Patent ID: 7697247

Claim:
An arc suppression circuit for suppression of arcing across trip contacts coupled to operate a battery-powered solenoid, the battery-powered solenoid including a battery and a solenoid, the circuit comprising: a semi-conductor switch connected across the battery-powered solenoid; and a switch-control circuit controlling the semi-conductor switch; wherein the switch-control circuit is configured such that while the contacts are closed, the semi-conductor switch is on, providing a current path around the contacts, and when the contacts begin to open, the semi-conductor switch remains on and continues to provide the current path around the contacts for a sufficient time after the contacts begin to open to prevent an arc from becoming established, wherein the semiconductor switch carries substantially all of the current flowing through the battery-powered solenoid when providing the current path around the contacts when the contacts are closed and when the contacts begin to open.