A protection system for an electromagnetic relay mounted on a vehicle is configured to protect the electromagnetic relay from causing a coupling failure due to freezing of the electromagnetic relay. The system includes a temperature detector, a cooler, and a control unit. The temperature detector sequentially measures an ambient temperature of a location in which the electromagnetic relay is disposed and outputs information on a change in the ambient temperature. The cooler cools an electric power line coupled to a fixing terminal of the electromagnetic relay. The control unit activates the cooler to cool the electric power line in a case where the control unit determines that the electromagnetic relay has a possibility of freezing on the basis of the information on the change in the ambient temperature from the temperature detector.

An electrical circuit breaker system including an input terminal connecting an electrical current source and a plurality of output terminals for connecting electrical loads. Each output terminal includes an electrical switch and a current measuring unit. The circuit breaker system includes a current acquiring unit for acquiring current magnitudes measured at the output terminals and for determining a total current magnitude. A temperature acquiring unit acquires a temperature, and a computing unit is configured to determine a total current limit as a function of the acquired temperature. Further, a control unit is configured to select one of the plurality of output terminals based on a ranking of the output terminals and to interrupt the current supply at the selected output terminal by means of the corresponding electrical switch when the total current magnitude exceeds the determined total current limit.

An electrical circuit breaker system including an input terminal connecting an electrical current source and a plurality of output terminals for connecting electrical loads. Each output terminal includes an electrical switch and a current measuring unit. The circuit breaker system includes a current acquiring unit for acquiring current magnitudes measured at the output terminals and for determining a total current magnitude. A temperature acquiring unit acquires a temperature, and a computing unit is configured to determine a total current limit as a function of the acquired temperature. Further, a control unit is configured to select one of the plurality of output terminals based on a ranking of the output terminals and to interrupt the current supply at the selected output terminal by means of the corresponding electrical switch when the total current magnitude exceeds the determined total current limit.

A circuit interrupter for protecting a protected circuit includes separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to trip open the separable contacts, a current sensor structured to sense a current flowing through the protected circuit, a temperature sensor structured to sense a temperature of the protected circuit proximate the current sensor, and a processor configured to select a trip time based on the sensed current, to adjust the selected trip time based on the sensed temperature, and to cause the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts when the adjusted selected trip time is reached.

A protection system for an electromagnetic relay mounted on a vehicle is configured to protect the electromagnetic relay from causing a coupling failure due to freezing of the electromagnetic relay. The system includes a temperature detector, a cooler, and a control unit. The temperature detector sequentially measures an ambient temperature of a location in which the electromagnetic relay is disposed and outputs information on a change in the ambient temperature. The cooler cools an electric power line coupled to a fixing terminal of the electromagnetic relay. The control unit activates the cooler to cool the electric power line in a case where the control unit determines that the electromagnetic relay has a possibility of freezing on the basis of the information on the change in the ambient temperature from the temperature detector.

A circuit interrupter for protecting a protected circuit includes separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to trip open the separable contacts, a current sensor structured to sense a current flowing through the protected circuit, a temperature sensor structured to sense a temperature of the protected circuit proximate the current sensor, and a processor configured to select a trip time based on the sensed current, to adjust the selected trip time based on the sensed temperature, and to cause the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts when the adjusted selected trip time is reached.