Power contact electrode surface plasma therapy

An electrical circuit, comprising:

• a pair of terminals adapted to be connected to a set of switchable contact electrodes;
• a plasma ignition detector operatively coupled to the pair of terminals, the plasma ignition detector configured to detect an electrical parameter over the switchable contact electrodes indicative of formation of plasma between the switchable contact electrodes and output a plasma ignition signal based on the electrical parameter as detected;
• a controller circuit, operatively coupled to the plasma ignition detector, configured to output a plasma extinguish command based on the plasma ignition signal and following completion of a time requirement;
• and
• a plasma extinguishing circuit, configured to bypass the pair of terminals upon receiving the plasma extinguish command.

A method of cleaning switchable contact electrodes, comprising:

• coupling a pair of terminals to a set of switchable contact electrodes;
• operatively coupling an arc suppressor across the pair of terminals, the arc suppressor comprising:
• a plasma ignition detector operatively coupled to the pair of terminals, the plasma ignition detector configured to detect an electrical parameter over the switchable contact electrodes indicative of formation of plasma between the switchable contact electrodes and output a plasma ignition signal based on the electrical parameter as detected;
• a plasma extinguishing circuit;
• and
• a controller circuit configured to output a plasma extinguish command based on the plasma ignition signal and following completion of the time requirement, wherein the plasma extinguishing circuit is configured to bypass the pair of terminals upon receiving the plasma extinguish command.