A remote-controlled mechanism according to an embodiment is used for coupling to a protective switching device to use a controllable drive device of the remote-controlled mechanism to actuate the coupled protective switching device. To this end, the remote-controlled mechanism includes: an actuating element operatively connectable to an actuating element of the coupled protective switching device and actuatable either by a remotely controllable drive device of the remote-controlled mechanism or manually; one or more sensor devices for capturing position data relating to a position of the actuating element of the remote-controlled mechanism; and a controller for evaluating the captured position data and for controlling the drive device via control commands. The controller is designed to disable the drive device upon an evaluation of the position data and/or of the control commands revealing that the actuating element of the remote-controlled mechanism has been switched off manually.

A circuit breaker and method for operating a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes a first and a second breaker terminal, a bimetal stripe, a first conduction line, a switch with a first and a second contact, a triggering device mechanically coupling the bimetal stripe to the switch, a magnet and a detection device comprising a magnetic field sensor configured to detect a magnetic field of the magnet. The first conduction line is electrically coupled to the first breaker terminal and to the first contact and is wound around the bimetal stripe. The magnet is connected to at least one of the bimetal stripe, the triggering device and the switch.

Device, circuit, system, and method for arc suppression. A contact separation detector is configured to output an indication of a separation state of a pair of electrical contacts. A contact bypass circuit, coupled to the contact separation detector, is configured to provide an electrical bypass between the pair of contacts based on the indication.

A circuit breaker can include a light source, an optical sensor, a handle and a processor. The handle can be movable between different handle positions which correspond to different circuit breaker statuses. The handle can include a handle body and a light control plate which moves along with the handle body. The light control plate can have different light passage regions each of which is configured to be positioned between the light source and the optical sensor when the handle is moved to a corresponding one of the different handle positions. Each of the different light passage regions allows a different amount of light emitted from the light source to pass to the sensor when positioned between the light source and the sensor. The processor is configured to determine a status of the circuit breaker based on the sensed amount of light which relates to a position of the handle.

A circuit interrupter apparatus for plug-in connection to a panel board. The circuit interrupter apparatus includes a line terminal for plug-in connection with a line power member provided as part of the panel board, a load terminal for plug-in connection with a load power member provided as part of the panel board, a moveable contact moveable between a closed position, where the line terminal is electrically coupled to the load terminal, and an open position, where the line terminal is not electrically coupled to the load terminal. The circuit interrupter apparatus also includes a sensor module for a plug-in connection to a number of signal conductors provided as part of the panel board. The sensor module detects whether the moveable contact is in the closed position or the open position and output a signal to at least one of the signal conductors indicating a current position of the moveable contact.

According to one aspect, embodiments herein provide a circuit breaker sensor for use in a panelboard including a plurality of circuit breakers, the circuit breaker sensor comprising a housing having a top portion and a bottom portion, a magnet coupled to the bottom portion and configured to magnetically couple the circuit breaker sensor to a surface of the panelboard, an accelerometer coupled to the magnet and configured to sample movement of the surface via the magnet; and a controller coupled to the accelerometer and configured to identify, based on the samples taken by the accelerometer, whether one of the plurality of circuit breakers in the panelboard has tripped.

A method for detecting a tripping of a disconnection unit in an electrical enclosure, the electrical enclosure including at least one disconnection unit for disconnecting electric current and at least one switching unit for switching the electric current, the method including a learning phase configured to generate decision-making categories associated with an acoustic signature of the tripping of the at least one disconnection unit, and a phase of detecting the tripping of the disconnection unit, including: acquiring a unit noise signal generated by at least one of the disconnection units for disconnecting the electric current or at least one switching unit for switching the electric current, and comparing the unit noise signal with the decision-making categories in order to detect whether the unit noise signal corresponds to the tripping of the disconnection unit.

A circuit breaker can include a light source, an optical sensor, a handle and a processor. The handle can be movable between different handle positions which correspond to different circuit breaker statuses. The handle can include a handle body and a light control plate which moves along with the handle body. The light control plate can have different light passage regions each of which is configured to be positioned between the light source and the optical sensor when the handle is moved to a corresponding one of the different handle positions. Each of the different light passage regions allows a different amount of light emitted from the light source to pass to the sensor when positioned between the light source and the sensor. The processor is configured to determine a status of the circuit breaker based on the sensed amount of light which relates to a position of the handle.

A circuit breaker can include a light source, an optical sensor, a handle and a processor. The handle can be movable between different handle positions which correspond to different circuit breaker statuses. The handle can include a handle body and a light control plate which moves along with the handle body. The light control plate can have different light passage regions each of which is configured to be positioned between the light source and the optical sensor when the handle is moved to a corresponding one of the different handle positions. Each of the different light passage regions allows a different amount of light emitted from the light source to pass to the sensor when positioned between the light source and the sensor. The processor is configured to determine a status of the circuit breaker based on the sensed amount of light which relates to a position of the handle.

A method for detecting a tripping of a disconnection unit in an electrical enclosure, the electrical enclosure including at least one disconnection unit for disconnecting electric current and at least one switching unit for switching the electric current, the method including a learning phase configured to generate decision-making categories associated with an acoustic signature of the tripping of the at least one disconnection unit, and a phase of detecting the tripping of the disconnection unit, including: acquiring a unit noise signal generated by at least one of the disconnection units for disconnecting the electric current or at least one switching unit for switching the electric current, and comparing the unit noise signal with the decision-making categories in order to detect whether the unit noise signal corresponds to the tripping of the disconnection unit.