AU2020227109A1

AU2020227109A1 - Auxiliary electronic protection module and associated breaker device

Info

Publication number: AU2020227109A1
Application number: AU2020227109A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jean-Baptiste BERNARD; Claude Burnot; Bernard Lebeau; Thomas Pupin
Original assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
Current assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
Priority date: 2019-09-05
Filing date: 2020-09-04
Publication date: 2021-03-25
Also published as: FR3100654B1; CN112447455A; FR3100654A1; EP3790034A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an auxiliary electronic protection module designed to be connected to a thermal-magnetic breaker module (2) that is designed to be connected in an electrical installation and comprises a breaker mechanism designed to perform at least one main breaker function, the auxiliary electronic protection module (4) being designed to perform at least one 0 auxiliary protection function. The thermal-magnetic breaker module (2) comprises a first handle (16), designed to be positioned in a first, on position in which electric current flows through the electrical installation, and in a second, off position in which the flow of electric current through the installation is interrupted, as a result of a manual action or a trip of the breaker mechanism. The auxiliary electronic protection module (4) comprises a second handle 5 (18), which is mechanically connected to the first handle (16) of the thermal-magnetic breaker module (2) such that it follows the position of the first handle (16) of the thermal-magnetic breaker module (2) 1/10 1 4 10 12 16 6 14a lb14c 14d Fig 1

Description

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AUXILIARY ELECTRONIC PROTECTION MODULE AND ASSOCIATED BREAKER DEVICE

PRIORITY This application claims priority from French Application No 1909774 filed on September 2019. The entire content of this priority application is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to an auxiliary electronic protection module designed to be connected to a thermal-magnetic breaker module so as to form a breaker device, and an associated breaker device. The field of the invention is that of the safety of electrical installations, and in particular the interruption of a supply of electrical power, commonly known as circuit breaking, in the event that an electrical fault is present in an installation. As is known, various faults can occur in an electrical installation supplied with power by an electricity supply network and can jeopardize the safety of the equipment connected in the installation or even, in some cases, constitute a fire hazard or pose a physical danger to an operator. Devices known as circuit breakers, which are configured to interrupt a supply of power very quickly once overload current has been detected, are used to ensure the safety of electrical installations. Conventionally, a circuit breaker includes a fixed contact and a movable contact, the movable contact being designed to move between an open position in which it is separated from the fixed contact, and the flow of electric current is therefore interrupted, and a closed position in which the movable contact bears against the fixed contact, and electric current is able to flow. The circuit breaker also includes a trip mechanism for electrical interruption, which makes the contacts of the circuit breaker move into the open position, and also a reset handle, which is designed to be moved from the open position to the closed position of the trip mechanism. The reset handle is generally accessible to an operator on one face of the housing containing the circuit breaker, and can be manually moved between an off position (which corresponds to the position in which the contacts are open) and an on position (which corresponds to the position in which the contacts are closed), and vice versa. The handle is made to move from the on position to the off position automatically by the triggering of an electrical interruption, or manually by an operator. Compact thermal-magnetic breaker modules, also known as MCB, for "Miniature Circuit Breaker", are known. Modules of this kind are particularly compact and trigger an interruption of a supply of power in the event of a thermal fault, for example due to the presence in the installation of a malfunctioning load that is overheating, and in the event of a magnetic fault, which occurs, for example, in the presence of a short circuit. Auxiliary protection modules with an electronic microcontroller are also known, said modules being designed to be connected to existing thermal-magnetic circuit breakers. Auxiliary electronic protection modules of this kind are configured to implement protection, for example, in the event of the occurrence of electric arcs that may arise in faulty conductors or connections. Moreover, auxiliary modules are configured to implement differential protection, and the electronic microcontroller is designed to perform a differential protection function of this kind, resulting in the interruption of a supply of power. The auxiliary protection modules can be sold separately or together with thermal magnetic circuit breaker modules, in which case they form complete breaker devices that are designed to perform breaker functions as a result of multiple causes and therefore to provide optimized protection of an electrical installation. However, at present it is difficult to establish what has caused a breaker device of this kind to trip. Indeed, an operator can observe that the reset handle of a breaker device is in the position in which the contacts are open (off position) without, however, being able to determine whether the handle has been actuated manually or whether the change in position has been triggered by the breaker mechanism being tripped and, if the breaker mechanism has been tripped, what has caused this, i.e. whether it has been tripped as a result of a thermal, magnetic or differential fault or the occurrence of an electric arc. Now, the corrective actions to be taken in an electrical installation depend on the electrical fault which has led to the protection being tripped. For example, a thermal fault indicates the presence of a malfunctioning electrical load, an electric arc fault indicates a fire hazard, etc. There is therefore a need to enhance circuit breaker devices by providing for the determination and indication of the root cause of the breaker mechanism being tripped.

