Patent ID: 6538870
Filing Date: 2003-03-25
Classification: H01H,Y02B,Y04S

Abstract:
An electrical distribution panel comprising:a circuit breaker comprising: a first set of separable contacts having an open state and a closed state, a first auxiliary switch responsive to the open and closed states of said first set of separable contacts, a second set of separable contacts in series with said first set of separable contacts, said second set of separable contacts having an open state and a closed state, a second auxiliary switch responsive to the open and closed states of said second set of separable contacts, said second auxiliary switch electrically connected to said first auxiliary switch, an input terminal electrically connected to both of said first and second auxiliary switches, an output terminal, a first circuit element electrically connected between said first auxiliary switch and said output terminal, and a second circuit element electrically connected between said second auxiliary switch and said output terminal; an enclosure housing said circuit breaker; a power source energizing said input terminal of said circuit breaker, said power source having a common reference; a bridge rectifier electrically connected between said output terminal and the common reference of said power source, said bridge rectifier having an output; and means for determining one of four states from the output of the bridge rectifier based upon four corresponding states of said first and second auxiliary switches of said circuit breaker and the open and closed states of said first and second sets of separable contacts.