Systems and methods for detecting and determining sources of power disturbances in connection with effective remediation

A method for selective protection of an electrical load from disturbances on an input power line in response to characteristics of the electrical load, comprising the steps of:

• providing a power protection circuit coupled to the input power line for providing electrical protection for the electrical load, the power protection circuit including an inrush current limiting circuit and a switch for disconnecting the input power line from the load;
• providing remediation and/or inhibition of remediation with the power protection circuit in response to predetermined conditions, said remediation comprising:
• (a) determining that the electrical load is in a first operational state corresponding to a first average current draw over a first predetermined time period, or a second operational state corresponding to a second average current draw over a predetermined second time period;
• (b) controlling the power protection circuit to provide inrush current limiting to the electrical load in response to a first category of disturbances when the electrical load is in the first operational state;
• and
• (c) inhibiting the power protection circuit from disconnecting the electrical load in response to a second category of disturbances when the electrical load is in the second operational state.

Apparatus for selective protection of an electrical load from disturbances on an input power line in response to characteristics of the electrical load, comprising:

• a power protection circuit coupled to the input power line for providing electrical protection for the electrical load in response to control signals from a control circuit, the power protection circuit including an selectively variable inrush current limiting circuit and a switch for disconnecting the input power line from the load;
• a current measuring device coupled to the input power line for measuring current being provided through the power protection circuit to the electrical load and for providing current measurement signals;
• a voltage measuring device coupled to the input power line for measuring the voltage applied through the power protection circuit to the electrical load and for providing voltage measurement signals;
• and
• a control circuit coupled to the current measuring device and the voltage measuring device for receiving the voltage measurement signals and the current measurement signals, the control circuit operative for:
• (a) disconnecting the electrical load from the input power voltage in response to determination from the voltage measurement signals of a disturbance comprising an overvoltage (OV) condition on the input power line as compared to a predetermined OV threshold;
• (b) as a function of the current measurement signals and the relative time relationship between the disturbance and current drawn by the load during normal operation of the load, controlling the selectively variable inrush current limiting device to reduce inrush current resulting from the ending of a disturbance;
• and
• (c) reconnecting the load to the input power line through the inrush current limiting device in response to detection of the end of a disturbance.

A method for selective protection of an electrical load from disturbances on an input power line in response to characteristics of the electrical load, comprising the steps of:

• (a) disconnecting the electrical load from the input power voltage in response to determination from voltage measurement signals of a disturbance comprising an overvoltage (OV) condition on the input power line as compared to a predetermined OV threshold;
• (b) as a function of current measurement signals and the relative time relationship between the disturbance and current drawn by the load during normal operation of the load, controlling a selectively variable inrush current limiting device to reduce inrush current resulting from the ending of a disturbance;
• and
• (c) reconnecting the load to the input power line through the inrush current limiting device in response to detection of the end of a disturbance.

Apparatus for selective protection of an electrical load from disturbances on an input power line in response to characteristics of the electrical load, comprising:

• a voltage measurement circuit for monitoring the input power line;
• an adjustable protection circuit responsive to one or more detection parameters derived from the input power line for providing a plurality of selectable disturbance remediation types, at least one detection parameter comprising the input power voltage;
• and
• a circuit for adjusting a selected disturbance remediation type in response to a detection parameter,
• whereby nuisance trips and remediation of disturbances are controlled and adjusted based on said detection parameter.

A method for selective protection of an electrical load from disturbances on an input power line in response to characteristics of the electrical load, comprising the steps of:

• monitoring the input power line and/or the electrical load by measuring the voltage at the input power line and/or the load to obtain one or more detection parameters, the detection parameters including but not limited to one or more of the following:
• the input power voltage, an overvoltage threshold value, an undervoltage threshold value, a voltage sag threshold value;
• providing a plurality of selectable disturbance remediation types;
• and
• adjusting a selected disturbance remediation type in response to a detection parameter by adjusting one of said threshold values as a function of a characteristic of the load,
• whereby nuisance trips and remediation of disturbances are controlled and adjusted based on said detection parameter.