch from one of the states to the other. The relay protection device comprises a current detector for connection with electrical control contacts of the relay, which measures a current induced by the switching mechanism, a comparator operable to determine if the current exceeds a predetermined threshold, and a controller for connection with the electrical control contacts and, based on the determination of the comparator, operable to apply a retention voltage across the electrical control contacts so as to cause the electromagnetic device to generate a magnetic field to retain the switching mechanism in its current state.