Electrical arc protection using a trip contact

A power receptacle comprising:

• a plurality of receptacle power contacts;
• and
• a trip circuit, wherein the trip circuit comprises a first and a second receptacle trip contact, wherein the first and second receptacle trip contacts are configured to make a trip connection, during a plugging action with the receptacle and a power plug, with a mating trip contact included in the plug, and wherein the trip circuit is configured to:
• permit a trip current between the first and second receptacle trip contacts, when during the plugging action, at least one receptacle power contact, included in the plurality of receptacle power contacts, is connected to electrical power provided by a power source and the first and second receptacle trip contacts make the trip connection with the plug trip contact, wherein the trip current causes disconnection of a receptacle power contact, among the at least one receptacle power contact connected to the electrical power, from the electrical power.

A system comprising:

• an electrical device;
• a line cord comprising a plurality of line wires and a power plug, wherein the line cord and the plurality of line wires connect the electrical device to the power plug, wherein the power plug comprises a plurality of plug power contacts, each of the plurality of plug power contacts coupled to a respective line wire included in the plurality of line wires, and wherein the power plug further comprises a plug trip contact;
• and
• wherein the plug trip contact is configured to make a trip connection, during a plugging action with the power plug and a power receptacle, between the plug trip contact and two or more mating receptacle trip contacts included in the power receptacle;
• wherein the trip connection permits a trip current through the plug trip contact when at least one receptacle power contact, included in the power receptacle, is connected to electrical power provided by a power source;
• and
• wherein the trip current causes disconnection, from the electrical power, of a receptacle power contact among the at least one receptacle power contact connected to the electrical power.