摘要 |
<p>A circuit breaker includes a line terminal, a load terminal, separable contacts electrically connected in series between the terminals, a neutral conductor, and an operating mechanism structured to open and close the contacts and trip open the contacts in response to a trip signal. A first sensor senses an electrical characteristic operatively associated with the contacts. A second sensor detects zero crossings, a consecutive pair of the crossings defining a corresponding half- cycle and a first frequency. A processor cooperates with the sensors and includes a routine and a timer having a second frequency. The routine determines, for each of the half--cycles and responsive to the timer, plural samples of the sensed electrical characteristic in a phase synchronized relationship to a corresponding one of the crossings, and determines whether one of the frequencies exceeds a number of corresponding predetermined values for a number of times and responsively outputs the trip signal.</p> |