Circuit protector signal transmission, methods and system

A signal transmission system for a plurality of circuit protectors, each of the circuit protectors defining an interruptible current path therethrough upon an occurrence of specified current conditions through the interruptible current path, wherein a status element is associated with each of the circuit protectors, each of the status elements being adapted to monitor an operating state of the respective current path, and at least one of the status elements adapted to transmit a data signal when one or more of the current paths are interrupted as the circuit protectors operate, the signal transmission system comprising:

• a plurality of repeater/router elements located within a signal transmission range of at least one of the status elements;
• and
• a gateway device adapted to receive the data signal from the at least one status element;
• wherein the repeater/router elements are adapted to receive the data signal from the at least one status element and forward the data signal to the gateway device in a first message protocol comprising at least a unique circuit protector identifier and a location identifier for the operated circuit protector.

A method of efficiently re-energizing affected circuitry in an electrical system when a circuit protector operates to isolate one portion of an electrical system from another portion of the electrical system, the method comprising:

• providing a status element proximate to the respective circuit protectors of interest, the status element adapted to generate a data signal representative of an operating state of the associated circuit protector, at least one repeater/router element within the signal transmission range of the status element, and an electronic gateway device adapted to receive signals from the repeater/router elements;
• sensing, using the status elements, an operating state of the circuit protectors when installed in the electrical system;
• based upon the sensed state of the circuit protectors, transmitting a data signal from at least one of the status elements to the repeater/router element;
• and
• forwarding, using the repeater/router element, the data signal to the electronic gateway device;
• wherein transmitting a data signal from the status elements comprises transmitting a data signal comprising at least an identification code and an address code to identify the location of the operated circuit protector.

A circuit protector system comprising:

• means for sensing an operating state of a plurality of circuit protectors in an electrical system;
• means for transmitting a data signal corresponding to a sensed operation of one or more of the circuit protectors, thereby isolating at least one portion of the electrical system from another portion of the electrical system;
• means for receiving and forwarding the data signal, located remotely from the means for transmitting;
• and
• means for processing the forwarded data signals and communicating with a remote overview and response dispatch system;
• wherein the circuit protectors are fuses.

A circuit protector signal transmission kit comprising:

• at least one status element adapted for retrofit installation to a circuit protector in an electrical system, the status element adapted to generate a low power wireless data signal when the circuit protector operates to interrupt and isolate one portion of the electrical system from another portion of the electrical system;
• at least one router repeater element adapted to receive the wireless data signal at a location within a signal transmission range of the status element;
• and
• a gateway device adapted to receive data signals forwarded from the at least one repeater/router element, the gateway device adapted to convert the data signals to a network communications protocol for communication to a network-based overview and response dispatch system.