Patent ID: 6339525
Filing Date: 2002-01-15
Classification: H01H,H02H,Y02B,Y04S

Abstract:
A circuit interrupter device electrically connected to an electrical wiring system at a line side providing a source of electrical power and at a load side supplying the electrical power to a load, said device comprising:phase and neutral conductors extending between said line side and said load side of the device; first arc fault circuit means for detecting arc faults occurring on said line side of the device and outputting an arc fault indicative signal of a line side arc fault; second arc fault circuit means for detecting arc faults occurring on said load side of the device and outputting an arc fault indicative signal of a load side arc fault; means responsive to said arc fault indicative signals for distinguishing between arc faults occurring on said line side and said load side of the device, and for generating an arc fault trigger signal in response to the detection of at least an arc fault occurring on said load side; means for detecting a ground fault on said phase and neutral conductive paths, and for generating a ground fault trigger signal in response to the detection of a ground fault; trigger means for generating a switching signal upon receipt of said arc fault trigger signal or said ground fault trigger signal; and switching means for disconnecting the source of electrical power to said load side of the device in response to said switching signal.