Arc fault circuit interrupter and method for inhibiting series arc protection based on dimmer phase angle

Abstract From the Canadian patent

An arc fault circuit breaker includes line and load terminals separable contacts electrically connected between the terminals a current sensor adapted to sense current associated with a load and flowing between the terminals and through the separable contacts. An arc fault detection circuit provides series arc protection and generates a trip signal responsive to the sensed current. The arc fault detection circuit collects a plurality of samples of the sensed current over plural line cycles determines that the load is a dimmer-controlled load determines a phase angle at which the sensed current begins conduction within one of the line cycles and determines that the phase angle consistently …