Solenoid-based voltage imbalance protection

A power supply circuit, comprising:

• a circuit breaker having a first power line, a second power line, and a neutral connected thereto;
• and
• a solenoid-based voltage imbalance detector configured to trip the circuit breaker, the solenoid-based voltage imbalance detector having a first coil and a second coil coaxially arranged therein, the first coil electrically connected to the first power line and the neutral, and the second coil electrically connected to the second power line and the neutral, the first and second coils configured to induce opposing electromagnetic force;
• wherein the solenoid-based voltage imbalance detector is configured to sense a voltage imbalance between the first and second coils and to trip or cause the circuit breaker to trip upon sensing the voltage imbalance.

A method of sensing a voltage imbalance between power lines of a power supply, the method comprising:

• providing coils coaxially arranged within a housing;
• electrically connecting each coil to a respective power line of the power supply and a neutral of the power supply, the coils configured to induce opposing electromagnetic force;
• supplying current flow in the power lines, the current flow in each power line generating a respective voltage across each coil;
• sensing a voltage imbalance in the voltage across the coils;
• and
• interrupting the current flow in the power lines upon sensing the voltage imbalance.