Residual current sensor for a residual current device for monitoring a vehicle electrical load, residual current device and method for performing a self-test of a residual current sensor

摘要

A fault current sensor (330) for a residual current device (310) for monitoring an electrical load (340) for a vehicle (300) is presented. The fault current sensor (330) has an electrical circuit (334) for detecting a test signal in an electrical forward conductor (362, 364) which leads from a control device (320) for controlling the electrical load (340) to the electrical load (340) , Here, the test signal represents a request to perform a self-test of the fault current sensor (330). Also, the fault current sensor (330) includes fault current generation means (332) for generating a test fault current in an electrical return conductor (372, 374, 376) leading away from the electrical load (340) in response to the detected test signal. The fault current sensor (330) further comprises a measuring device for measuring a differential current between a first electrical current in the electrical forward conductor (362, 364) and a second electrical current in the electrical return conductor (372, 374, 376). In addition, the fault current sensor (330) has a signaling device for reporting at least the test fault current to the control device (320) via the forward conductor (362, 364) as a function of a comparison of the measured differential current with a threshold value.