Patent ID: 7145757

Claim:
A system for eliminating an arcing fault of power distribution equipment, said system comprising: a first switch including a first input; a circuit interrupter electrically connected in series with said first switch; a second switch including a second input, said second switch being electrically connected in parallel with the series combination of said first switch and said circuit interrupter; a circuit adapted to detect said arcing fault and responsively output a first signal to the first input of said first switch to close said first switch and, also, responsively output after a predetermined time a second signal to the second input of said second switch to close said second switch; and wherein said circuit interrupter includes a closed state and an open state; wherein said first switch is adapted to close in order to eliminate said arcing fault when said circuit interrupter is in the closed state; wherein said arcing fault is a persistent arcing fault; and wherein said second switch is adapted to close to eliminate said persistent arcing fault after said circuit interrupter is in the open state and after said predetermined time.