Patent ID: 7538454

Claim:
An apparatus for shunting leakage current in an electrical power distribution system, the system utilizing a solid state switching device to perform power switching functions for an output load, the apparatus comprising: a switchable shunt configured to selectively provide a pathway to divert electrical leakage current away from the output load of the electrical power distribution system toward ground in accordance with the power switching functions performed by the solid state switching device, wherein the switchable shunt comprises: a resistor or capacitor connected to an output of the solid state switching device, with the resistor or capacitor selected in order to limit leakage current flowing to the output load to no more than 0.5 mAmps, when the solid state switching device is turned off; and a shunt switching element configured to: connect the resistor or capacitor to ground when the solid state switching device is turned off, and disconnect the shunt impedance component from ground when the solid state switching device is turned on.