Patent ID: 8023239

Claim:
A control module with interrupt function for an electric circuit breaker, comprising: a voltage input for a control voltage, which if absent from a terminal for the circuit breaker is effective for triggering the interrupt function for the electric circuit breaker; an output carrying the control voltage to connect an interrupter switch for the circuit breaker; a control voltage input for the control voltage fed back from the interrupter switch when the interrupter switch is in an electrically-closed switching condition; a measuring unit coupled to the control voltage input and to the output, wherein the measuring unit measures a current and/or a voltage, the current and/or voltage measured by the measuring unit formed in response to the control voltage; an evaluating unit coupled to the measuring unit to evaluate the current and/or voltage measured by the measuring unit to determine at least one electrical characteristic of the interrupter switch indicative of an impending failure of the interrupter switch; and a control switch responsive to an actuating signal from a processor, wherein, when the control switch is an electrically closed switching condition, the terminal for the circuit breaker is connected to apply the control voltage to the circuit breaker, and further wherein, when the control switch is an electrically open switching condition, the terminal for the circuit breaker is no longer connected to apply the control voltage to the circuit breaker.