Current limiting circuit controller

Details Current limiting circuit controller Current limiting circuit controller

1994-06-01

1996-06-25

Gaffin, Jeffrey A.

Electricity: electrical systems and devices

Safety and protection of systems and devices

Impedance insertion

361 27, H02H 3093

Patent

active

055306136

ABSTRACT:
A circuit controller for selectively connecting a power source to a load includes a non-overcurrent protective electrical switching mechanism and a conductive polymer current limiter connected in series with the load for limiting the current which flows through the switching mechanism whenever the power source is selectively connected to the load. The conductive polymer current limiter may include a plurality of parallel conductive polymer positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resistors. The circuit controller may include an electrical switching mechanism which, under short circuit conditions, remains selectively connected to the load. The short circuit current which is limited by the conductive polymer current limiter continues to flow through the electrical switching mechanism. The switching mechanism may include a contactor having separable contacts, and may further include a circuit interrupter, in order to provide a separate circuit disconnection mechanism. The electrical switching mechanism may have a coil and the circuit controller may include a voltage sensor. The conductive polymer current limiter may have an output which has a voltage substantially less than the voltage of the power source whenever the short circuit current flows from the power source and through the current limiter. The voltage sensor may be connected to the output of the conductive polymer current limiter and may deenergize the coil in order to open the separable contacts of the contactor and disconnect the power source from the load whenever the voltage of the output drops below a predetermined threshold. The contactor may be a motor-starting contactor.

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