SUMMARY

To this end, the invention proposes an auxiliary electronic protection module designed to be connected to a thermal-magnetic breaker module that is designed to be connected in an electrical installation supplied with power by an electricity supply network and comprises a breaker mechanism designed to perform at least one main breaker function. The auxiliary electronic protection module comprises an auxiliary trip mechanism, which is independent of the breaker mechanism of the thermal-magnetic breaker module and is designed to perform at least one auxiliary protection function. The thermal-magnetic breaker module comprises a first handle, designed to be positioned in a first, on position in which electric current flows through the electrical installation, and in a second, off position in which the flow of electric current through the installation is interrupted, as a result of a manual action or a trip of the breaker mechanism, the auxiliary electronic protection module comprising a second handle, designed to be positioned in a first, on position and in a second, off position. The second handle of the auxiliary electronic protection module is mechanically connected to the first handle of the thermal-magnetic breaker module such that said second handle follows the position of the first handle ofthe thermal-magnetic breaker module. Advantageously, the auxiliary electronic protection module according to the invention comprises a handle, which is connected to the handle of the thermal-magnetic breaker module and follows the movement thereof. The auxiliary protection module according to the invention can have one or more of the features below, taken independently or in any admissible combination. The mechanical connection includes a rest and a return spring, which are arranged such that the movement of the first handle to the first, on position results in the second handle moving to the first, on position, and the movement of the first handle to the second, off position automatically results in the second handle moving to the second, off position under the effect of the return spring. The mechanical connection includes a bidirectional mechanical link between the first handle and the second handle. The auxiliary electronic protection module comprises an electrical circuit for determining the position of the second handle, said circuit being closed when the second handle is in the first position and open when the second handle is in the second position.

The circuit is supplied with a known reference voltage at a power supply point that is electrically connected to a connection point associated with the second handle. The circuit comprises a reservoir capacitor connected between a converter that supplies the reference voltage and said connection point. The auxiliary electronic protection module further comprises a processing unit, said connection point being connected to an input of said processing unit. The auxiliary electronic protection module further comprises a voltage-shaping module, which supplies an image of the voltage of the power supply network at an input of said processing unit. The processing unit is configured to compare said image of the voltage of the power supply network with a voltage representative of the position of the second handle and to determine, on the basis of the comparison, whether the first handle has moved to the second position. The auxiliary electronic protection module further comprises a current sensor for the electric current flowing through the thermal-magnetic breaker module, and a current-shaping module, which is connected at the output of the current sensor and supplies an image of the measured current at an input of the processing unit, said processing unit being configured to store values for the current measured over a sliding time window of predetermined duration. The processing unit is configured to compare at least one current value, which is measured before the second handle has moved to the second position, with a threshold current value, and to determine, on the basis of the result of the comparison, a cause of said movement to the second position from among a manual operation and a trip of the breaker mechanism of the thermal-magnetic breaker module. The processing unit is configured to analyse current values measured before the second handle has moved to the second position and, on the basis of an analysis result, to determine whether the trip of the breaker module is due to a thermal fault or a magnetic fault. According to another aspect, the invention relates to a breaker device comprising a thermal-magnetic breaker module and an auxiliary electronic protection module that are connected, wherein the auxiliary electronic protection module is of the type that has been described briefly above.

DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description thereof which is given below by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended figures in which:

[Fig. 1] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a breaker device according to the invention, which is formed of a breaker module and an auxiliary protection module that are linked with one another, in a first, closed state;

[Fig. 2] Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a breaker device according to the invention, which is formed of a breaker module and an auxiliary protection module that are linked with one another, in a second, open state;

[Fig. 3] Figure 3 is the view of the mechanism of an auxiliary electronic protection module according to one embodiment, in a first, closed state;

[Fig. 4] Figure 4 is the view of the mechanism of an auxiliary electronic protection module according to one embodiment, in a second, open state;

[Fig. 5] Figure 5 schematically shows a breaker device, which is formed of a breaker module and an auxiliary protection module that are linked with one another according to one embodiment;

[Fig. 6] Figure 6 is a flowchart of the main steps of a method implemented by an auxiliary electronic protection module according to one embodiment;

[Fig. 7] Figure 7 schematically illustrates curves for voltage measurement over time in a first case of use of a breaker device;

[Fig. 8] Figure 8 schematically illustrates curves for voltage measurement over time in a second case of use of a breaker device;

[Fig. 9] Figure 9 schematically illustrates curves for voltage measurement over time in a third case of use of a breaker device; and

[Fig. 10] Figure 10 schematically illustrates curves for voltage measurement over time in a fourth case of use of a breaker device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figures 1 and 2 are schematic perspective views of a breaker device 1 including two coupled modules which are, respectively, a thermal-magnetic breaker module 2 and an auxiliary electronic protection module 4, referred to simply as auxiliary protection module below. The thermal-magnetic breaker module 2 implements breaker functions on account of a thermal or magnetic fault, said functions being referred to as main breaker functions. The auxiliary electronic protection module 4 implements protection functions on account of a differential fault or the detection of an electric arc, or another protection function such as protection against overvoltages, said functions being referred to as auxiliary protection functions. The mechanism of the auxiliary electronic protection module 4 is independent of the breaker mechanism of the thermal-magnetic breaker module 2. Each module 2, 4 comprises an external housing 6, 8. These modules are coupled so as to form the breaker device 1 via a mechanical and electrical connection means, which is not shown in these figures. Preferably, the shapes of the external housings 6, 8 are matched to one another; in particular the dimensions are chosen so as to provide for straightforward mechanical engagement. According to one variant, the modules 2, 4 are incorporated in a single-piece housing which forms the housing of the breaker device, with no electrical link for providing position information other than the line through which the current supplied to the loads downstream of the breaker module flows. Each housing 6, 8 comprises a face 10, 12, referred to as the front face, which is intended to be readily accessible to an operator after installation of the breaker device. On the respective front faces 10, 12, each module 2, 4 comprises connectors 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, which are intended to receive electrical conductors. Moreover, a first reset handle 16 is positioned on the front face 10 of the housing 6 of the breaker module 2, and a second reset handle 18 is positioned on the front face 12 of the housing 8 of the auxiliary protection module 4. In the illustrated embodiment, each handle 16, 18 is designed to pivot about an axis between a first position and a second position that are described in greater detail below.

