Method and apparatus for node electronics unit architecture

A node electronics unit comprising:

• at least one network communications interface for communicating with the at least one central control processing unit;
• at least one processor including a memory, a communication processor and a command interpreter, said at least one processor being coupled to said at least one network communications interface;
• a signal conditioner module coupled to said processor, said signal conditioner for receiving electrical signals from a plurality of sensors adapted to be coupled to a circuit breaker, said plurality of sensors located remote from said node electronics unit;
• a status input module coupled to said processor, said status input module for receiving status signals from said circuit breaker, said processor being configured to communicate said electrical signals and said status signals to said central control processing unit and being configured to receive circuit breaker actuation commands from said central control processing unit based on said electrical signals and/or said status signals;
• and
• an actuation power module coupled to said processor, said actuation power module for supplying said circuit breaker actuation commands to said circuit breaker.

A power distribution system comprising:

• a plurality of circuit breakers;
• a node electronics unit in communication with each circuit breaker of said plurality of circuit breakers;
• a digital network communicatively coupled to each said node electronics unit;
• and
• at least one central control unit communicatively coupled to said digital network, said digital network communicating transmissions between each said node electronics unit and said at least one central control unit, said at least one central control unit operating any of said plurality of circuit breakers based on said transmissions.