1. A fuse status indicator module for a disconnect device having at least one fuse and a first switch actuator for opening and closing an electrical connection through the fuse in the disconnect device, the indicator module comprising:
a housing;
a switch within the housing;
a second switch actuator extending from the housing, the second switch actuator operatively coupled to the switch and configured to be coupled to the first switch actuator for simultaneous operation of the first and second switch actuators;
at least one open fuse detecting element contained within the housing; and
at least one pair of wire leads connected to the open fuse detecting element and attachable to the disconnect device to establish an electrical connection with the fuse, wherein the open fuse detecting element detects opening of the fuse.
2. The fuse status indicator module of claim 1, wherein the open fuse detecting element comprises an optoisolator.
3. The fuse status indicator module of claim 1, further comprising a control interface connector, the connector comprising at least one of a power connector, a ground connector and a signal connector.
4. The fuse status indicator module of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured for ganged connection with the disconnect device.
5. The fuse status of indicator module of claim 1, further comprising an LED indicating power supplied to the module.
6. The fuse status of indicator module of claim 1, further comprising an LED indicating a need for replacement of the fuse.
7. The fuse status indicator module of claim 1, wherein the disconnect device is a three phase disconnect device, and the at least one pair of wire leads comprises first, second and third pairs of wire leads, each pair of wire leads corresponding to one of the phases of the three phase disconnect device.
8. The fuse status indicator module of claim 1, wherein the switch is configured to bypass the open fuse detecting element when operated.
9. The fuse status indicator module of claim 1, wherein the at least one open fuse detecting element comprises a plurality of open fuse detecting elements, each of the plurality of open fuse detecting elements respectively corresponding to one of a plurality of fuses in the disconnect device.
10. The fuse status indicator module of claim 1, further comprising terminals connected to the at least one pair of wire leads.
11. The fuse status indicator module of claim 10, wherein at least one of the terminals comprises a forked terminal.
12. The fuse status indicator module of claim 1, wherein the second switch actuator comprises a cam surface.
13. The fuse status indicator module of claim 1, wherein the at least one pair of wire leads comprises at least first and second pairs of wire leads.
14. The fuse status indicator module of claim 1, further comprising at least one visual indicator coupled to the housing, the indicator configured to change in appearance when an open fuse is detected.
15. The fuse status indicator module of claim 14, wherein the visual indicator comprises an LED visible from an exterior of the housing.
16. A fuse status indicator module for a disconnect device having a plurality of fuses and a first switch actuator for opening and closing an electrical connection through the plurality of fuses in the disconnect device, the indicator module comprising:
a housing;
a switch within the housing;
a second switch actuator extending from the housing, the second switch actuator operatively coupled to the switch and configured to be coupled to the first switch actuator for simultaneous operation of the first and second switch actuators;
a plurality of open fuse detecting elements contained within the housing; and
a plurality of pairs of wire leads each respectively connected to one of the plurality of open fuse detecting elements, and each of the plurality of wire leads respectively attachable to the disconnect device to establish an electrical connection with a respective one of the fuses, wherein each open fuse detecting element monitors one of the plurality of fuses and detects an opening thereof.
17. The fuse status indicator module of claim 16, wherein at least one of the open fuse detecting elements comprises an optoisolator.
18. The fuse status indicator module of claim 16, further comprising a control interface connector, the connector comprising at least one of a power connector, a ground connector and a signal connector.
19. The fuse status indicator module of claim 16, wherein the housing is configured for ganged connection with the disconnect device.
20. The fuse status of indicator module of claim 16, further comprising an LED indicating power supplied to the module.
21. The fuse status of indicator module of claim 16, further comprising an LED indicating a need for replacement of the fuse.
22. The fuse status indicator module of claim 16, wherein the disconnect device is a three phase disconnect device, and the at least one pair of wire leads comprises first, second and third pairs of wire leads, each pair of wire leads corresponding to one of the phases of the three phase disconnect device.
23. The fuse status indicator module of claim 16, wherein the switch is configured to bypass the plurality of open fuse detecting elements when operated.
24. The fuse status indicator module of claim 16, further comprising terminals connected to the respective pairs of wire leads.
25. The fuse status indicator module of claim 24, wherein at least one of the terminals comprises a forked terminal.
26. The fuse status indicator module of claim 16, wherein the second switch actuator comprises a cam surface.
27. The fuse status indicator module of claim 16, further comprising at least one visual indicator coupled to the housing, the indicator configured to change in appearance when an open fuse is detected in the disconnect device.
28. The fuse status indicator module of claim 27, wherein the visual indicator comprises an LED visible from an exterior of the housing.
29. A fuse status indicator module for a disconnect device having at least one fuse and a first switch actuator for opening and closing an electrical connection through the fuse in the disconnect device, the indicator module comprising:
a housing configured for ganged connection with the disconnect device;
a switch within the housing;
a second switch actuator extending from the housing, the second switch actuator operatively coupled to the switch and configured to be coupled to the first switch actuator for simultaneous operation of the first and second switch actuators;
at least one open fuse detecting element contained within the housing; and
at least one pair of wire leads connected to the open fuse detecting element and attachable to the disconnect device to establish an electrical connection in parallel with the at least one fuse, wherein the open fuse detecting element detects opening of the fuse.
30. The fuse indicator module of claim 29, wherein the at least one open fuse detecting element comprises a plurality of open fuse detecting elements, and wherein the at least one pair of wire leads comprises a plurality of pairs of wire leads, each of the pairs of wire leads respectively establishing an electrical connection with the fuse in the disconnect device.
31. The fuse indicator module of claim 29, wherein the open fuse detecting element detects a voltage drop across the at least one fuse.
32. The fuse indicator module of claim 29, wherein the open fuse detecting element is an optoisolator.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A domestic electrical appliance, including a universal electric motor, powered by direct current via an electrical circuit linked to a DC electrical voltage source, said circuit including a chopper arrangement, said arrangement including a capacitor connected in parallel with the DC voltage source, and one or more solid-state switches, wherein the circuit also includes two controllable switches, for automatically reconfiguring said circuit:
a first switch of said controllable switches being connected on the one hand to a first terminal of a motor winding of said motor, and on the other hand, alternately to the DC voltage source and to a first terminal of a motor rotor of said motor;
a second switch of said controllable switches being connected on the one hand to a second terminal of said motor winding, and on the other hand, alternately to said first terminal or an other terminal of the motor rotor, and wherein said chopper arrangement is connected between said first switch and said second switch.
2. The appliance as claimed in claim 1, which includes means for mechanically controlling switching over of the controllable switches under effect of an action by a user on a part of the appliance.
3. The appliance as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means for controlling the switching over of the controllable switches provide for a switchover of the two controllable switches staggered in time.
4. The appliance as claimed in claim 1, which includes an electrical resistor linking the second terminal of the motor winding to the first terminal of the motor rotor.
5. The appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controllable switches are electrical relays including one or more contacts.
6. The domestic electrical appliance of claim 1, wherein said chopper arrangement is connected between said first switch and said first terminal.