Patent ID: 6618649
Filing Date: 2003-09-09
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
An apparatus for characterizing a circuit breaker device, comprising:an interface that is capable of connecting to the circuit breaker device; an energy storage device that is capable of storing and releasing a particular amount of energy; and a controller, coupled to the energy storage device and the interface, that (i) disconnects the energy storage device from the interface and connects the energy storage device to an external power source to store the particular amount of energy in the energy storage device, and (ii) disconnects the energy storage device from the external power source and connects the energy storage device to the interface to release, when the circuit breaker device is connected to the interface, energy from the energy storage device through the interface and through the circuit breaker device regardless of whether the circuit breaker device trips, the circuit breaker device being deemed as belonging to a first category when the circuit breaker device trips in response to the released energy, and the circuit breaker device being deemed as belonging to a second category when the circuit breaker device does not trip in response to the released energy.