The second handle 18 of the auxiliary protection module 4 is mechanically connected or biased to the first handle 16 of the breaker module 2. According to one embodiment, the handle 18 is connected by means of a unidirectional rest on the handle 16 and is biased by a return spring. Closing the handle 16 results in the handle 18 being closed by the unidirectional rest on the handle 16 acting against the handle 18. Opening the handle 16 results in the handle 18 automatically being opened under the effect of the return spring. Another embodiment consists in mechanically connecting the two handles 16 and 18, the opening and closing of the handle 16 driving the handle 18 to the same positions. In this case, the mechanical connection is provided by any suitable bidirectional mechanical link. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the breaker device 1 is in a first state, which is referred to as the "closed" state, meaning that electric current supplied by an electricity supply network (not shown) can flow through a protected electrical installation (not shown). In this first state, the handles 16 and 18 are in a first position (on position, also known as closed position). In the embodiment of Figure 2, the breaker device 1 is in a second state, which is referred to as the "open" state, in which the flow of electric current is interrupted. In this second state, the handles 16 and 18 are in a second position (off position, also known as open position). The movement from the first state to the second state is triggered, for example, by the protection mechanism of the breaker module 2 being tripped, which results in the contacts of the breaker module being opened and the position of the handle 16 changing. As a variant, the movement from the first state to the second state is triggered by manual handling by an operator. By virtue of the mechanical interlock described above, the pivoting of the handle 16 between the first position and the second position results in the handle 18 pivoting in the same way. Figures 3 and 4 are views of the mechanism of an auxiliary protection module 4, in a first state (handle 18 in the first position) in Figure 3 and in a second state (handle 18 in the second position) in Figure 4, respectively. Various elements of the mechanism of the auxiliary protection module 4 that can be seen in this view are known elements, which will not be described in detail here. Only certain elements that are more particularly involved in the implementation of the invention are described below. The auxiliary protection module 4 includes a trip mechanism 54, which includes a plate that is linked, via connecting parts 22, 24, to an arm 26, which is designed to move in conjunction with the pivoting of the handle 18 between the first position (Figure 3) and the second position (Figure 4). Furthermore, a circuit 30 for determining the position of the second handle 18 is added according to the invention. This circuit is supplied with a known reference voltage at a first power supply point 32 and includes an electrical connection wire 34. As illustrated in Figure 3, when the handle 18 is in the first position, the electrical connection wire 34 is in contact with the first power supply point 32. The wire 34 is connected to a second connection point 36. When the handle 18 is in the first position, electric current flows through the circuit 30, and the reference voltage is read at the second connection point 36. The second connection point 36 is also connected to the input of a processing unit, for example a microcontroller, of the auxiliary protection module 4, as is described in greater detail below. As illustrated in Figure 4, when the handle 18 is in the second position, the electrical connection wire 34 of the circuit 30 for determining the position of the handle is no longer in contact with the first power supply point 32, this wire being driven by the plate 20. Thus, when the handle is in the second position, the circuit 30 for determining the position of the handle is open, and the voltage at the second connection point 36 is zero. Advantageously, with little additional bulk, and without having to rethink the design of an auxiliary protection module, the position of the reset handle 18 is determined by reading the voltage at the second connection point 36. Advantageously, by virtue of the mechanical interlock that locks the handle 18 of the auxiliary protection module to the handle 16 of the breaker module 2, the position of the reset handle 16 of the breaker module 2 is determined by virtue of the circuit 30 without any modification to the thermal-magnetic breaker module 2. Figure 5 illustrates an embodiment of a system 40 for determining the cause of an electrical fault resulting in an interruption by a breaker device 1 such as has been described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, said system being implemented in an auxiliary protection module 4.

