Arc fault circuit breaker

摘要

An arc fault circuit breaker (10) conducting an electric current to a protected load is presented. The circuit breaker (10) has a first (mechanical) compartment (24) and a second (electrical) compartment (62). A bimetal resistor (50) is disposed within the first compartment (24) and conducts the current therethrough. The bimetal resistor (50) has a stud (56) extending into the second compartment (62). A single sense line (60) is electrically connected to the bimetal resistor (50) and routed into the second compartment (62). The sense line (60) and said stud (56) conduct a voltage signal indicative of arcing of the current. A circuit board (84) is disposed within the second compartment (62) and is connected to the sense line (60) and stud (56) within the second compartment (62) to process the voltage signal. The circuit board (84) has a first conductive path (104) electrically connected to the stud (56), and a second conductive path (106) electrically connected to the sense line (60). The first and second conductive paths (104,106) run substantially parallel and proximate to each other such that electromagnetic interference of the voltage signal is substantially reduced.