H01H71/1081

Motor control center with enhanced circuit disconnect

A system may include a power supply that generates a first voltage. The power supply may couple upstream from an electrical load. The electrical load may operate based at least in part on the first voltage. In some cases, a solid-state circuit breaker may be coupled between the power supply and the electrical load. Furthermore, a control system may be communicatively coupled to the power supply, the electrical load, and the solid-state circuit breaker. The control system may receive an operational status from the solid-state circuit breaker and may update a visualization rendered on a graphical user interface based at least in part on the operational status. The operational status may indicate an operation of the solid-state circuit breaker coupling the power supply to the electrical load.

Circuit interruption apparatus providing automatic reduced arc mode and methods of operating the same

A circuit interruption device (e.g., a molded case circuit breaker) includes at least one set of contacts, a contact actuator mechanism configured to open the at least one set of contacts and a trip control circuit configured to cause the contact actuator mechanism to open the at least one set of contacts responsive to a condition satisfying a first trip criterion and to apply a second trip criterion (e.g., a lower current level trip threshold) responsive to the opening of the at least one set of contacts. The trip control circuit may be configured to apply the second trip criterion after a succeeding closure of the at least one set of contacts. The trip control circuit may be further configured to return to application of the first trip criterion after lapse of a predetermined interval following the succeeding closure of the at least one set of contacts.

Integrated circuit breaker panels

Circuit breaker panels for use in, e.g., residential and light commercial applications. The circuit breaker panels are configured to perform conventional safety functions and are also configured for remote control and monitoring. The circuit breaker panels can be constructed with remote control and monitoring capability, and circuit breaker panels lacking remote control and monitoring capability can be augmented to include remote control and monitoring capability.

Integrated electrical panel

The system includes one or more busbars couple to an AC line, branch relays each coupled to a busbar and to a respective circuit breaker, and current sensors each corresponding to at least one respective branch relay of the plurality of branch relays. The system also includes a deadfront arranged in front of the plurality of branch relays, and including openings corresponding to the branch relays allowing an electrical terminal of each branch relay to protrude forward through a respective opening. A circuit breaker is engaged with each respective branch relay, on the deadfront to create an array of branch circuit breakers. The combination of relay and circuit breaker allows each branch circuit to be controllable. The relays may include current sensors, such as a shunt, used to determine a branch circuit current and control the relay. Control circuitry manages the relay on-off operation and monitors branch circuit operation.

Set of electrical protection devices with two levels that are connected in series

A set of electrical protection devices with two levels that are connected in series, the first level including a circuit breaker that is referred to as the first or upstream circuit breaker and the second level including one or more circuit breakers referred to as second or downstream circuit breakers, which are connected in parallel with respect to one another. The trip for the upstream circuit breaker, instead of including what are referred to as instantaneous protection means, includes, firstly, a first trip chain making it possible to adjust the long-delay trip curve for inverse time and the short-delay trip curve with a no-trip time and, secondly, a second trip chain including an optical sensor that is capable of discerning light between 300 and 450 nm by eliminating visible and infrared light so as to eliminate the light that is characteristic of gas jets emitted by the one or more circuit breakers referred to as downstream circuit breakers during a switching operation, and means for simultaneously measuring the current level and the maximum threshold of light emitted at the busbars, this second trip chain being capable of causing the upstream circuit breaker to trip when the current exceeds a predetermined value and the light emitted exceeds a predetermined threshold for emitted light.

Integrated electrical panel

The system includes one or more busbars couple to an AC line, branch relays each coupled to a busbar and to a respective circuit breaker, and current sensors each corresponding to at least one respective branch relay of the plurality of branch relays. The system also includes a deadfront arranged in front of the plurality of branch relays, and including openings corresponding to the branch relays allowing an electrical terminal of each branch relay to protrude forward through a respective opening. A circuit breaker is engaged with each respective branch relay, on the deadfront to create an array of branch circuit breakers. The combination of relay and circuit breaker allows each branch circuit to be controllable. The relays may include current sensors, such as a shunt, used to determine a branch circuit current and control the relay. Control circuitry manages the relay on-off operation and monitors branch circuit operation.

Arc suppression in circuit protective devices

Methods and systems for suppressing arc formation in branch breakers provide a load center that can monitor a branch breaker for indications of arc formation. The load center may include a main breaker that can immediately cut current to the upon receiving an indication of an arc forming in the branch breaker. The indication may be provided by a sensor circuit that sends a trigger signal to the main breaker when arc formation is detected within the branch breaker. The main breaker checks that the trigger signal indicates arc formation, then cuts current to suppress the arc. The main breaker then waits a short period for the branch breaker to clear before restoring current. The wait period is sufficiently short such that devices receiving power from the load center are not adversely affected. To improve cutoff and restoration response times, the main breaker employs a solid-state trip switch.

Selective coordination of solid-state circuit breakers and mechanical circuit breakers in electrical distribution systems
11810744 · 2023-11-07 · ·

In an electrical distribution system including a solid-state circuit breaker (SSCB) and one or more downstream mechanical circuit breakers (CBs), a solid-state switching device in the SSCB is repeatedly switched ON and OFF during a short circuit event, to reduce a root-mean-square (RMS) value of the short circuit current. The resulting pulsed short circuit current is regulated in a hysteresis control loop, to limit the RMS to a value low enough to prevent the SSCB from tripping prematurely but high enough to allow one of the downstream mechanical CBs to trip and isolate the short circuit. Pulsing is allowed to continue for a maximum short circuit pulsing time. Only if none of the downstream mechanical CBs is able to trip to isolate the short circuit within the maximum short circuit pulsing time is the SSCB allowed to trip.

INTEGRATED ELECTRICAL PANEL

The system includes one or more busbars couple to an AC line, branch relays each coupled to a busbar and to a respective circuit breaker, and current sensors each corresponding to at least one respective branch relay of the plurality of branch relays. The system also includes a deadfront arranged in front of the plurality of branch relays, and including openings corresponding to the branch relays allowing an electrical terminal of each branch relay to protrude forward through a respective opening. A circuit breaker is engaged with each respective branch relay, on the deadfront to create an array of branch circuit breakers. The combination of relay and circuit breaker allows each branch circuit to be controllable. The relays may include current sensors, such as a shunt, used to determine a branch circuit current and control the relay. Control circuitry manages the relay on-off operation and monitors branch circuit operation.

MOTOR CONTROL CENTER WITH ENHANCED CIRCUIT DISCONNECT

A system may include a power supply that generates a first voltage. The power supply may couple upstream from an electrical load. The electrical load may operate based at least in part on the first voltage. In some cases, a solid-state circuit breaker may be coupled between the power supply and the electrical load. Furthermore, a control system may be communicatively coupled to the power supply, the electrical load, and the solid-state circuit breaker. The control system may receive an operational status from the solid-state circuit breaker and may update a visualization rendered on a graphical user interface based at least in part on the operational status. The operational status may indicate an operation of the solid-state circuit breaker coupling the power supply to the electrical load.