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Abstract

A suppressing capacity circuit for use with a transient voltage protection device; the transient voltage protection device includes a plurality of series-coupled current-limiting elements and transient-suppressing elements couplable between first and second electrical conductors to suppress transient voltages therebetween, the current-limiting elements being adapted to open-circuit upon the failure of a transient-suppressing element coupled in series therewith. The suppressing capacity circuit includes: detection circuitry, coupled to each of the series-coupled current-limiting elements and transient-suppressing elements, that individually senses the open-circuit status of each of the current-limiting elements and provides an electrical characteristic that is a function of the number of the current-limiting elements which have not open-circuited; comparison circuitry, coupled to the detection circuitry, that compares the electrical characteristic to a reference and generates a signal that is a function of the ratio of the electrical characteristic to the reference; and alerting circuitry, coupled to the comparison circuitry, that receives the signal generated by the comparison circuitry and provides an indication of the ratio, the remaining suppressing capacity of the transient voltage protection device being a function of the ratio.

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First Claim