APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF PROTECTING THE SAFE SIDE WIRING OF A PROTECTIVE BARRIER AGAINST TRANSFERRING FAULT ENERGY INTO A POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE ENVIRONMENT

摘要

A method of protecting safe side wiring of a protective energy barrier against transferring fault energy into a potentially explosive environment comprises the steps of: enclosing the safe side wiring with at least one layer of shielding completely along the length thereof, the at least one layer of shielding capable of conducting the fault energy; connecting the safe side wiring at one end to circuitry of the protective energy barrier through a first connector having a housing which completely surrounds the safe side wiring prior to entering the protective energy barrier and is capable of conducting the fault energy; connecting the at least one layer of shielding of the safe side wiring to the housing of the first connector to conduct fault energy therebetween; connecting the safe side wiring at another end to circuitry within the potentially explosive environment through a second connector having a housing which completely surrounds the safe side wiring prior to entering the potentially explosive environment and is capable of conducting the fault energy; connecting the at least one layer of shielding of the safe side wiring to the housing of the second connector to conduct fault energy therebetween; and connecting the housings of the first and second connectors to structures capable of dissipating the fault energy.