GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPT DEVICE

• US 20080088992A1
• Filed: 11/14/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: JP Nolan & Company
• Original Assignee: JP Nolan & Company
• Inventors: Williamson, Warren
• Application Number:
  US11/939,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20080088992A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/42
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/335 the main function being self testing of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/338 also responsive to wiring error, e.g. loss of neutral, break

Abstract

A GFCI circuit for a 120/240 volt application employs a microcontroller to trip the circuit when voltage is too high or too low, in addition to tripping the circuit on a ground fault as indicated by a ground fault logic component. The microcontroller also permanently prevents circuit operation if an EOL condition is sensed, such as the failure of the power relay to trip during test or failure of the ground fault logic component to signal a ground fault during test.

Claims

1. A GFCI device, comprising:

a current transformer engaged with at least one power line and a neutral line;

a ground fault logic component communicating with the current transformer for generating a signal to cause a circuit between an electrical load and a power supply connected to the power line to open based on a ground fault signal input from the transformer; and

at least one microcontroller communicating with the ground fault logic component and;

causing a circuit between the power supply and electrical load to open when at least one voltage in the device exceeds a maximum voltage threshold due to the neutral line being broken or due to a power line being connected to a neutral line terminal and vice-versa, and/or the microcontroller also causing the circuit between the power supply and electrical load to open when at least one voltage in the device falls below a minimum voltage threshold due to a neutral line being broken; and

causing a circuit between the power supply and electrical load to open when an end of life (EOL) condition is detected.

2. The GFCI device of claim 1, wherein the EOL condition is failure of a relay in the circuit to open in response to a test signal.

3. The GFCI device of claim 1, wherein the EOL condition is failure of the ground fault logic component to indicate a ground fault in response to a test signal.

4. The GFCI device of claim 1, wherein the EOL condition is failure of the ground fault logic component to indicate a ground fault in response to a test signal within a predetermined time period from initiation of the test signal.

5. The GFCI device of claim 1, wherein if an EOL condition exists, the GFCI cannot subsequently be reset to energize a load.

6. The GFCI device of claim 5, wherein an existence of an EOL condition is stored in non-volatile memory of the microcontroller.

7. The GFCI device of claim 1, wherein the EOL condition is detected during a test automatically initiated by the microcontroller.

8. A 120/240 volt junction box, comprising:

a first 120 volt line connected to a first GFCI device for powering at least a first load except under ground fault conditions, in which case the first GFCI device opens a circuit between the first 120 volt line and the first load;

a second 120 volt line connected to a second GFCI device for powering at least a second load except under ground fault conditions, in which case the second GFCI device opens a circuit between the second 120 volt line and the second load;

a neutral line connected to both devices;

first means in the first GFCI device for preventing malfunctioning of the first GFCI device in the presence of a ground fault if the neutral line is broken and for preventing malfunctioning of the first GFCI device in the presence of a ground fault if the neutral line is reversed with one of the 120 volt lines;

second means in the second GFCI device for preventing malfunctioning of the second GFCI device in the presence of a ground fault if the neutral line is broken and for preventing malfunctioning of the second GFCI device in the presence of a ground fault if the neutral line is reversed with one of the 120 volt lines;

third means in the first GFCI device for preventing operation of the first GFCI device in the presence of an end of life (EOL) condition; and

fourth means in the second GFCI device for preventing operation of the second GFCI device in the presence of an end of life (EOL) condition.

9. The junction box of claim 8, wherein the EOL condition is failure of a relay in the circuit to open in response to a test signal.

10. The junction box of claim 9, wherein the EOL condition is failure of the first means to indicate a ground fault in response to a test signal.

11. The junction box of claim 10, wherein the EOL condition is failure of the first means to indicate a ground fault in response to a test signal within a predetermined time period from initiation of the test signal.

12. The junction box of claim 8, wherein if an EOL condition exists in the first or second GFCI device, the GFCI device cannot subsequently be reset to energize a load.

13. The junction box of claim 8, wherein the first means includes a ground fault logic component providing detection of a ground fault and a microcontroller providing detection of high and low voltage and the EOL condition, an existence of an EOL condition being stored in non-volatile memory of the microcontroller.

14. The junction box of claim 13, wherein the EOL condition is detected during a test automatically initiated by the microcontroller.

15. A GFCI device, comprising:

a ground fault logic component outputting a signal representative of whether a ground fault exists; and

a microcontroller connected to the ground fault logic component and opening a circuit between the power line and a load when a ground fault exists, when a wiring fault exists, when an end of life (EOL) condition exists.

16. The GFCI device of claim 15, wherein the wiring fault exists when a neutral line is broken or a power line is connected to a neutral line terminal and vice-versa.

17. The GFCI device of claim 16, wherein the wiring fault exists when the neutral line is broken.

18. The GFCI device of claim 15, wherein the EOL condition is failure of a relay in the circuit to open in response to a test signal.

19. The GFCI device of claim 15, wherein the EOL condition is failure of the ground fault logic component to indicate a ground fault in response to a test signal.

20. The GFCI device of claim 15, wherein if an EOL condition exists, the GFCI cannot subsequently be reset to energize a load.