Electrical wiring device with arc minimizer switch assembly and method

Abstract

An electrical wiring device configured to be disposed in an electrical distribution system including a power source for providing power to a load, including a compact switch assembly. The compact switch assembly includes a rocker assembly, a fixed contact assembly and a moveable contact assembly. By design and interaction between surfaces of the rocker assembly and the moveable contact assembly, permanent switch contact closure due to contact arc welding is avoided. A pivot member including a (moveable) contact is opened to a first contact separation distance within a given time and then to a second contact separation distance via user supplied force to a user accessible surface. A combination device is also disclosed including a circuit interrupter configured to provide power to a portion of the electrical distribution system in the closed contact position and to interrupt power from a portion of the electrical distribution system in the open contact position in response to a predetermined fault condition in the electrical distribution system. A method for opening a set of closed switch contacts in a switch assembly of an electrical device configured to provide the rated current of an AC electrical distribution system to a load is further disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.