Power distribution system incorporating ground fault interrupt protection
First Claim
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1. A power distribution system comprising:
- a plurality of uniform power distribution modules, wherein each of said power distribution modules includes a module connector;
a plurality of uniform mating connectors operable to connect to said power distribution modules;
a plurality of ground fault interrupt adapters, each includinga first uniform connection operable to interface with the module connector of one of the plurality of uniform power distribution modules and a second uniform connection operable to interface with one of the plurality of uniform mating connectors, such that said ground fault interrupt adapter is operable to connect one of the plurality of uniform power distribution modules to one of the plurality of uniform mating connectors, anda current sensor arrangement operable to determine a net current of at least one phase passing through the ground fault interrupt adapter and a neutral passing through the ground fault interrupt adapter; and
each of the module connectors including at least one net current input operable to receive a detected net current from a ground fault interrupt adapter when a ground fault interrupt adapter is connected to the module connector.
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Abstract
A power distribution system includes multiple uniform power distribution modules and multiple uniform mating connectors. A portion of the mating connectors are connected to the power distribution modules directly and the remainder are connected to the power distribution modules via a ground fault interrupt adapter.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A power distribution system comprising:
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a plurality of uniform power distribution modules, wherein each of said power distribution modules includes a module connector; a plurality of uniform mating connectors operable to connect to said power distribution modules; a plurality of ground fault interrupt adapters, each including a first uniform connection operable to interface with the module connector of one of the plurality of uniform power distribution modules and a second uniform connection operable to interface with one of the plurality of uniform mating connectors, such that said ground fault interrupt adapter is operable to connect one of the plurality of uniform power distribution modules to one of the plurality of uniform mating connectors, and a current sensor arrangement operable to determine a net current of at least one phase passing through the ground fault interrupt adapter and a neutral passing through the ground fault interrupt adapter; and each of the module connectors including at least one net current input operable to receive a detected net current from a ground fault interrupt adapter when a ground fault interrupt adapter is connected to the module connector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14)
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8. A ground fault interrupt (GFI) adapter for a power distribution system comprising:
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a first uniform connection operable to interface with a uniform module connector of a power distribution module and a second uniform connection operable to interface with a uniform mating connector; a plurality of power phase pass throughs operable to pass electrical power from the power module connector to the mating connector through said ground fault interrupt adapter; at least one current sensor operable to sense a net current passing through said ground fault interrupt adapter; and at least one neutral connection operable to connect a neutral line within said ground fault interrupt adapter to a neutral line of the uniform mating connector. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 15)
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13. A method for providing ground fault interrupt protection in a power distribution system comprising:
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connecting uniform mating connectors to uniform power distribution modules directly at connections not requiring ground fault interrupt protection; and connecting uniform mating connectors to uniform power distribution modules via a ground fault interrupt adapter at connections requiring ground fault interrupt protection, wherein the ground fault interrupt adapter comprises a first uniform connection operable to interface with a module connector of the uniform power distribution module and a second uniform connection operable to interface with the uniform mating connector, such that said ground fault interrupt adapter is operable to connect one of the plurality of uniform power distribution modules to one of the plurality of uniform mating connectors, and a current sensor arrangement detecting a net current of at least one phase and a neutral passing through the ground fault interrupt adapter; and communicating the detected net current from said ground fault interrupt adapter to said module connector of the uniform power distribution module; determining the presence of a ground fault at said connection based on said detected net current using a ground fault detection circuit in said uniform power distribution modules.
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Specification