CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER WITH SELF-TEST CIRCUIT AND METHOD OF OPERATING A CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER

A circuit interrupter including a line conductor, a neutral conductor, separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to trip open the separable contacts, a magnetic trip actuator structured to cause the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts in response to a short-circuit between the line and neutral conductors, a protection circuit including a self-test circuit structured to perform a self-test and to output a signal in response to failing the self-test, and an electrical component electrically connected between the line and neutral conductors and having an open state and a closed state. The electrical component is structured to switch from the open state to the closed state and cause a short-circuit between the line and neutral conductors in response to receiving the signal from the self-test circuit.