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Abstract

An apparatus for demonstrating and testing the operation of an arcing fault detector. The apparatus comprises an electrical circuit including line and neutral conductors connected between a power source and a load. A selector switch is movable between a first position and a second position in order to selectively route load current across either an arcing fault detector or standard circuit breaker. A pair of electrodes is positioned between said selector switch and the load for producing an arcing condition on the line conductor. The arcing fault detector preferably comprises a sensor for monitoring the rate of change of electrical current on the line conductor and producing a rate-of-change signal, a means for producing a pulse each time the rate-of-change signal exceeds a selected threshold, a means for filtering the rate-of-change signal and/or pulse to eliminate signals or pulses representing changes in electrical current outside a selected frequency range, a means for producing a count signal representing a number of unfiltered pulses occurring within a selected time interval, and a means for generating a trip signal in response to the count signal exceeding a trip threshold level indicative of an arcing fault condition.

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