Patent ID: 7751161

Claim:
A circuit for disconnecting a power source upon the detection of a leakage current from one of a first and a second wire connected to the power source, comprising: a disconnect switch interposed within the first and second wires connected to the power source; said disconnect switch defining a primary side and a secondary side of said disconnect switch with said primary side located adjacent to said power source; a primary circuit including a photoconductive switch located on said primary side of said disconnect switch for controlling said disconnect switch; a secondary circuit located on said secondary side of said disconnect switch; said secondary circuit including a sensing conductor located adjacent to the first and second wires for sensing a leakage current from the first and second wires; said secondary circuit comprising a light emitting device connected in series with a resistor between said sensing conductor and both of the first and second wires for actuating said light emitting device upon a leakage current flow between said sensing conductor and one of the first and second wires; and said photoconductive switch being optically coupled to said light emitting device for opening said disconnect switch upon said secondary circuit sensing a leakage current between said sensing conductor and one of the first and second wires.