Arc flash detection method

A circuit breaker for connecting or disconnecting a power supply to or from a circuit respectively, comprising:

• at least one near-field radio frequency (RF) sensor for monitoring near-field RF signal at or around electrical contacts of the circuit breaker;
• at least one far-field radio frequency (RF) sensor for monitoring far-field RF signal away from the contacts of the circuit breaker;
• at least one sensor for monitoring a rate of change of current over time on the circuit;
• at least one processor configured:
• to detect an arc fault on the circuit based on the monitored near-field RF signal, the monitored far-field RF signal, and the monitored rate of change of current;
• and
• to initiate implementation of a tripping operation to disconnect the power supply from the circuit, in response to the detection of the arc fault.

A non-tangible computer readable medium storing computer code, which when executed by at least one processor, implements a process of controlling operations of a circuit breaker, the process comprising:

• monitoring, using at least one near-field radio frequency (RF) sensor of the circuit breaker, near-field RF signal at or around electrical contacts of the circuit breaker;
• monitoring, using at least one far-field RF sensor of the circuit breaker, far-field RF signal away from the contacts of the circuit breaker;
• monitoring, using at least one sensor of the circuit breaker, a rate of change of current over time on the circuit;
• detecting an arc fault on a circuit based on the monitored near-field RF signal, the monitored far-field RF signal, and the monitored rate of change of current;
• and
• implementing a tripping operation on the circuit breaker to disconnect a power supply from the circuit, in response to the detection of the arc fault.