The auxiliary protection module 4 comprises a processing unit 42, for example a microcontroller (MCU), which is an electronic component designed to perform computations on the basis of voltage and current measurements received as input. The auxiliary protection module 4 also includes a current sensor 44, which is designed to measure the current flowing through the breaker module 2, the current sensor 44 being connected to a current-shaping module 46. The module 46 is designed to generate an image of the measured current that is compatible with the specifications of the processing unit 42, and an output of the current-shaping module 46 is connected to a first input 45A of the processing unit 42. The auxiliary protection module 4 further includes a voltage-shaping module 48, which receives as input a voltage measurement supplied by the power supply network and shapes the voltage in a manner compatible with the specifications of the processing unit 42. For example, in one embodiment, the module 48 uses a voltage divider bridge. The output of the voltage shaping module 48 supplies an image of the voltage of the network to a second input 45B of the processing unit 42. The circuit 30 for determining the position of the handle, which is part of the auxiliary protection module 4, includes a voltage converter 50, which is designed to convert an AC voltage into a DC voltage in order to supply a DC reference supply voltage (Vcc), and a reservoir capacitor 52, which is connected to the trip mechanism 54 for tripping the handle. One of the terminals of the reservoir capacitor 52 is connected to ground (denoted GND in the figure). The position of the handle 18 of the auxiliary protection module 4 is shown schematically by a switch 56, which can be closed (position 55) or open (position 57). The reservoir capacitor 52 is connected to the switch 56 via the conductor 34, and the switch 56 is also connected to a third input 45C of the processing unit 42. The voltage read at the third input 45C of the processing unit 42 is equal to 0 V if the switch 56 is open or if the supply of electrical power is lost, leading to a loss of reference voltage. Advantageously, by virtue of the addition of a reservoir capacitor 52, it is possible to distinguish between these two scenarios or, in other words, to determine whether the loss of voltage at the third input of the microcontroller is due to the switch 56 opening (i.e. the position of the handle changing) or to the voltage supply being lost. For example, the supply of power to the auxiliary protection module may cease if an interruption has occurred upstream in the power supply network, without the breaker device 1 having tripped. According to a variant, the reservoir capacitor 52 may be replaced by a rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery cell or by an external electrical power supply, for example a 24V external power supply, or by any other means of supplying a continuous reference voltage. The processing unit 42 stores the voltage and current values received at the first, second and third inputs over sliding time windows of predetermined durations, for example of a duration between 0 and 80 ms, or 8 half-cycles at the network frequency of 50 Hz. The processing unit 42 is configured to implement a method for determining the cause of the breaking mechanism being tripped, one embodiment of said method being illustrated in Figure 6. During a first step 60, it is determined whether the handle ofthe thermal-magnetic breaker module has moved to the "off' position as a result of the circuit being opened by the trip mechanism of the thermal-magnetic breaker module 2. To this end, the processing unit 42 determines whether the voltage value received at the third input, originating from the circuit 30, is equal to 0 V, and identifies the instant in time Tc at which this voltage has changed to 0 V. A distinction is made between two different scenarios: Case 1: the auxiliary protection module 4 is supplied with power viathe thermal-magnetic breaker module 2, also known as "upstream power supply"; Case 2: the protection module 4 is supplied with power directly by the electrical network, also known as "downstream power supply". Figures 7 to 10 illustrate, in parallel, the curves for the voltage measured over a predetermined time interval at the second input ("VMEASURE" curves) and the third input ("TOGGLEPOSITION" curves), respectively, of the processing unit, said curves representing the measured supply voltage and the voltage originating from the circuit 30 for determining the position of the handle 18. Figures 7 and 8 correspond to case 1, in which the auxiliary protection module 4 is supplied with power via the thermal-magnetic breaker module 2 (upstream power supply), and Figures 9 and 10 correspond to case 2, in which the auxiliary protection module 4 is supplied with power directly by the electrical network (downstream power supply).

Figure 7 schematically illustrates a situation in which the loss of the measured supply voltage begins at an instant in time Tc, corresponding to the loss of the voltage originating from the circuit 30. In this situation, it is deduced that the breaker mechanism has been tripped, and the handle 18 of the auxiliary protection module 4, and therefore the handle 16 of the breaker module 2, has moved to the "off' position at the instant Tc. Figure 8 schematically illustrates a loss of supply voltage at the instant Tp. The voltage measurement originating from the circuit 30 changes to 0 V at a later instant Tc. In this situation, it is deduced therefrom that a voltage loss has occurred and the circuit 30 has remained closed, the voltage loss being passed on with a time shift due to the presence of the reservoir capacitor 52. For example, in this case, the voltage loss is due to a breaker device tripping upstream in the electrical distribution chain. In other words, when the auxiliary protection module 4 is supplied with power via the thermal-magnetic breaker module 2, a simultaneous or almost simultaneous voltage loss at the second input and the third input of the processing unit 42 indicates that the handle of the thermal-magnetic breaker module has moved to the "off' position through manual action or thermal-magnetic circuit breaking. Figure 9 schematically illustrates the case in which there is no loss of the supply voltage of the electrical network, but the voltage measurement originating from the circuit 30 changes to 0 V at the instant Tc. In this case, the circuit 30 has been opened, representing the movement of the handles 16, 18 to the "off' position. Figure 10 schematically illustrates the case in which the supply voltage of the electrical network is lost at an instant Tp, and the voltage originating from the circuit 30 is lost and changes to 0 V at the instant Tc, which is later than the instant Tp. In this situation, it is deduced therefrom that a voltage loss has occurred and the circuit 30 has remained closed, the voltage loss being passed on with a time shift due to the presence of the reservoir capacitor 52. It is deduced therefrom that the breaker mechanism has not been tripped. In other words, when the auxiliary protection module 4 is supplied with power directly by the electrical network, a simultaneous or almost simultaneous voltage loss at the second input and the third input of the processing unit indicates that the handle ofthe thermal magnetic breaker module has moved to the "off'position.

