Patent ID: 6639769
Filing Date: 2003-10-28
Classification: H02H

Abstract:
An arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) device electrically connected to an electrical wiring system between a source of electrical power including line side phase and neutral conductors and a load side including phase and neutral conductors, said device comprising:arc fault circuit means for detecting the occurrence of an arc fault within said electrical wiring system, said arc fault circuit means operative to detect the current waveform of an AC signal on a conductor of the wiring system to obtain a first and second signal wherein the first signal, which is obtained from the high frequency content of the detected AC signal represents the level of arcing in the wiring system and the second signal represents the amount of current flowing through the wiring system where at least one of the signals is used to generate an arc fault trigger signal in response to the detection of an arc fault; trigger means for generating a switching signal upon receipt of said arc fault trigger signal; and switching means electrically connected in series between said line side phase and neutral conductors and said load side phase and neutral conductors, said switching means for disconnecting said source of electrical power to said load side phase and neutral conductors in response to said switching signal.