Patent ID: 7623329

Claim:
A circuit for disconnecting a power source upon the detection of a leakage current, comprising: a power cable comprising an insulated first wire and an insulated second wire; said power cable having a conductive shield surrounding said insulated first wire and said insulated second wire; a drain wire having a first and a second portion; said first portion of said drain wire being non-insulated and in electrical contact with said conductive shield; an outer insulating layer molded about said conductive shield; a disconnect switch interposed between the power source and said power cable; said disconnect switch defining a primary side of said disconnect switch adjacent to said power source and defining a secondary side of said disconnect switch adjacent to said power cable; 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 second side of said disconnect switch comprising a light emitting device being connected in series with a resistor between said drain wire and both of said insulated first wire and said insulated second wire for actuating said light emitting device upon a leakage current flow between said conductive shield and one of said insulated first wire and said insulated second wire; and said photoconductive switch optically coupled to said light emitting device for interconnecting said primary circuit and said secondary circuit for opening said disconnect switch upon said secondary circuit sensing a leakage current between said conductive shield and one of said insulated first wire and said insulated second wires.