Transient voltage surge suppressor and line short monitor

Claim 1

Apparatus for suppressing surges and monitoring for line shorts in an alternating current power transmission system including a neutral path and a plurality of incoming alternating current power lines connected to an electrical load being powered by that system, said apparatus including A. a unit casing; B. leads from each of said power lines and from said neutral path extending to positions inside of the casing; C. a voltage limiting device, associated with each incoming power line, inside of the casing, each of said voltage limiting devices being of the type which provides a low resistance path to current flow when subjected to voltage above a predetermined maximum; D. a circuit protective device, associated with each voltage limiting device, inside the casing, each of said circuit protective devices being of the type to open a normally closed line when a predetermined watt/time ratio is exceeded in that line; E. the normally closed line of each such circuit protective device being connected in series with one of said voltage limiting devices, each such series pair of a normally closed line and a voltage limiting device being connected between one of said incoming power line leads and said neutral path lead all within said casing; and F. a voltage drop indicator, associated with each voltage limiting device, in said casing, each of said voltage drop indicators being connected in parallel with a corresponding voltage limiting device and being situated to be observable from outside the casing.