Patent ID: 8405939
Filing Date: 2013-03-26
Classification: B60L,H02H

Abstract:
1. An electrical device configured to be disposed in an electrical distribution system between a source of electrical power and an electrical load, the electrical distribution system including at least one line hot conductor, a line neutral conductor, and a line ground conductor, the line neutral conductor being connected to the line ground conductor at a termination point in the electrical distribution system, the electrical load including at least one load hot conductor, a load neutral conductor, and a load ground conductor, the device comprising: a power input mechanism including a plurality of line termination elements and a line ground termination element, the plurality of line termination elements being configured to terminate the at least one line hot conductor and the line neutral conductor, the line ground termination element being configured to terminate the line ground conductor, the power input mechanism being configured to direct electric power provided by the source of electrical power into the device; a power output mechanism including a plurality of load termination elements and a load ground termination element, the plurality of load termination elements being configured to terminate the at least one load hot conductor and the load neutral conductor, the load ground termination element being configured to terminate the load ground conductor, the power output mechanism being configured to direct electric power provided by the source of electrical power via the power input mechanism to the electrical load; a circuit interrupter mechanism coupled to the fault detection circuit, the circuit interrupter mechanism being configured to interrupt electrical continuity between the plurality of line termination elements and the plurality of load termination elements in a tripped state and establish electrical continuity between the plurality of line termination elements and the plurality of load termination elements in a reset state; a ground relay configured to couple the line ground conductor and the load ground conductor in a closed state and decouple the line ground conductor from the load ground conductor in an open state; a grounding confirmation circuit coupled to the ground relay and the circuit interrupter mechanism, the grounding confirmation circuit being configured to prevent the ground relay from closing if ground continuity in the line ground conductor is not detected, the grounding confirmation circuit also being configured to subsequently prevent the circuit interrupter from being reset if ground continuity in the load ground conductor is not detected; and a power supply coupled to the at least one line hot conductor and the line neutral conductor, the power supply being configured to provide DC power to the grounding confirmation circuit and electrically isolate the grounding confirmation circuit from the at least one line hot conductor.