Patent ID: 7460344

Claim:
A direct current disconnect apparatus comprising: a housing; a direct current terminal; a load terminal; separable contacts electrically connected between said direct current terminal and said load terminal; an operating mechanism structured to open and close said separable contacts; a manual operator cooperating with said operating mechanism to open and close said separable contacts; a current sensor structured to sense direct current flowing between said direct current terminal and said load terminal; and a circuit cooperating with said current sensor and said operating mechanism to trip open said separable contacts in response to an arc fault condition, said circuit also cooperating with said current sensor and said operating mechanism to trip open said separable contacts in response to at least one of an overload condition and a short circuit condition associated with said sensed direct current, said circuit comprising an input structured to receive a remote on/off signal remote from said housing, said circuit also cooperating with said operating mechanism to open and close said separable contacts in response to said remote on/off signal remote from said housing.