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US 10,855,068 B2Granted
Ground fault monitoring system and method
AssigneesPaul Violo, George De Francesca
InventorsPaul Violo, George De Francesca
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A ground fault monitoring system for an electrical service panel is provided. The ground fault monitoring system includes a current transformer coupled to a primary bonding location of the electrical service panel. The ground fault monitoring system also includes a current monitoring device in communication with the current transformer to detect ground fault electrical current returning to the electrical service panel. The ground fault monitoring system also includes a ground fault output interface in communication with the current monitoring device to provide ground fault status of the electrical service panel.
Claims18
A ground fault monitoring system for an electrical service panel, the ground fault monitoring system comprising:
- a current transformer coupled to a primary bonding location of the electrical service panel;
- a current monitoring device in communication with the current transformer to detect ground fault electrical current returning to the electrical service panel;
- a ground fault output interface in communication with the current monitoring device to provide ground fault status of the electrical service panel;
- and
- an auxiliary bonding jumper passing through the current transformer at the primary bonding location of the electrical service panel, the auxiliary bonding jumper providing a low-impedance path between a neutral bus and a grounding electrode conductor of the electrical service panel, wherein the auxiliary bonding jumper replaces a main bonding jumper at the primary bonding location of the electrical service panel.
2 more elements
A ground fault monitoring system for an electrical service panel, the ground fault monitoring system comprising:
- a current transformer coupled to a primary bonding location of the electrical service panel;
- a current monitoring device in communication with the current transformer to detect ground fault electrical current returning to the electrical service panel;
- a ground fault output interface in communication with the current monitoring device to provide ground fault status of the electrical service panel;
- and
- an auxiliary bonding jumper passing through the current transformer at the primary bonding location of the electrical service panel, the auxiliary bonding jumper providing a low-impedance path between a neutral bus and a grounding electrode conductor of the electrical service panel, wherein the current monitoring device is configured to:
- detect current flow through the auxiliary bonding jumper and determine a current reading of the current flowing through the auxiliary bonding jumper;
- compare a ground fault threshold level with the determined current reading;
- and
- based on the comparison, transmit a ground fault level indicator to the ground fault output interface for providing the ground fault status, and wherein the current monitoring device is configured with a plurality of ground fault threshold levels, and wherein the plurality of ground fault threshold levels are configurable.
6 more elements
A ground fault monitoring system for an electrical service panel, the ground fault monitoring system comprising:
- a current transformer coupled to a primary bonding location of the electrical service panel;
- a current monitoring device in communication with the current transformer to detect ground fault electrical current returning to the electrical service panel;
- a ground fault output interface in communication with the current monitoring device to provide ground fault status of the electrical service panel;
- and
- an auxiliary device in communication with the current monitoring device via an auxiliary connection link for remotely controlling the current monitoring device, wherein the auxiliary device includes at least one user interface element for generating and transmitting a system control signal to the current monitoring device.
2 more elements
A ground fault monitoring system for an electrical service panel, the ground fault monitoring system comprising:
- a current transformer coupled to a primary bonding location of the electrical service panel;
- a current monitoring device in communication with the current transformer to detect ground fault electrical current returning to the electrical service panel;
- and
- a ground fault output interface in communication with the current monitoring device to provide ground fault status of the electrical service panel,
- wherein the current transformer is coupled to the primary bonding location from within the electrical service panel, and wherein the current monitoring device is positioned external to the electrical service panel and is removeably connected to the current transformer through a current transformer connection interface.
2 more elements
A ground fault monitoring system for an electrical service panel, the ground fault monitoring system comprising:
- a current transformer coupled to a primary bonding location of the electrical service panel;
- a current monitoring device in communication with the current transformer to detect ground fault electrical current returning to the electrical service panel;
- and
- a ground fault output interface in communication with the current monitoring device to provide ground fault status of the electrical service panel, wherein the current monitoring device includes a memory device for recording ground fault electrical current values over time.
1 more element
A ground fault monitoring system for an electrical service panel, the ground fault monitoring system comprising:
- a current transformer coupled to a primary bonding location of the electrical service panel;
- a current monitoring device in communication with the current transformer to detect ground fault electrical current returning to the electrical service panel;
- and
- a ground fault output interface in communication with the current monitoring device to provide ground fault status of the electrical service panel,
- wherein the current monitoring device includes an alternating current power interface for connecting the current monitoring device to an electrical power source and a direct current power interface for connecting the current monitoring device to a portable power source, and wherein the current monitoring device is configured to:
- detect an alternating current disconnection of the electrical power source from the current monitoring device;
- and
- when the alternating current disconnection is detected:
- transmitting an alternating current power indicator to the ground fault output interface for conveying a power error status;
- and
- enabling the direct current power interface for providing power to the current monitoring device using the portable power source.
8 more elements
A ground fault monitoring system for an electrical service panel, the ground fault monitoring system comprising:
- a current transformer coupled to a primary bonding location of the electrical service panel;
- a current monitoring device in communication with the current transformer to detect ground fault electrical current returning to the electrical service panel;
- and
- a ground fault output interface in communication with the current monitoring device to provide ground fault status of the electrical service panel,
- wherein the current monitoring device is in communication with the current transformer via a measurement link, and wherein the current monitoring device is configured to:
- detect a measurement link disconnection between the current monitoring device and the current transformer;
- and
- when the measurement link disconnection is detected, transmit a current transformer disconnection indicator to the ground fault output interface for conveying a measurement link status.
5 more elements
A method of retrofitting an electrical service panel to detect ground fault electrical current, the method comprising:
- removing a main bonding jumper from a primary bonding location of the electrical service panel, wherein removing the main bonding jumper isolates a neutral bus from a grounding electrode conductor of the electrical service panel;
- installing an auxiliary bonding jumper at the primary bonding location to provide a low-impedance path between the neutral bus and the grounding electrode conductor of the electrical service panel, the auxiliary bonding jumper being passed through a current transformer positioned within the electrical service panel;
- and
- configuring the current transformer to be removeably connected to a current monitoring device for detecting ground fault electrical current returning to the electrical service panel.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.