Inverter inrush current limiting
First Claim
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1. A DC to AC inverter having a circuit arrangement for limiting capacitor inrush current and fault currents and reducing electrical sparking at relay contacts, comprising:
- a control processor for performing a predetermined sequence of start-up or shut-down steps;
DC to AC conversion circuitry controllable to be activated or deactivated by said control processor by enabling or disabling transistor switching;
input terminals for the connection of a DC power source;
output terminals for outputting AC power from said DC to AC conversion circuitry;
at least one output relay having at least one set of normally open contacts for connecting the output of said DC to AC conversion circuitry to said output terminals, said at least one output relay being controllable by said control processor;
a main power relay having at least one set of normally open contacts for connecting said DC power source from said input terminals to said DC to AC conversion circuitry, said main power relay being controllable by said control processor;
a start-up relay having at least one set of normally open contacts connected in series with an incandescent filament lamp, the series combination being connected in parallel with said at least one set of normally open contacts of said main power relay, said start-up relay being controllable by said control processor, anda photodetector placed adjacent to said incandescent filament lamp for providing an indication to said control processor of whether said lamp is lit.
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Abstract
A method and circuit arrangement is described for start-up and shut-down of high power DC to AC inverters which limits inrush current for capacitor charging, reduces input and output relay contact stress and discharges internal capacitors upon shut down. A preferred inrush limiting component has a higher resistance when hot than when cold, such as an incandescent filament lamp.
83 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A DC to AC inverter having a circuit arrangement for limiting capacitor inrush current and fault currents and reducing electrical sparking at relay contacts, comprising:
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a control processor for performing a predetermined sequence of start-up or shut-down steps; DC to AC conversion circuitry controllable to be activated or deactivated by said control processor by enabling or disabling transistor switching; input terminals for the connection of a DC power source; output terminals for outputting AC power from said DC to AC conversion circuitry; at least one output relay having at least one set of normally open contacts for connecting the output of said DC to AC conversion circuitry to said output terminals, said at least one output relay being controllable by said control processor; a main power relay having at least one set of normally open contacts for connecting said DC power source from said input terminals to said DC to AC conversion circuitry, said main power relay being controllable by said control processor; a start-up relay having at least one set of normally open contacts connected in series with an incandescent filament lamp, the series combination being connected in parallel with said at least one set of normally open contacts of said main power relay, said start-up relay being controllable by said control processor, and a photodetector placed adjacent to said incandescent filament lamp for providing an indication to said control processor of whether said lamp is lit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A safe start-up and shut-down circuit arrangement for use with a high power DC to AC inverter for converting power from a DC power source to AC power at an AC output, comprising:
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A control processor for performing a predetermined sequence of start-up or shut-down steps; DC to AC conversion circuitry including a DC-to-DC converter, said DC to AC conversion circuitry and said DC-to-DC converter being controllable to be activated or deactivated by said control processor by enabling or disabling transistor switching; a main power relay having normally open contacts connected between a first polarity terminal of said DC power source and a corresponding polarity DC input of said DC to AC converter circuitry and said DC-to-DC converter, the main power relay contacts being controlled to open or close by said processor; a double-throw start-up relay having a normally open contact, a normally closed contact and a common contact, the contacts being connected such that when the relay is energized, DC current flows from said first polarity DC power power source terminal through an incandescent filament lamp to said corresponding polarity DC input of said DC to AC converter circuitry and said DC-to-DC converter, and when the relay is not energized, said corresponding first polarity DC input of said DC to AC conversion circuitry and said DC-to-DC converter is connected through an incandescent filament lamp to the DC power source terminal of opposite polarity to said first polarity, the start-up relay being controlled by said processor; at least one output relay having normally open contacts for connecting the AC output of said DC to AC conversion circuitry to a load, the at least one output relay being controlled by said processor, and photodetection circuitry to provide an indication to said control processor of whether an incandescent filament lamp connected to said double-throw start-up relay is lit or not lit. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A safe start-up and shut-down circuit arrangement for use with a high power DC to AC inverter, comprising:
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A control processor for performing a predetermined sequence of start-up or shut-down steps, including enabling or disabling transistor switching within said DC to AC converter circuitry; DC to AC conversion circuitry including a DC-to-DC converter, said DC to AC conversion circuitry and said DC-to-DC converter being controllable to be activated or deactivated by said control processor by enabling or disabling transistor switching; a main power relay having normally open contacts connected between a first polarity terminal of a DC power source and a corresponding polarity DC input of said DC to AC converter circuitry and said DC-to-DC converter, the main power relay contacts being controlled to open or close by said processor; a double-throw start-up relay having a normally open contact, a normally closed contact and a common contact, the contacts being connected such that when the relay is energized, DC current flows from said first polarity DC power power source terminal through a current limiting device to said corresponding polarity DC input of said DC to AC converter circuitry and said DC-to-DC converter, and when the relay is not energized, said first corresponding DC input of said DC to AC conversion circuitry and said DC-to-DC converter is connected through a current limiting device to the DC power source terminal of opposite polarity to said first polarity, the start-up relay being controlled by said processor; at least one output relay having normally open contacts for connecting the AC output of said DC to AC conversion circuitry to a load, the at least one output relay being controlled by said processor, and current indication circuitry to provide indications to said control processor of whether any current limiting device connected to said double-throw start-up relay is passing current greater or less than predetermined thresholds. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification