Apparatus and method for programmable trip settings in a faulted circuit indicator
First Claim
1. A fault indicator for indicating the occurrence of a fault in an electrical conductor, said fault indicator comprising:
- a housing;
a battery at least partially internal to the housing;
a display for indicating that a fault condition has occurred;
a current sensor for sensing the load current in said conductor, and for providing a load current signal that is related to the load current;
a data processor drawing power from the battery, and that is in communication with said load current signal from said current sensor to determine the load current in said conductor, to program the fault indicator to one of a plurality of trip settings and to determine that a fault condition has occurred when the load current exceeds the programmed trip setting.
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Abstract
A fault indicator for indicating the occurrence of a fault in an electrical conductor is programmable, such as in the field, by placing a magnet in proximity to the housing of the fault indicator. A data processor senses the changed state of a magnetic switch and, after a predetermined delay, initiates a programming routine to enable selection of one of a plurality of trip settings for the fault indicator. During programming, display LEDs flash once for programming of the first trip setting, twice for setting of the second trip setting, and so forth. Removal of the magnet from proximity to the fault indicator while at the desired trip setting will result in programming of the fault indicator to that trip setting.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A fault indicator for indicating the occurrence of a fault in an electrical conductor, said fault indicator comprising:
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a housing; a battery at least partially internal to the housing; a display for indicating that a fault condition has occurred; a current sensor for sensing the load current in said conductor, and for providing a load current signal that is related to the load current; a data processor drawing power from the battery, and that is in communication with said load current signal from said current sensor to determine the load current in said conductor, to program the fault indicator to one of a plurality of trip settings and to determine that a fault condition has occurred when the load current exceeds the programmed trip setting. - 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 of programming a trip setting in a fault indicator that detects faults in a monitored electrical conductor, wherein said fault indicator includes a housing, a battery, a display for displaying a fault condition, a current sensor and a data processor, said method comprising the steps of:
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sensing the load current in said conductor with the current sensor; providing a load current signal from the current sensor that is related to the load current in the conductor; providing a plurality of selectable trip settings for said fault indicator; determining the load current in said conductor based upon the load current signal for the sensor; selecting one of the plurality of trip settings by initiating a programming routine; and displaying a fault condition if the load current exceeds the selected trip setting. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification