Protection device with lockout test

A protective device including a plurality of line terminals configured to be connected to an electrical distribution system and a plurality of load terminals configured to be connected to at least one load, comprising:

• a fault detection circuit coupled to the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals, the fault detection circuit being configured to detect at least one fault condition;
• a power interruption circuit coupled to the fault detection circuit, the power interruption circuit including a set of movable contacts configured to decouple the plurality of line terminals from the plurality of load terminals in response to the fault detection circuit detecting the at least one fault condition;
• a reset mechanism coupled to the power interruption circuit and configured to actuate the movable contacts to re-couple the plurality of line terminals to the plurality of load terminals;
• a lock-out mechanism coupled to the reset mechanism, the lockout mechanism including a spring mechanism configured to drive the reset mechanism into a lock-out state, and a fuse element coupled to the spring mechanism to prevent the spring mechanism from moving in an unlocked state;
• and
• a test circuit coupled to the fault detection circuit and the lock-out mechanism, the test circuit being configured to provide a simulated fault signal to the fault detection circuit, the test circuit being configured to open the fuse element to thereby drive the lock-out mechanism from the unlocked state to the lock-out state if the fault detection circuit and/or power interruption circuit fails to respond to the simulated fault signal within a predetermined period of time.

A protective device including a plurality of line terminals configured to be connected to an electrical distribution system and a plurality of load terminals configured to be connected to at least one load, comprising:

• a fault detection circuit coupled to the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals, the fault detection circuit being configured to detect at least one fault condition;
• a power interruption circuit coupled to the fault detection circuit, the power interruption circuit including a set of movable contacts configured to decouple the plurality of line terminals from the plurality of load terminals in response to the fault detection circuit detecting the at least one fault condition;
• a reset mechanism coupled to the power interruption circuit and configured to actuate the movable contacts to re-couple the plurality of line terminals to the plurality of load terminals;
• a lock-out mechanism coupled to the reset mechanism, the lockout mechanism being configured to disable the reset mechanism in a lock-out state;
• and
• a test circuit including a first circuit element coupled to the fault detection circuit and a second circuit element coupled to the lock-out mechanism, the first circuit element being configured to provide a simulated fault signal to the fault detection circuit, the second circuit element being configured to drive the lock-out mechanism from an unlocked state to the lock-out state if the fault detection circuit and/or power interruption circuit fails to respond to the simulated fault signal within a predetermined period of time.