Motor control device with solid state circuit breaker

A combination motor control device comprising:

• a line side structured to electrically connect to a power source;
• a load side structured to electrically connect to a motor;
• a bi-directional switching circuit structured to allow current to flow from the line side to the load side and from the load side to the line side of the combination motor control device, wherein the bi-directional switching circuit includes a bi-directional bridge rectifier;
• a semiconductor switching and interruption circuit coupled to an output side of the bi-directional switching circuit and including a number of solid-state transistors and being operable to turn on to allow power to flow through the combination motor control device and to turn off to stop allowing power to flow through the combination motor control device;
• a power circuit structured to sense voltage and/or current flowing through the combination motor control device at a location upstream and in front of the bi-directional switching circuit and the semiconductor switching and interruption circuit;
• a control circuit structured to provide a motor start function, as a motor starter control circuit, and to provide a circuit protection function, as an electronic trip unit in a circuit breaker, the control circuit configured to:
• detect a fault in power flowing through the combination motor control device based on the sensed voltage and/or current, to control the semiconductor switching and interruption circuit to provide the circuit protection function via determining whether to initiate a trip based on a type and severity of the fault, and to control the semiconductor switching and interruption circuit to turn off in response to detecting the fault and in response to a determination to initiate the trip, and
• provide the motor start function via controlling the semiconductor switching and interruption circuit in response to an external signal to switch the number of solid-state transistors to allow current to flow to the motor;
• and
• line conductors on the line side configured to receive power from a power source, wherein the power circuit is structured to harvest power, to power the control circuit, via an electrical connection to the line conductors while the semiconductor switching and interruption circuit is off.