Referring to Figures 8 and 10, the instant Tc at which the voltage originating from the circuit 30 is lost may be somewhat later than the instant Tp, or not at all, in the case where the reservoir capacitor 52 is replaced by a battery cell or by an external electrical power supply, for example. Nevertheless, it is deduced therefrom that an ongoing presence of the voltage originating from the circuit 30 beyond voltage loss at the second input of the processing unit indicates a situation where the breaker mechanism has not been tripped. Returning to Figure 6, if it is determined that the position of the handle 16 has changed (positive response to the test of step 60), step 60 is followed by a comparison 62 of at least one measured current value I, which is obtained at the first input of the processing unit at an instant in time prior to the instant Tc at which the measured voltage is lost, with a threshold current value In. For example, in one embodiment, a series of current values I in a sliding window of a selected duration are used, said duration for example being equal to 80 ms, or 8 half-cycles at the network frequency of 50 Hz, and the maximum measured current value in this sliding window is compared with the threshold current value In. According to one variant, the average current value over the sliding window is computed and compared with the threshold current value In in step 62. The threshold current value In is specific to the operation of the breaker module 2 and indicates the current value beyond which a current overload that requires the breaker to be tripped is determined. The threshold current value In is, for example, entered by an operator during an installation phase of the breaker device 1 and is stored by the processing unit 42. If the current value I obtained from the series of current values in the sliding window is less than the threshold current value In, then it is determined that the handles 16, 18 have been opened by a manual operation (step 64). If the current value I obtained from the series of current values in the sliding window is greater than the threshold current value In (step 62), the comparison step 62 is followed by an analysis (step 66) performed over a predetermined time interval, for example of a duration of ms, or 8 half-cycles at the frequency of 50 Hz, to detect the occurrence of a sudden spike in the measured current values. A sudden spike is characterized, for example, in that the maximum value (or peak value) of a half-cycle, referred to as the current peak value, is higher than the average value of the half-cycle peak values over a number of previous half-cycles. For example, it is checked whether the current peak value is greater than double the average value of the half-cycle peak values over 8 previous half-cycles. If it is determined, following the analysis performed in step 66, that there is no sudden current spike, it is deduced therefrom that the breaker mechanism has been tripped as a result of a thermal fault (step 68). If it is determined, following the analysis performed in step 66, that there is a sudden current spike, it is deduced therefrom that the breaker mechanism has been tripped as a result of a magnetic fault (step 70). Thus, analysing the change in the current measured over a time interval preceding the opening of the circuit makes it possible to determine what has caused the handle of the thermal-magnetic breaker module to move to the off position, and thus to detect the trip of the breaker mechanism and determine the cause thereof without modifying the thermal-magnetic breaker module. In one embodiment, the auxiliary protection module is additionally provided with a radio communication module, and the determined causes of circuit breaking are then transmitted by wireless communication to a remote device, for example a hub designed to perform centralized actions on an electrical installation and to transmit information to the client or a maintenance operator. Advantageously, the auxiliary electronic protection module according to the invention is configured to detect the movement of the handle of the breaker mechanism of the associated thermal-magnetic breaker module and to determine the cause of the trip on the basis of voltage and current measurements. It will be understood that the term "comprise" and any of its derivatives (eg comprises, comprising) as used in this specification is to be taken to be inclusive of features to which it refers, and is not meant to exclude the presence of any additional features unless otherwise stated or implied. The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted in its use to the particular application described. Neither is the present disclosure restricted with regard to the particular elements and/or features described or depicted herein. It will be appreciated that the various embodiments disclosed are capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope as set forth and defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. Auxiliary electronic protection module designed to be connected to a thermal-magnetic breaker module that is designed to be connected in an electrical installation supplied with power by an electricity supply network and comprises a breaker mechanism designed to perform at least one main breaker function, the auxiliary electronic protection module comprising an auxiliary trip mechanism, which is independent of the breaker mechanism of the thermal-magnetic breaker module and is designed to perform at least one auxiliary protection function, the thermal-magnetic breaker module comprising a first handle, designed to be positioned in a first, on position in which electric current flows through the electrical installation, and in a second, off position in which the flow of electric current through the installation is interrupted, as a result of a manual action or a trip of the breaker mechanism, the auxiliary electronic protection module comprising a second handle, designed to be positioned in a first, on position and in a second, off position, characterized in that said second handle of the auxiliary electronic protection module is mechanically connected to the first handle of the thermal-magnetic breaker module such that said second handle follows the position of the first handle ofthe thermal-magnetic breaker module.

