Electrical ground protection device, circuit tester and method of circuit condition detection
First Claim
1. An electrical circuit for detection of improper wiring of a three lead power supply comprising:
- a sensor circuit for detecting the absence of electrical current in a putative hot lead of said three lead power supply;
a sensor circuit for detecting the presence of electrical current in a putative ground lead of said three lead power supply; and
an indicator circuit for generating a response signal when the absence of electrical current is detected in the putative hot lead simultaneously with the presence of electrical current in the putative ground lead.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for protecting against electrocution hazards that arise when an appliance is electrically connected to a miswired single-phase AC electrical source which includes an energized ground lead are described. The apparatus includes one or more sensors that detect electrical energy in the ground lead combined with a miswiring condition in the hot and common leads. A tester embodiment is also illustrated. The method includes the steps of detecting if the putative ground of the electrical source is energized and whether the hot and common leads are reversed.
42 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An electrical circuit for detection of improper wiring of a three lead power supply comprising:
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a sensor circuit for detecting the absence of electrical current in a putative hot lead of said three lead power supply; a sensor circuit for detecting the presence of electrical current in a putative ground lead of said three lead power supply; and an indicator circuit for generating a response signal when the absence of electrical current is detected in the putative hot lead simultaneously with the presence of electrical current in the putative ground lead. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for detection of improper wiring of a three lead power supply comprising.
detecting the absence of electrical current in a putative hot lead of said three lead power supply; -
detecting the presence of electrical current in a putative ground lead of said three lead power supply for therein; and generating a response signal when the absence of electrical current is detected in the putative hot lead simultaneously with the presence of electrical current in the putative ground lead. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification