Compact recloser

A method of detecting contact erosion in a recloser, the recloser including a circuit interrupter including a first contact and a second contact movable relative to the first contact between a closed position and an open position, an actuator including a plunger that is coupled to the second contact for closing and opening the circuit interrupter, a sensor board including a plurality of position sensors for detecting a position of the plunger, and a controller including an electronic processor operatively coupled to the actuator and the sensor board, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the controller, a first signal from a first position sensor;
• determining, by the controller, a first time at which the plunger moves past the first position sensor based on a voltage change in the first signal;
• receiving, by the controller, a second signal from a second position sensor;
• determining, by the controller, a second time at which the plunger moves past the second position sensor based on a voltage change in the second signal;
• determining, by the controller, a velocity of the plunger based on a difference between the first and second times and a lateral distance between the first and second position sensors;
• determining, by the controller, whether a difference between the velocity of the plunger and a baseline velocity of the plunger exceeds a threshold;
• and
• performing, by the controller, an operating action when the difference between the velocity of the plunger and the baseline velocity exceeds a threshold.

A method of detecting contact erosion in a recloser, the recloser including a circuit interrupter including a first contact and a second contact movable relative to the first contact between a closed position and an open position, an actuator including a plunger that is coupled to the second contact for closing and opening the circuit interrupter, a position sensor for detecting a position of the plunger, a current sensor for detecting a current flowing through the circuit interrupter, and a controller including an electronic processor operatively coupled to the actuator and a sensor board, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the controller, a first signal from the position sensor;
• determining, by the controller, a first time at which the plunger moves past the position sensor based on a voltage change in the first signal;
• receiving, by the controller, a second signal from the current sensor;
• determining, by the controller, a second time at which current begins to flow through the circuit interrupter based on the second signal;
• determining, by the controller, whether a difference between the first and second times exceeds a threshold;
• and
• performing, by the controller, an operating action when the difference between the first and second times exceeds the threshold.