Electrical device with miswire protection and automated testing

An electrical wiring device comprising:

• a housing assembly including a plurality of line terminals, a plurality of load terminals, and a plurality of receptacle load terminals;
• a circuit assembly including at least one signal detection circuit, the at least one signal detection circuit being configured to detect at least one signal having predetermined signal characteristics propagating on at least one of the plurality of line terminals or at least one of the plurality of load terminals, the circuit assembly being configured to generate a detection stimulus in response to the at least one signal detection circuit detecting the at least one signal;
• an interrupting contact assembly coupled to the circuit assembly, the plurality of line terminals, the plurality of load terminals and the plurality of receptacle load terminals, the interrupting contact assembly including four sets of interrupting contacts being at least partially disposed on four cantilevered members, the four cantilevered members including a first set of two cantilevered members and a second set of two cantilevered members, the first set of two cantilevered members being configured to rotate around a first axis in a first direction and the second set of two cantilevered members being configured to rotate around a second axis in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the four sets of interrupting contacts being configured to provide electrical continuity between the plurality of line terminals, the plurality of load terminals, and the plurality of receptacle load terminals in a reset state, the four sets of interrupting contacts being decoupled in a tripped state in response to the detection stimulus to interrupt the electrical continuity between the plurality of line terminals, the plurality of load terminals and the plurality of receptacle load terminals;
• and
• an automated test assembly coupled to the plurality of line terminals and the circuit assembly, the automated test assembly being configured to generate an automated test signal during a predetermined half-cycle of AC power and monitor a circuit assembly response to the automated test signal, the detection stimulus being substantially inhibited if the circuit assembly properly responds to the automated test signal, the automated test assembly generating an end-of-life response if the circuit assembly fails to respond to the automated test signal within a predetermined period of time.

An electrical wiring device configured to be installed in an electrical distribution system having an AC power source, the AC power source providing an AC power line signal characterized by a first half cycle having a first AC polarity and a second half cycle having a second AC polarity, the device comprising:

• a plurality of line terminals and a plurality of load terminals;
• at least one circuit coupled to the plurality of line terminals and configured to conduct a predetermined current flow if a proper wiring condition has been effected, a proper wiring condition being effected when the plurality of line terminals are connected to the AC power source;
• at least one sensor coupled to the plurality of line terminals or the plurality of load terminals, the at least one sensor providing a sensor output signal corresponding to electrical perturbations propagating on the plurality of line terminals or the plurality of load terminals;
• a fault detection circuit coupled to the at least one sensor, the fault detection circuit being configured to generate a fault detection signal if the sensor output signal substantially corresponds to at least one predetermined fault criterion;
• an actuator assembly responsive to the fault detection circuit, the actuator assembly including a switch element and a solenoid, the switch element being turned ON in response to the fault detection signal to thereby conduct an energization signal through the solenoid, the solenoid exerting an actuation stimulus in response to the energization signal;
• a circuit interrupter coupled to the actuator assembly, the circuit interrupter including a latching mechanism, the circuit interrupter being in a reset state when the latching mechanism is latched, the circuit interrupter being in a tripped state when the latching mechanism is unlatched, the latching mechanism being unlatched by the actuation stimulus, the circuit interrupter being inhibited from entering the reset state absent the predetermined current flow;
• and
• an end of life detection circuit being configured to provide a test signal to the at least one sensor during the second half cycle, the end of life detection circuit being further configured to monitor the fault detection circuit or the actuator assembly, the fault detection circuit or the actuator assembly generating a test response to the test signal when operational and not generating the test response otherwise, the actuation stimulus being substantially inhibited when the fault detection circuit or the actuator assembly generate the test response.