Ground fault circuit interrupter system with uncommitted contacts

A ground fault circuit interrupter device with remote sensing ability comprising:

• a) a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) means including line and load side phase and neutral terminals and a relay switch for controlling current flow between an AC source and a electrical circuit to be protected in accordance with the detection of an interrupt condition;
• b) said GFCI means comprising first means for detecting a first current flowing from said AC source to said electrical circuit, second means for detecting a second current flowing from said electrical circuit to said AC source and an integrated circuit device to provide an output signal proportional to any difference between said first current and said second current and including comparing means to receive said output signal;
• c) a reference signal generator for generating a reference signal indicative of the maximum allowable difference between said first and second currents, said reference signal generator coupled to said integrated circuit device to provide said reference signal thereto;
• d) said comparing means of said integrated circuit device comparing said output signal with said reference signal and providing an interrupt signal if said output signal exceeds said reference signal;
• e) said relay switch includes a relay coil, a selectively movable phase contact having a line and a load end and a selectively movable neutral contact having a line and a load end;
• f) said line and load ends of said selectively movable phase contact are electrically connected to said load side phase terminal of said GFCI means and to a phase terminal of said electrical circuit, respectively;
• g) said line and load ends of said selectively movable neutral contact are electrically connected between a load side neutral terminal of said GFCI means and a neutral terminal of said electrical circuit, respectively;
• h) said relay coil is electrically coupled between said line ends of said selectively movable phase and selectively movable neutral contacts for moving said contacts in response to the receipt of said interrupt condition;
• and
• i) two electrical contacts electrically connected to said GFCI means such that a signal present at said electrical contacts may be continuously monitored to determine a state of current flow through said GFCI means phase and neutral contacts.