METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INDICATING A DISCONNECTION WITHIN A DISTRIBUTED GENERATOR
First Claim
1. Apparatus for indicating a disconnection within a Distributed Generator (DG), comprising:
- an alarm module electrically coupled to a conductive portion of a component within the DG, wherein the conductive portion is grounded via a ground rod system, and wherein the alarm module (i) is further coupled to a ground line, (ii) couples a monitoring current to the conductive portion, (iii) monitors flow of the monitoring current to determine a change in the flow, and (iv) generates, as a result of the change in the flow, a notification of the disconnection.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for indicating a disconnection within a Distributed Generator (DG). In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises an alarm module electrically coupled to a conductive portion of a component within the DG, wherein the conductive portion is grounded via a ground rod system, and wherein the alarm module (i) is further coupled to a ground line, (ii) couples a monitoring current to the conductive portion, (iii) monitors flow of the monitoring current to determine a change in the flow, and (iv) generates, as a result of the change in the flow, a notification of the disconnection.
124 Citations
20 Claims
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1. Apparatus for indicating a disconnection within a Distributed Generator (DG), comprising:
an alarm module electrically coupled to a conductive portion of a component within the DG, wherein the conductive portion is grounded via a ground rod system, and wherein the alarm module (i) is further coupled to a ground line, (ii) couples a monitoring current to the conductive portion, (iii) monitors flow of the monitoring current to determine a change in the flow, and (iv) generates, as a result of the change in the flow, a notification of the disconnection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for indicating a disconnection within a Distributed Generator (DG), comprising:
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coupling a monitoring current to a conductive portion of a component within the DG, wherein the conductive portion is grounded via a ground rod system; monitoring flow of the monitoring current to determine a change in the flow; and generating, as a result of the change in the flow, a notification of the disconnection. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for indicating a disconnection within a Distributed Generator (DG), comprising:
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a photovoltaic (PV) module comprising a conductive frame, wherein the conductive frame is grounded via a ground rod system; and an alarm module, wherein the alarm module (i) is electrically coupled to the conductive frame and to a ground line, (ii) couples a monitoring current to the conductive frame, (iii) monitors flow of the monitoring current to determine a change in the flow, and (iv) generates, as a result of the change in the flow, a notification of the disconnection. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification