Ground fault circuit breaker test circuit for panelboards having minimum penetrations and testing circuit breakers without opening panelboard enclosure

• US 5,334,939 A
• Filed: 11/13/1992
• Issued: 08/02/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc. (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc. (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Yarbrough, Garrett S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wieder, Kenneth A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patidar, Jay M.
• Application Number:
  US07/975,858
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 324/424, 324/415, 324/418-419, 324/509, 324/555, 340/638, 340/639, 340/644
• US Class Current: 324/424
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3277 of low voltage devices, e.g. domestic or industrial devices, such as motor protections, relays, rotation switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 83/04 with testing means for indicating the ability of the switch or relay to function properly
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/04 Mounting thereon of switches or of other devices in general, the switch or device having, or being without, casing

Abstract

A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) circuit breaker test circuit for use with panelboards uses a selector switch, normally open switch, and a resistor to simulate a fault condition at the load output node of any one of several GFCI circuit breakers. This arrangement allows for testing of the circuit breakers while eliminating the need to use an external test actuator to operate the manual test button of each circuit breaker. Thus, shaft penetrations through the panelboard enclosure are minimized, resulting in reduced hazards, increased reliability, easier testing, and greater economy.

Claims

1. A ground fault circuit interrupter ("GFCI") circuit breaker test circuit for panelboards, comprising:

a panelboard enclosure;

a plurality of GFCI circuit breakers, n, disposed within said panelboard enclosure, wherein each of the GFCI circuit breakers includes a corresponding load output terminal;

a plurality of test terminals, n, each of which is electrically connected to one of said corresponding load output terminals;

a circuit for testing each of said plurality of GFCI circuit breakers, said circuit for testing including a test load selectively connected to one of said test terminals by a selector switch; and

said circuit for testing further including no more than two test actuators located externally to said panelboard enclosure enabling each of said plurality of GFCI circuit breakers to be tested without opening said panelboard enclosure.

2. A ground fault circuit interruptor circuit breaker test circuit for panelboards as in claim 1 further comprising a normally open switch for electrically connecting said selector switch to said test load.

3. A ground fault circuit interruptor circuit breaker test circuit for panelboards as in claim 1, wherein said test load is connected in series between said selector switch and ground.

4. A ground fault circuit interruptor circuit breaker test circuit for panelboards as in claim 3, wherein said test load comprises a resistor of a predetermined value R.

5. A ground fault circuit interruptor circuit breaker test circuit for panelboards as in claim 4, wherein said circuit breaker connects electrically to a load and applies a load voltage V_L to said load except when a leakage current in excess of a predetermined value I_T is detected.

6. A ground fault circuit interruptor circuit breaker test circuit for panelboards as in claim 5, wherein the value R is determined by R<

V_L I_T.

7. A ground fault circuit interruptor circuit breaker test circuit for panelboards as in claim 2, wherein the selector switch comprises a rotary switch.

8. A ground fault circuit interruptor circuit breaker test circuit for panelboards as in claim 7, wherein one or two shaft penetrations are made in said panelboard enclosure for connecting said rotary switch and said normally open switch to said external test actuators.

9. A ground fault circuit interruptor ("GFCI") circuit breaker test circuit for panelboards, comprising:

a panelboard enclosure;

a plurality of GFCI circuit breakers disposed within the panelboard enclosure, each of which is connected electrically to a load terminal;

a circuit for testing each of said plurality of GFCI circuit breakers, wherein said circuit for testing includes no more than two test actuators located externally to said panelboard enclosure enabling each of said plurality of GFCI circuit breakers to be tested without opening said panelboard enclosure; and

said circuit for testing further comprises a test switch and a selector switch selectively connected to one of said load terminals, said test switch and said selector switch being activated by said external test actuator(s).

10. A test circuit as in claim 9, wherein said test switch comprises a normally open switch.

11. A test circuit as in claim 10, wherein said selector switch comprises a rotary switch.

12. A test circuit as in claim 9, further comprises a shaft penetration in said panelboard enclosure through which said test switch connects to one of said external test actuators.

13. A test circuit as in claim 12, further comprising a second shaft penetration in said panel enclosure through which said rotary switch connects to the other of said external test actuators.

14. A GFCI circuit breaker test circuit for panelboards as in claim 9, wherein said circuit for testing further includes a test load in series between said test switch and ground.

15. A GFCI circuit breaker test circuit for panelboards as in claim 14, wherein said test load comprises a resistor.

16. A ground test circuit interruptor ("GFCI") circuit breaker test circuit for panelboards, comprising:

a panelboard enclosure;

a plurality of GFCI circuit breakers disposed within said panelboards enclosure, wherein each of the GFCI circuit breakers includes a corresponding load output terminal;

a circuit for testing each of said plurality of GFCI circuit breakers without opening said panelboard enclosure, said circuit for testing comprising;

a selector switch for selectively connecting one of said corresponding load output terminals to said circuit;

a test switch electrically connected to said selector switch;

a test load electrically connected to said test switch; and

no more than two shaft penetrations through said panelboard enclosure for connecting said selector switch and said test switch to no more than two test actuators being located externally to said panelboard enclosure.

17. A GFCI circuit breaker test circuit for panelboards as in claim 16, wherein said selector switch comprises a rotary switch.

18. A GFCI circuit breaker test circuit for panelboards as in claim 16, wherein said test switch comprises a normally open switch.

19. A GFCI circuit breaker test circuit for panelboards as in claim 16, wherein said test load comprises a resistor.