Flexible Wiring Terminal for Selectable Ground or Neutral Reference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrical wiring devices require separate configurations for retrofit and non-retrofit applications, necessitating consumer knowledge of specific products and increased expertise for proper selection and installation, as they must either connect to a grounding conductor or neutral wire based on application type.
Innovation Solution
An electrical wiring system with a flexible terminal that allows adjustable contact with either the grounding circuit or neutral wire, enabling selection between earth ground and neutral wire references through a flexible joint mechanism, allowing the same device to function in both retrofit and non-retrofit scenarios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate electrical wiring devices are provided for retrofit and non-retrofit applications, then compliance with industry standards is ensured, but device complexity and consumer expertise requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single electrical wiring device that can function in both retrofit and non-retrofit applications. The device includes a flexible terminal that can be positioned to contact either a grounding circuit (for retrofit applications) or a neutral wire (for non-retrofit applications), allowing one device to replace what would traditionally require two separate products.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics through the flexible terminal mechanism that can be adjusted between different positions. The terminal includes a flexible portion that allows it to be bent or positioned to make contact with different conductors (grounding circuit or neutral wire), enabling the device to adapt its configuration based on the installation scenario.
2Ease of operation
If a single electrical wiring device is used for both retrofit and non-retrofit applications, then product selection is simplified, but ensuring compliance with industry standards becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible terminal's ability to dynamically adjust its position allows the single device to comply with different installation scenarios. Installers can position the terminal to contact the appropriate conductor based on whether it's a retrofit or non-retrofit application, ensuring standards compliance while using a universal device.
Solution Approach 2:
The device allows the installer to self-determine the appropriate configuration by positioning the flexible terminal according to the specific application requirements. The design empowers the installer to ensure compliance through proper installation rather than requiring pre-configured separate devices for each application type.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical wiring system providing selectable referencing to earth ground having a housing comprising a first terminal for attachment to HOT, a second terminal for attachment to LOAD, and a flexible terminal comprising a first leg mounted to the electrical wiring device and a second leg connected to the first leg via a flexible joint, wherein the relative distance between the first leg and the second leg is adjustable between an extended position and a retracted position by flexing the flexible joint, the flexible joint being biased in the extended position, wherein the first leg defines a first aperture and the second leg defines a second aperture, and a load control circuit disposed within the housing and receiving a line input from the first terminal and a reference input, the reference input being referenced to the electric potential of the flexible terminal.