2. Auxiliary electronic protection module according to Claim 1, wherein said mechanical connection includes a rest and a return spring, which are arranged such that the movement of the first handle to the first, on position results in the second handle moving to the first, on position, and the movement of the first handle to the second, off position automatically results in the second handle moving to the second, off position under the effect of the return spring.

3. Auxiliary electronic protection module according to Claim 1, wherein said mechanical connection includes a bidirectional mechanical link between the first handle and the second handle.

4. Auxiliary electronic protection module according to one of Claims 1 to 3, comprising an electrical circuit for determining the position of the second handle, said circuit being closed when the second handle is in the first position and open when the second handle is in the second position.

5. Auxiliary electronic protection module according to Claim 4, wherein said circuit is supplied with a known reference voltage at a power supply point that is electrically connected to a connection point associated with the second handle.

6. Auxiliary electronic protection module according to Claim 5, wherein said circuit comprises a reservoir capacitor connected between a converter that supplies the reference voltage and said connection point.

7. Auxiliary electronic protection module according to either one of Claims 5 or 6, further comprising a processing unit, said connection point being connected to an input of said processing unit.

8. Auxiliary electronic protection module according to Claim 7, further comprising a voltage-shaping module, which supplies an image of the voltage of the power supply network at an input of said processing unit.

9. Auxiliary electronic protection module according to Claim 8, wherein the processing unit is configured to compare said image of the voltage of the power supply network with a voltage representative of the position of the second handle and to determine, on the basis of the comparison, whether the first handle has moved to the second position.

10. Auxiliary electronic protection module according to one of Claims 7 to 9, further comprising a current sensor for the electric current flowing through the thermal magnetic breaker module, and a current-shaping module, which is connected at the output of the current sensor and supplies an image of the measured current at an input of the processing unit, said processing unit being configured to store values for the current measured over a sliding time window of predetermined duration.

11. Auxiliary electronic protection module according to Claim 10, wherein the processing unit is configured to compare at least one current value, which is measured before the second handle has moved to the second position, with a threshold current value and to determine, on the basis of the result of the comparison, a cause of said movement to the second position from among a manual operation and a trip of the breaker mechanism of the thermal-magnetic breaker module.

12. Auxiliary electronic protection module according to Claim 11, wherein the processing unit is configured to analyse current values measured before the second handle has moved to the second position and, on the basis of an analysis result, to determine whether the trip of the breaker module is due to a thermal fault or a magnetic fault.

13. Breaker device comprising a thermal-magnetic breaker module and an auxiliary electronic protection module that are connected, characterized in that the auxiliary electronic protection module is in accordance with one of Claims I to 12.

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