Method and system for controlling a power distribution system

1. A method for controlling a power distribution system, said method comprising:

defining at a central controller at least one normal mode configuration setting for at least one of a plurality of circuit breakers of the power distribution system;

defining at the central controller at least one alternate mode configuration setting for the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers of the power distribution system, wherein the at least one alternate mode configuration setting includes a reduced energy let-thru (RELT) mode setting;

selecting with the central controller one of at least one normal mode configuration setting and at least one alternate mode configuration setting for the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers based on at least one event; and

automatically operating the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers using said one of the at least one normal mode configuration setting and the at least one alternate mode configuration setting, wherein the at least one normal mode configuration setting provides that, upon a trip condition, the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers trips after a normal mode tripping delay, and wherein the RELT mode setting provides that, upon a trip condition, the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers trips faster than the normal mode tripping delay.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising communicating with the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers using the central controller associated with the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising receiving at the central controller an indication of the at least one event, and wherein the at least one event includes a predetermined RELT condition from a sensor associated with the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers.

4. The method in accordance with claim 3 wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a motion sensor, proximity sensor, door switch, maintenance switch, input from a programmable logic controller (PLC), and an auxiliary contact on a motor starter.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the RELT mode setting defines a RELT mode tripping delay, and and wherein the normal mode tripping delay is longer than the RELT mode tripping delay.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising defining a trigger point according to a sensed condition such that the at least one alternate mode configuration setting is used to control the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers associated with the trigger point.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising receiving a user input, at a user interface of the central controller, to modify one of the at least one normal mode configuration setting and the at least one alternate mode configuration setting.

8. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the at least one alternate mode configuration setting comprises at least one of instantaneous switching settings, short time switching settings, and ground fault switching settings.

9. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising automatically controlling the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers based on predetermined criteria at the central controller.

10. A controller for a power distribution system, said controller comprising:

a communication unit configured to communicate with a plurality of circuit breakers of the power distribution system; and

a processor configured to:

select one of at least one normal mode configuration setting and at least one alternate mode configuration setting for at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers based on at least one event, the at least one normal mode configuration setting defining a normal mode tripping delay, wherein the alternate mode configuration setting is a reduced energy let-thru (RELT) mode configuration setting;

automatically operate the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers using the selected one of the at least one normal mode configuration setting and the at least one alternate mode configuration setting; and

upon a trip condition, in the event the at least one alternate mode configuration setting is selected, trip the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers faster than the normal mode tripping delay.

11. The controller in accordance with claim 10 further comprising a user interface configured to receive user modifications to at least one of the at least one normal mode setting and the RELT mode configuration setting.

12. A method for controlling a power distribution system including a plurality of circuit breakers, said method comprising:

selecting, with a central controller, one of at least one normal mode configuration setting and at least one alternate mode configuration setting for at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers based on at least one event, the at least one normal mode configuration setting defining a normal mode tripping delay, the at least one alternate mode configuration setting including a reduced energy let-thru (RELT) mode setting; and

upon a trip condition, in the event the at least one alternate mode configuration setting is selected, automatically tripping, with the central controller, the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers faster than the normal mode tripping delay.

13. The method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the RELT mode setting defines a RELT mode tripping delay.

14. The method in accordance with claim 13 wherein the normal mode tripping delay is longer than the RELT mode tripping delay.

15. The method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the RELT mode setting defines an instantaneous switching setting.

16. The method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the at least one event comprises a condition of a sensor associated with the at least one of the plurality of circuit breakers.

17. The method in accordance with claim 16 wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a motion sensor, proximity sensor, door switch, maintenance switch, input from a programmable logic controller (PLC), and an auxiliary contact on a motor starter.

18. The method in accordance with claim 12 further comprising receiving a user input, at a user interface of the central controller, to modify at least one of the at least one normal mode configuration setting and the at least one alternate mode configuration setting.