Optics-based remote monitoring of protection devices

1 . A device, comprising:

an electrical protection device configured to operate in response to a fault condition detected on an energized conductor to which the electrical protection device is electrically coupled, wherein the fault condition comprises an overcurrent or an overvoltage fault condition;

a light source configured to emit light in response to the electrical protection device being triggered to operate;

an optical device coupled to the light source and configured to channel the light emitted by the light source from a first end portion of the optical device to a second end portion of the optical device; and

a photosensor optically coupled to the second end portion of the optical device and configured to detect the emitted light and to generate a first output signal to inform one or more remote computing devices that the electrical protection device has operated.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the light source is coupled in parallel to the electrical protection device, and wherein the optical device is coupled in series to the light source.

3 . The device of claim 1 , the device further comprising:

a multiplexer communicatively coupled to the photosensor and configured to:

receive the first output signal from the photosensor;

generate a second output signal based on the first output signal; and

transmit the second output signal to the one or more remote computing devices, the second output signal comprising an indication that the electrical protection device has operated.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the photosensor comprises a photodiode, a photoresistor, or a phototransistor.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises an electrical switch.

6 . The device of claim 5 , wherein the electrical switch comprises one of a plurality of electrical switches configured to at least partially isolate the energized conductor from an electrical load.

7 . The device of claim 5 , wherein the electrical switch comprises a preexisting electrical switch configured to be retrofitted to include the optical device and the photosensor.

8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the electrical protection device comprises a fuse.

9 . A system, comprising:

an electrical distribution panel, comprising:

a plurality of electrical protection devices each configured to operate in response to a fault condition detected on an energized conductor to which the each of the plurality of electrical protection devices is electrically coupled, wherein the fault condition comprises an overcurrent or an overvoltage fault condition;

a plurality of light sources each configured to emit light in response to a respective electrical protection device of the plurality of electrical protection devices being triggered to operate;

a plurality of optical devices each coupled to a respective light source of the plurality of light sources and configured to channel the light emitted by the respective light source from a first end portion of the optical device to a second end portion of the optical device; and

at least one photosensor optically coupled to the second end portion of the each optical device and configured to detect the emitted light and to generate a first output signal to inform one or more remote computing devices that a respective electrical protection device has operated.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of light sources is coupled in parallel to the plurality of electrical protection devices, and wherein the plurality of optical devices is coupled in series to the plurality of light sources.

11 . The system of claim 9 , the system further comprising:

a multiplexer communicatively coupled to the at least one photosensor and configured to:

receive the first output signal from the at least one photosensor;

generate a second output signal based on the first output signal; and

transmit the second output signal to the one or more remote computing devices, the second output signal comprising an indication that a respective electrical protection device has operated.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one photosensor comprises a photodiode, a photoresistor, or a phototransistor.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the electrical distribution panel is configured to enclose a plurality of electrical switches.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of electrical switches is configured to at least partially isolate the energized conductor from an electrical load.

15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the plurality electrical switches comprise a plurality of preexisting electrical switches configured to be retrofitted to include the plurality of optical devices and the at least one photosensor.

16 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of electrical protection devices comprises a fuse.

17 . An electrical switch, comprising:

a fuse configured to operate in response to a fault condition detected on an energized conductor to which the fuse is electrically coupled, wherein the fault condition comprises an overcurrent or an overvoltage fault condition;

a light source onfigured to emit light in response to the fuse being triggered to operate;

a light pipe coupled to the light source and configured to channel the light emitted by the light source from a first end portion of the light pipe to a second end portion of the light pipe; and

a photosensor optically coupled to the second end portion of the light pipe and configured to detect the emitted light and to generate a first output signal to inform one or more remote computing devices that the fuse has operated.

18 . The electrical switch of claim 17 , further comprising an electrical distribution panel, wherein the electrical distribution panel is configured to enclose the electrical switch.