Solid state circuit interrupter

A circuit interrupter structured to electrically connect between a power source and a load, the circuit interrupter comprising:

• separable contacts structured to open to provide galvanic isolation between the power source and the load;
• an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts;
• a first position sensor structured to sense a position of the separable contacts;
• a solid state switch module structured to have a closed state to avow current to flow through the circuit interrupter and an open state to interrupt the current flowing through the circuit interrupter;
• and
• an electronic trip unit structured to control the solid state switch module to change between the open state and the closed state and to control the operating mechanism to open the separable contacts, wherein, based on an output of the first position sensor, the electronic trip unit is structured to control the solid state switch module to change from the open state to the closed state when the separable contacts are in a closed position,
• the circuit interrupter further comprising:
• a first switch operable by a user;
• and a second switch operable by a user, wherein the electronic trip unit is structured to control the solid state switch module to change from the closed state to the open state and subsequently control the operating mechanism to open the separable contacts in response to the user operating the first switch, and wherein the electronic trip unit is structured to control the operating mechanism to close the separable contacts and subsequently control the solid state switch module to change to the closed state in response to the user operating the second switch.
• the circuit interrupter, further comprising:
• a second position sensor structured to sense a position of the first switch;
• and a third position sensor structured to sense a position of the second switch, wherein the electronic trip unit is structured to control the solid state switch module to change from the closed state to the open state and subsequently control the operating mechanism to open the separable contacts in response to the user operating the first switch based on an output of the second position sensor, and wherein the electronic trip unit is structured to control the operating mechanism to close the separable contacts and subsequently control the solid state switch module to change to the closed state in response to the user operating the second switch based on an output of the third position sensor.