Patent ID: 8643501

Claim:
A metering apparatus comprising: a support; a connection apparatus disposed on the support and structured to be electrically connected with a circuit interrupter; a detection apparatus disposed on the support and structured to detect at least a first operational aspect of the circuit interrupter; a communication apparatus in communication with the detection apparatus, the communication apparatus being disposed on the support and being structured to communicate to another device at least a first parameter of the circuit interrupter based at least in part upon the at least first operational aspect; the detection apparatus and the communication apparatus each comprising a power input structured to be electrically connected with a power source external to the circuit interrupter to make current available to the detection apparatus and the communication apparatus when the circuit interrupter is in an OFF or TRIPPED condition; and wherein the detection apparatus is structured to detect as the at least first operational aspect at least one of a condition of a bell alarm of the circuit interrupter and a condition of an auxiliary switch of the circuit interrupter, and wherein the communication apparatus is structured to communicate to the another device as the at least first parameter of the circuit interrupter at least one of an ON status, an OFF status, and a TRIPPED status of the circuit interrupter.