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Systems and methods for protecting electrical wire connections from overheating

  • US 9,531,184 B2
  • Filed: 01/17/2012
  • Issued: 12/27/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system for protecting from overheating a physical electrical wire connection formed from a plurality of electrical wires that are part of an electrical circuit inside a ceiling light fixture, comprising:

  • a ceiling light fixture housing configured to be attached to a ceiling-mounted junction box that contains;

    a twist-on wire connector configured to maintain the physical electrical wire connection, wherein the twist-on wire connector connects a conductor of a wire of the light fixture to a building power conductor, wherein the conductor supplies power to the light fixture, and wherein the wire of the light fixture is formed from the conductor and insulation;

    a temperature sensor that is separate from the twist-on wire connector, that is configured to detect the temperature of the conductor, and that produces a first signal in response to a temperature of the conductor;

    an operational amplifier coupled to the temperature sensor that produces at a first output a second signal having a first value when the temperature exceeds a temperature value and a second value when the temperature is less than the temperature value; and

    a relay having a control input coupled to the second signal and having a switch coupled to the electrical circuit that opens the electrical circuit in response to the second signal having the first value.

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