Controller and system including a controller for detecting a failure thereof

The present invention relates to a controller and a system including a controller for detecting a failure thereof. A controller (100) for a load (136) includes separable contacts (102), an operating mechanism (104) structured to open and close the separable contacts, a processor circuit (106) cooperating with the operating mechanism to open and close the separable contacts, and an output (108) controlled by the processor circuit. The output is structured to cause a remote circuit interrupter (110) to open a power circuit (112) electrically connected in series with the separable contacts. The processor circuit is structured to detect failure of the controller to control the load and activate the output.