Current overload protection circuit

Abstract

In a current overload protection circuit, a full wave rectifier bridge circuit is connected between an AC or DC power source to supply AC or DC power to a load through the output circuit of a solid-state relay. A current sensing resistor is connected across the DC terminals of the bridge circuit to sense the magnitude of the current flowing through the load. When an overload fault occurs, the voltage developed across the current sensing resistor will trigger a shunt regulator to turn on an optical isolation circuit, which upon being turned on will discharge a capacitor in an RC timing circuit. The discharge of the capacitor and the RC timing circuit triggers a Schmidt trigger circuit, which cuts off current flow to the input circuit of the solid-state relay, thereby cutting off current to the load. The shunt regulator then turns off de-energizing the optical isolator which, upon being de-energized, causes the current discharge path of the capacitor to be interrupted. The capacitor then charges through the resistor of the RC timing circuit and, upon being charged up to a predetermined level, will actuate the Schmidt trigger circuit to again allow current to flow through the input circuit of the solid-state relay, thus allowing current to again flow through the load.