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Systems, methods, and devices for controlling a serial arc fault in an electrical circuit

  • US 7,872,839 B2
  • Filed: 05/12/2009
  • Issued: 01/18/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2009
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of controlling a serial arc fault in an electrical circuit, said method comprising:

  • a. measuring a current running through said electrical circuit;

    b. determining whether said current is below a predetermined average current for said electrical circuit by a predetermined amount;

    c. if said current is below ten percent of said predetermined average current for said electrical circuit, noting an interruption in said current and determining whether a countdown timer value in a data cell indicated by a cell pointer value is equal to zero;

    d. if said countdown timer value is equal to zero, starting a countdown timer in said data cell, advancing said cell pointer value by one, and restarting said method at step a.;

    e. if said countdown timer value is not equal to zero, determining whether said interruptions in said current are periodic;

    f. if said interruptions in said current are not periodic, noting occurrence of an arc event in said electrical circuit and checking whether an arc event countdown timer is running; and

    g. if said arc event countdown timer is running, noting occurrence of a serial arc fault in said electrical circuit and tripping a circuit breaker of said electrical circuit.

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