Electrical switching apparatus including a split core slot motor and method of installing a slot motor assembly in a circuit interrupter

A circuit breaker includes a housing, separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts, a power conductor comprising a first conductor and a second reverse loop conductor, the second reverse loop conductor carrying one of the separable contacts; and a split core slot motor. The split core slot motor comprises a first slot motor portion having a number of coupling points, and a second slot motor portion having a number of corresponding coupling points. The coupling points of the first slot motor portion engage the corresponding coupling points of the second slot motor portion to form the split core slot motor. Both of the slot motor portions cooperate to form a base of the split core slot motor. The base is disposed between the first conductor and the second reverse loop conductor.