Ground fault circuit interrupter for circuits operating with non-sinusoidal waveforms

A device for providing ground fault protection for a load controlled by a phase controlled dimmer device, comprising:

• line side phase and neutral connections connectable to the phase controlled dimmer device;
• load side phase connection connectable to the load;
• control phase and neutral connections;
• a phase conductive path between said line side phase connection and said load side phase connection;
• a neutral conductive path between said line side neutral connection and said load side neutral connection;
• a pickup capable of monitoring current flow through said phase and neutral conductive paths and generating a pickup signal when predefined current characteristics occur;
• a ground fault detector supplied power at said control phase and neutral connections, said ground fault detector being capable of detecting ground faults from said pickup signal and generating a trigger signal when a ground fault is detected;
• and
• a power disconnect responsive to said trigger signal, such that when said trigger signal is generated said power disconnect opens at least said phase conductive path.

A method for providing ground fault protection for one or more loads in an electrical wiring system, comprising:

• sensing electrical characteristics associated with conductors supplying power to the one or more loads and generating a pick up signal when predefined electrical characteristics are sensed;
• using conductors that are independent of the conductors supplying power to the one or more loads to power a ground fault detector, said ground fault detector being, configured to receive said pickup signal, detect ground faults from said pickup signal, and generate a trigger signal when a ground fault is detected;
• and
• disconnecting the power to the one or more loads using a power disconnect responsive to said trigger signal such that when said trigger signal is generated power to the one or more loads is disconnected.

A method for providing ground fault protection for a load controlled by a phase controlled dimmer device, comprising:

• providing a line side phase connection and a line side neutral connection connectable to the phase controlled dimmer device;
• providing a load side phase connection connectable to the load;
• providing a control phase connection and a control neutral connection;
• providing a phase conductive path between said line side phase connection and said load side phase connection;
• providing a neutral conductive path between said line side neutral connection and said load side neutral connection;
• providing a pickup capable of monitoring current flow through said phase and neutral conductive paths and generating a pickup signal when predefined current characteristics occur;
• providing a ground fault detector supplied power at said control phase and control neutral connections, said ground fault detector being capable of detecting ground faults from said pickup signal and generating a trigger signal when a ground fault is detected;
• and
• providing a power disconnect responsive to said trigger signal, such that when said trigger signal is generated said power disconnect opens at least said phase conductive path.