Arc fault tester
First Claim
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1. ) An apparatus for testing an arcing fault detector device, comprising:
- an arc generator control circuit including, an arc fault signal generator for generating an oscillating arc signal, and a contact relay coupled to and energized by the arc fault signal generator;
a powered load coupled to the contact relay and a power source, so that an arcing current is generated upon oscillation of contacts within the relay; and
a device under test receptacle coupled to the power load and the arc generator control circuit for selective electrical coupling to an arc detection device.
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Abstract
Arc fault detector device (such as arc fault circuit interrupter) testing apparatus and methods including generating a true arc fault current by energizing a contact relay at a predetermined frequency, applying and regulating the true arc fault current to a detection device under test by selecting a load from a resistor bank that is coupled to the tested device, determining whether the device under test was able to detect the arc fault current. The invention is useful for determining whether an arc fault circuit interrupter is capable of tripping in response to an arc fault current.
44 Citations
44 Claims
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1. ) An apparatus for testing an arcing fault detector device, comprising:
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an arc generator control circuit including, an arc fault signal generator for generating an oscillating arc signal, and a contact relay coupled to and energized by the arc fault signal generator;
a powered load coupled to the contact relay and a power source, so that an arcing current is generated upon oscillation of contacts within the relay; and
a device under test receptacle coupled to the power load and the arc generator control circuit for selective electrical coupling to an arc detection device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. ) A method for testing arcing fault interruption, the method comprising:
generating an arc current by selectively oscillating contacts of a relay that is coupled to a powered circuit including load, and a device under test receptacle having an arc detection device coupled thereto. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. ) A method to generate an arc fault, method comprising:
selectively oscillating contacts of a relay that is coupled to a powered circuit. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. ) A method for testing arcing fault interruption, the method comprising:
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generating an arc fault current by energizing an operational amplification circuit to amplify a driving signal originating in an oscillator circuit;
energizing a pre-amplification stage circuit to amplify the driving signal sent through the operational amplification circuit;
energizing a contact relay at a predetermined frequency to create an arc fault; and
determining whether the device under test detects the arc fault current. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. ) An apparatus for testing an arcing fault detector device, comprising:
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an arc generator control circuit means for generating an arc signal;
a contact relay means for generating an arc therein, coupled to and energized by the arc generator control circuit means;
a powered load coupled to the contact relay means, so that the contact relay means generates an arcing current; and
a device under test receptacle coupled to the power load and the arc generator control circuit means for selective electrical coupling to an arc detection device. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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- 40. ) The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the load-selector switch has a second position that selects a 35 A load.
Specification