Patent ID: 7508645

Claim:
A method of operating a magnetic actuator in a power distribution switching device, the magnetic actuator having a coil and an armature movable between first and second positions in response to current being provided to the coil, the method comprising: providing a controller with memory; providing a user interface; displaying a screen on the user interface; receiving first and second current levels that are input into the screen; receiving a time delay that is input into the screen; transmitting the first and second current levels to the controller; transmitting a plurality of first current pulses from the controller to the coil of the actuator during a first time period, each of the first current pulses extending from no current to a current having an amplitude corresponding to the first current level that is received from the screen and each pair of adjacent first current pulses being separated by the time delay that is received from the screen; and transmitting a plurality of second current pulses from the controller to the coil of the actuator during a second time period that is subsequent to the first time period, each of the second current pulses extending from no current to a current having an amplitude corresponding to the second current level that is received from the screen.