Patent ID: 7688558

Claim:
An aircraft applicable current imbalance detection and circuit interrupter device for retrofitting a circuit breaker in an existing application wherein such circuit breaker complies with a form factor, engages a connector to interface with a line side and a load side of an electrical circuit and controls a current path from said line side to said load side, comprising: a housing complying with said form factor and including a connection means for engaging said connector; a sensor system disposed in the housing for sensing a current imbalance in the electrical circuit and for providing a sensor signal indicating the existence of an undesirable current within the electrical circuit based on said sensing of said current imbalance; a logic controller disposed in the housing and configured to receive the sensor signal from the sensor system and to output a fault signal representing a fault; and a power controller disposed in the housing configured to receive said fault signal from the logic controller and to remove power to the load side of the electrical circuit responsive to the fault signal from the logic controller, the power controller including a power relay having contacts capable of surviving carry-break and make-carry-break types of ground fault conditions at anticipated current levels.