Power distribution systems and methods of performing zone selective interlocking in power distribution systems with a communication network

A circuit protection device for an electrical distribution system, said circuit protection device comprising:

• a trip unit configured to selectively trip to prevent a flow of electrical current through said circuit protection device;
• a network interface configured for communicative coupling to a communication network, wherein the network interface is configured to operate as an access point for the communication network to enable communication between a plurality of circuit protection devices coupled to the communication network through the access point;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory device storing instructions that, when executed by said processor, cause said processor to transmit, using said network interface, zones selective interlocking (ZSI) data to another circuit protection device coupled to the communication network through the access point, the ZSI data formatted according to a network communication protocol of the communication network.

A method of operating an electrical power distribution system comprising a plurality of circuit protection devices coupled between an electrical power source and a plurality of electrical loads, each circuit protection device of the plurality of circuit protection devices comprising a trip unit, a network interface communicatively coupled to a communication network including the plurality of circuit protection devices, a processor, and a memory device, said method comprising:

• operating, by a first circuit protection device of the plurality of circuit protection devices, the network interface of the first circuit protection device as an access point for the communication network to enable communication between the plurality of circuit protection devices;
• receiving, by the first circuit protection device, zone selective interlocking (ZSI) data from at least a second circuit protection device downstream from the first circuit protection device and communicatively coupled to the communication network through the access point, the ZSI data formatted according to a network communication protocol of the communication network;
• and
• determining, by the first circuit protection device, whether to change an operational mode of the first circuit protection device to a restrained operational mode based, at least in part, on the received ZSI data from the downstream circuit protection device.