An electrical switching apparatus comprising: a plurality of first terminals including two input terminals structured to electrically connect to a direct current power source; a plurality of second terminals including two output terminals structured to electrically connect to a direct current load; a plurality of pairs of separable contacts; an operating mechanism configured to open and close said separable contacts; a trip actuator configured to cooperate with said operating mechanism to trip open said separable contacts; a plurality of conductors that electrically connect each pair of separable contacts between one of said first terminals and one of said second terminals; a transductor circuit that senses a direct current between at least one of the input terminals and at least one of the output terminals and outputs an alternating current proportional to the direct current; and an alternating current electronic trip circuit structured to control the plurality of pairs of separable contacts to separate based on the alternating current output from the transductor circuit, the alternating current electronic trip circuit including a rectifier circuit having a rectifier circuit input and a rectifier circuit output, the rectifier circuit input being electrically connected to the transductor circuit, an interface circuit having an interface circuit input and an interface circuit output, the interface circuit input being electrically connected to the rectifier circuit output, and a processor having a processor input electrically connected to the interface circuit output, the processor being structured to output a control signal to control the trip actuator to cause the operating mechanism to separate and open the plurality of pairs of separable contacts, wherein the plurality of conductors include a first conductor and a second conductor; wherein the transductor circuit includes a first current transformer having a secondary winding inductively coupled with the first conductor, a second current transformer having a secondary winding inductively coupled with the second conductor, and an alternating current power circuit (102, 104; 127, 128) configured to provide an alternating voltage to the first current transformer and the second current transformer; and wherein the secondary windings (114; 124) of the first current transformer and the second current transformer are electrically connected in series-opposition such that an electromotive force induced in the secondary winding of the first current transformer by the direct current is in opposition with an electromotive force induced in the secondary winding of the second current transformer by the direct current. a plurality of first terminals including two input terminals structured to electrically connect to a direct current power source; a plurality of second terminals including two output terminals structured to electrically connect to a direct current load; a plurality of pairs of separable contacts; an operating mechanism configured to open and close said separable contacts; a trip actuator configured to cooperate with said operating mechanism to trip open said separable contacts; a plurality of conductors that electrically connect each pair of separable contacts between one of said first terminals and one of said second terminals; a transductor circuit that senses a direct current between at least one of the input terminals and at least one of the output terminals and outputs an alternating current proportional to the direct current; and an alternating current electronic trip circuit structured to control the plurality of pairs of separable contacts to separate based on the alternating current output from the transductor circuit, the alternating current electronic trip circuit including a rectifier circuit having a rectifier circuit input and a rectifier circuit output, the rectifier circuit input being electrically connected to the transductor circuit, an interface circuit having an interface circuit input and an interface circuit output, the interface circuit input being electrically connected to the rectifier circuit output, and a processor having a processor input electrically connected to the interface circuit output, the processor being structured to output a control signal to control the trip actuator to cause the operating mechanism to separate and open the plurality of pairs of separable contacts, wherein the plurality of conductors include a first conductor and a second conductor; wherein the transductor circuit includes a first current transformer having a secondary winding inductively coupled with the first conductor, a second current transformer having a secondary winding inductively coupled with the second conductor, and an alternating current power circuit (102, 104; 127, 128) configured to provide an alternating voltage to the first current transformer and the second current transformer; and wherein the secondary windings (114; 124) of the first current transformer and the second current transformer are electrically connected in series-opposition such that an electromotive force induced in the secondary winding of the first current transformer by the direct current is in opposition with an electromotive force induced in the secondary winding of the second current transformer by the direct current.