Circuit interrupter devices have a first housing with a circuit interrupter, a second housing coupled to the first housing, a ground fault circuit and current transformer in the second housing. The current transformer has an open channel. The circuit interrupter devices also include at least one power conductor having a rigid or semi-rigid body with opposing first and second end portions extending between the first and second housings. The second end portion of the at least one power conductor extends through the open channel in the current transformer and terminates in a breaker load collar(s).

In one example, an arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) is provided. The AFCI may include a plurality of current arc signature detection blocks configured to output a plurality of corresponding current arc signatures, and a processor. The processor may be configured to receive each of the plurality of current arc signature from each of plurality of current arc signature detection blocks, respectively, and generate a first trigger signal. The processor may be further configured to assess each of the current arc signatures, determine whether an arc fault exists based on the assessment, and generate the first trigger signal if an arc fault is determined to exist. A method for detecting an arc fault is also provided.

A circuit for a circuit interrupter is provided. The circuit may in include a first SCR configured to receive a first trigger signal at a gate of the first SCR, a second SCR configured to receive a second trigger signal at a gate of the second SCR, and a third SCR configured to receive a third trigger signal at a gate of the third SCR. A cathode of the first SCR may be connected to an anode of the third SCR. A cathode of the second SCR and a cathode of the third SCR may be connected to a ground. Methods of operating a circuit interrupter and a circuit are also provided.

An apparatus includes at least one fuse clearing switch operable to create a fault on at least one AC line between a fuse and a transformer of a substation. The apparatus further includes a control system configured to be coupled to an arc detector and to operate the at least one fuse clearing switch responsive to a control signal produced by the arc detector.

A method for identifying a type of fault condition with a circuit breaker includes detecting by the circuit breaker a fault condition of a plurality of fault conditions, storing in a memory device a trip code representing a type of the detected fault condition, interrupting current flow through the branch circuit in response to detecting the fault condition, and receiving a reset of the circuit breaker. The trip code may then be displayed in response to a momentary press of a test button that is a short duration press, and activating an LED interface in the circuit breaker to indicate the trip code representing the type of the detected fault condition.

An apparatus includes at least one fuse clearing switch operable to create a fault on at least one AC line between a fuse and a transformer of a substation. The apparatus further includes a control system configured to be coupled to an arc detector and to operate the at least one fuse clearing switch responsive to a control signal produced by the arc detector.

Electrical system and method for detecting an end-of-life (EOL) of a circuit are disclosed. In an embodiment, the electrical system includes a sensing circuit for detecting variance of an input electrical power to an electrical device; and a processor for receiving the variance and comparing the variance with a threshold range. When the variance is out of the threshold range, the processor generates a signal to cause the output electrical power disconnected.

A module of an AM/PD device including a PCB and a bus bar including one or more bus bar contacts. The module further including one or more contact arms having one or more moveable contacts configured to be in a first position and a second position, wherein when in the first position the one or more moveable contacts are in physical contact with the one or more bus bar contacts and when in the second position the one or more moveable contacts are physically separated from the one or more bus bar contacts. The module further including a coil assembly coupled to an actuating device, the actuating device coupled to the one or more contact arms. Wherein the coil assembly, via the actuating device, moves the one or more moveable contacts from the first position to the second position.

Method and system allowing more accurate detection and identification of unwanted arcing include novel processing of signal voltage representing recovered power-line current. In one implementation, arc-faults are detected based on numerical analysis where individual cycles of line voltage and current are observed and data collected during each cycle is processed to estimate likelihood of presence of arc-event within each individual cycle based on pre-defined number of arc-events occurring within pre-defined number of contiguous cycles. In another implementation, fast transient current spikes detection can be done by: computing difference values between consecutive line-current samples collected over a cycle, average of differences, and peak-to-peak value of line-current; comparing each difference value to average of difference; comparing each difference value to peak-to-peak value; and, based on calculation of composite of two comparisons, using thresholds to determine if arcing is present within processed cycle.

A method and system are provided to control circuit breaker operations. In the method and system, near-field RF signal is monitored at or around electrical contacts of the circuit breaker using at least one near-field radio frequency (RF) sensor, and far-field RF signal away from the contacts of the circuit breaker are monitored using at least one far-field RF sensor. A rate of change of current over time is also monitored on the circuit using at least one sensor. An arc fault on the circuit is detected based on the monitored near-field RF signal, the monitored far-field RF signal, and the monitored rate of change of current. A tripping operation is implemented on the circuit breaker to disconnect the power supply from the circuit, in response to the detection of the arc fault.