Apparatus for and method of testing an electrical ground fault circuit interrupt device

Andrews, Lowell B

Title: Apparatus for and method of testing an electrical ground fault circuit interrupt device

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Abstract

An apparatus for testing a ground fault circuit interrupt device includes a processor, an input device connected to the processor for receiving input from an operator, a storage media connected to the processor for storing test data, an output device connected to the processor for outputting information corresponding to the test data to the operator, and a calibrated variable load circuit connected between the processor and the ground fault circuit interrupt device. The ground fault circuit interrupt device is configured to trip a corresponding circuit breaker. The processor is configured to receive signals from the calibrated variable load circuit and to process the signals to determine a trip threshold current and/or a trip time. A method of testing the ground fault circuit interrupt device includes a first step of providing an identification for the ground fault circuit interrupt device. Test data is then recorded in accordance with the identification. By comparing test data from an initial test with test data from a subsequent test, a trend of performance for the ground fault circuit interrupt device is determined.

Inventors:

Andrews, Lowell B ^[1]

2181-13th Ave. SW., Largo, FL 34640

Publication Date:: Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1998

Research Org.:: LOCKHEED MARTIN SPEC COMPONENT

OSTI Identifier:: 871792

Patent Number(s):: US 5796636

Assignee:: Andrews, Lowell B. (2181-13th Ave. SW., Largo, FL 34640)

DOE Contract Number:: AC04-92AL73000

Resource Type:: Patent

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: apparatus; method; testing; electrical; ground; fault; circuit; interrupt; device; processor; input; connected; receiving; operator; storage; media; storing; data; output; outputting; information; corresponding; calibrated; variable; load; configured; trip; breaker; receive; signals; process; determine; threshold; current; time; step; providing; identification; recorded; accordance; comparing; initial; subsequent; trend; performance; determined; circuit interrupt; output device; fault circuit; electrical ground; interrupt device; load circuit; circuit connected; circuit breaker; ground fault; storage media; receive signals; variable load; trip time; input device; device connected; receive signal; /702/361/700/

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                    Andrews, Lowell B. Apparatus for and method of testing an electrical ground fault circuit interrupt device.  United States: N. p., 1998. 
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                    Andrews, Lowell B. Apparatus for and method of testing an electrical ground fault circuit interrupt device.  United States.

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                    Andrews, Lowell B. 1998.  
        "Apparatus for and method of testing an electrical ground fault circuit interrupt device".  United States.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/871792.

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@article{osti_871792,

  title        = {Apparatus for and method of testing an electrical ground fault circuit interrupt device},

  author       = {Andrews, Lowell B},

  abstractNote = {An apparatus for testing a ground fault circuit interrupt device includes a processor, an input device connected to the processor for receiving input from an operator, a storage media connected to the processor for storing test data, an output device connected to the processor for outputting information corresponding to the test data to the operator, and a calibrated variable load circuit connected between the processor and the ground fault circuit interrupt device. The ground fault circuit interrupt device is configured to trip a corresponding circuit breaker. The processor is configured to receive signals from the calibrated variable load circuit and to process the signals to determine a trip threshold current and/or a trip time. A method of testing the ground fault circuit interrupt device includes a first step of providing an identification for the ground fault circuit interrupt device. Test data is then recorded in accordance with the identification. By comparing test data from an initial test with test data from a subsequent test, a trend of performance for the ground fault circuit interrupt device is determined.},

  doi          = {},

  url          = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/871792},
  journal      = {},
number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1998},

  month        = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1998}

}

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