METHOD TO UTILIZE MULTIPLE CONFIGURATION SOFTWARE FOR DF/CAFI BREAKERS

• US 20180145497A1
• Filed: 11/23/2016
• Published: 05/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2016
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Jakupi, Andi
• Application Number:
  US15/360,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20180145497A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/44 Testing lamps
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/52 Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/04 Means for indicating condition of the switching device by means of an auxiliary contact H01H71/46
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0015 Using arc detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0092 concerning the data processing means, e.g. expert systems, neural networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/00 Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition with or without subsequent reconnection specially adapted for specific types of electric machines or apparatus or for sectionalised protection of cable or line systems H02H7/00; systems for change-over to standby supply H02J9/00 ; integrated protection for motors H02H7/0822
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/006 Calibration or setting of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/04 with warning or supervision in addition to disconnection, e.g. for indicating that protective apparatus has functioned watching of pilot wires H02H1/0084; protection of protective arrangements H02H7/008; indication of the state of electronic switches H03K17/18
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/05 with means for increasing reliability, e.g. redundancy arrangements for logic circuits H03K19/003
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/16 responsive to fault current to earth, frame or mass with balanced or differential arrangement H02H3/26 ; monitoring earth connection H02H5/105

Abstract

An dual function/combination arc fault interrupter (DF/CAFI) circuit breaker or other circuit interrupting device is equipped to select from multiple load profiles for use with an on-board arc fault detection algorithm. The DF/CAFI breaker is provided with a selector mechanism to switch between the multiple profiles in the different look up tables preloaded in the breaker firmware. The installer may select a particular look up table with a particular branch load profile for arc events upon installation for an anticipated load profile. After installation, the user or installer may switch to a different Look Up Table with different load profile parameters upon noticing an excess of nuisance tripping.

Claims

1. An arc fault circuit interrupter device having:

a controller;

volatile and nonvolatile memories;

an arc detection algorithm and a plurality of Look Up Tables including a default Look Up Table and a second Look Up Table, each Look Up Table storing separate detection parameters for different load profiles, all stored in the nonvolatile memory;

the volatile memory storing the default Look Up Table during arc detection calculations;

a Look Up Table identifier for indicating to a user the default Look Up Table; and

a Look Up Table selector mechanism for changing between the plurality of stored Look Up Tables to select a default Look Up Table for use with the detection algorithm.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the Look Up Tables are pre-allocated into fixed memory regions of the nonvolatile memory.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the Look Up Tables are designated by common household room locations.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the identifier is one of a visible lighting sequence or a specific trip delay after a Push To Test routine.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a CAFI circuit breaker and the Look Up Table selector mechanism utilizes at least one of a Push To Test switch and an On/Off switch of the CAFI circuit breaker.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a CAFI circuit breaker and the Look Up Table selector mechanism utilizes at least one of a Push To Test switch and an On/Off switch of the CAFI circuit breaker.

7. An arc fault interrupting circuit breaker device having:

a processor for determining the occurrence of an arc event within a branch circuit connected to the circuit breaker;

a nonvolatile memory containing a Bootloader, firmware, and a plurality of Look Up Tables designed for arc events of different load profiles; and

volatile memory for loading a default one of the Look Up Tables and operating the default Look Up Table in conjunction with the processor of the circuit breaker.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the firmware further includes a detection algorithm using parameter values stored in the Look Up Tables.

9. The device of claim 7, further including a Look Up Table identifier for indicating to a user the default Look Up Table to be used with the detection algorithm.

10. The device of claim 7, further including a Look Up Table selector mechanism for changing between the plurality of stored Look Up Tables to select a default Look Up Table for use with the detection algorithm.

11. The device of claim 7, wherein the Look Up Tables are pre-allocated into fixed memory regions of the nonvolatile memory.

12. The device of claim 7, wherein the Look Up Tables are designated by common household room locations.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the identifier is one of a visible lighting sequence or a specific trip delay after a Push To Test routine.

14. The device of claim 7, wherein the device is a CAFI circuit breaker and the Look Up Table selector mechanism utilizes at least one of a Push To Test switch and an On/Off switch of the CAFI circuit breaker.