Switchgear device with grounding device and related methods

A switchgear device comprising:

• a frame defining an interior compartment;
• an electrical breaker component carried within the interior compartment, the interior compartment comprising an upper compartment above the electrical breaker component, and a lower compartment below the electrical breaker component;
• three incoming cable connectors carried in the upper compartment, and three outgoing cable connectors carried in the lower compartment;
• a first optical sensor carried within the interior compartment;
• a grounding device coupled to the electrical breaker component, the grounding device being within the interior compartment and being accessible from an exterior of the frame, the grounding device comprising:
• a grounding switch switching between a first open state and a second closed state, and
• an actuation device coupled to the grounding switch and configured to cause the grounding switch to switch between the first open state and the second closed state;
• and
• a controller coupled to the electrical breaker component, the first optical sensor, and the grounding device and configured to cause the grounding switch to switch to the second closed state based upon the first optical sensor.

A method of making a switchgear device, the method comprising:

• coupling an electrical breaker component carried within an interior compartment of a frame;
• coupling a first optical sensor carried within the interior compartment;
• coupling a grounding device to the electrical breaker component and being within the interior compartment, the grounding device comprising:
• a grounding switch switching between a first open state and a second closed state, an
• an actuation device coupled to the grounding switch and configured to cause the grounding switch to switch between the first open state and the second closed state;
• and
• coupling a controller to the electrical breaker component, the first optical sensor, and the grounding device and configured to cause the grounding switch to switch to the second closed state based upon the first optical sensor.