Trip unit providing remote electrical signal to remotely indicate that an arc reduction maintenance mode is remotely enabled, and electrical switching apparatus including the same

An electrical switching apparatus comprising:

• separable contacts;
• an operating mechanism structured to open and close said separable contacts;
• and
• a trip mechanism cooperating with said operating mechanism to trip open said separable contacts, said trip mechanism comprising:
• an input structured to receive a remote signal to remotely enable an arc reduction maintenance mode,
• a first circuit structured to enable said arc reduction maintenance mode in response to the received remote signal, and
• a second circuit structured to provide an electrical signal remote from said trip mechanism in order to remotely indicate that said arc reduction maintenance mode is remotely enabled,
• wherein said first circuit comprises a first relay including a first coil;
• wherein said second circuit comprises a second relay including a second coil;
• and wherein said first and second coils are electrically connected in series and are structured to be energized by the received remote signal.

A trip unit for a circuit interrupter for an electrical circuit, said trip unit comprising:

• an input structured to receive a remote signal to remotely enable an arc reduction maintenance mode;
• a first circuit structured to enable said arc reduction maintenance mode in response to the received remote signal;
• and
• a second circuit structured to provide an electrical signal remote from said trip unit in order to remotely indicate that said arc reduction maintenance mode is remotely enabled,
• wherein said input is further structured to receive two conductors to receive a direct current voltage as the remote signal;
• and wherein said second circuit further comprises two conductors to output a contact and a conductor cooperating with the contact as the electrical signal remote from said trip mechanism.

A trip unit for a circuit interrupter for an electrical circuit, said trip unit comprising:

• an input structured to receive a remote signal to remotely enable an arc reduction maintenance mode;
• a first circuit structured to enable said arc reduction maintenance mode in response to the received remote signal;
• and
• a second circuit structured to provide an electrical signal remote from said trip unit in order to remotely indicate that said arc reduction maintenance mode is remotely enabled,
• wherein said first circuit comprises a manually operable selector structured to select one of a plurality of predetermined current conditions, each of said predetermined current conditions being greater than a current condition of said arc reduction maintenance mode;
• wherein said first circuit is structured to override said manually operable selector;
• wherein said first circuit is further structured to select the current condition of said arc reduction maintenance mode in response to the received remote signal;
• wherein said current condition of said arc reduction maintenance mode is defined by the series combination of a zener diode and a resistor;
• wherein said manually operable selector is further structured to electrically connect the series combination of the zener diode and the resistor in parallel with another zener diode;
• and wherein said first circuit comprises a relay energized by the received remote signal, said relay including a contact structured to electrically connect the series combination of the zener diode and the resistor in parallel with said another zener diode when said input receives the remote signal.

A trip unit for a circuit interrupter for an electrical circuit, said trip unit comprising:

• an input structured to receive a remote signal to remotely enable an arc reduction maintenance mode;
• a first circuit structured to enable said arc reduction maintenance mode in response to the received remote signal;
• and
• a second circuit structured to provide an electrical signal remote from said trip unit in order to remotely indicate that said arc reduction maintenance mode is remotely enabled
• wherein said first circuit comprises a first relay including a first coil;
• wherein said second circuit comprises a second relay including a second coil;
• and wherein said first and second coils are electrically connected in series and are structured to be energized by the received remote signal.