Circuit breaker electronic trip unit personality module
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus providing automatic circuit breaker identification to an electronic trip unit includes a processor and a configuration module comprising configuration data identifying the particulars of a circuit breaker and that is in operable communication with the processor.
1. An electronic trip unit apparatus mountable to a circuit breaker, the electronic trip unit comprising:
a processor;
a first memory in operable communication with the processor; and configured to store a first trip unit identification (ID);
a configuration module mountable to the circuit breaker and configured to be in operable communication with the processor, the configuration module comprising a second memory configured to store a second circuit breaker ID, the configuration module further configured to provide the processor with the second circuit breaker ID;
wherein the processor is configured to:
(a) determine the first trip unit ID and the second circuit breaker ID;
(b) determine if the first trip unit ID and the second circuit breaker ID match; and
in the event the first trip unit ID and the second circuit breaker ID do not match,
(c) trigger the trip unit to perform a predetermined operation.
2. An electronic trip unit apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the processor is also programmed to determine an overcurrent condition of the circuit breaker.
3. An electronic trip unit apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the configuration module is releasably engageable with the trip unit.
4. An electronic trip unit apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the configuration module includes a mechanical interface uniquely configured for a particular circuit breaker.
5. An electronic trip unit apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:
the first memory comprises a non-volatile memory; and
the second memory comprises a non-volatile memory.
6. An electronic trip unit apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the predetermined operation modifies a current versus time characteristic of the electronic trip unit apparatus.
7. An electronic trip unit apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the predetermined operation is a determination that a counterfeit configuration module is present.
8. An electronic trip unit apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the processor is instructed with an encryption scheme, implemented with encrypted keys for communication between the processor and the configuration module and said processor is instructed to detect a counterfeit configuration module when no encryption key is present in the configuration module.
9. An electronic trip unit apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the configuration module is inserted with configuration data by a user.
10. An electronic trip unit apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined operation triggers a trip operation of the circuit breaker.
11. An electronic trip unit apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first memory is further configured to store a first plurality of set points; and
wherein the predetermined operation changes the first plurality of set points to a predetermined second plurality of set points.
12. An electronic trip unit apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined operation triggers an alarm indication.