A circuit breaker detects a fault, such as an arc fault or glowing
contact, of a power circuit. The circuit breaker includes a first lug and
a second acoustic lug adapted to be electrically connected to the power
circuit. Separable contacts are electrically connected in series between
the first lug and the second acoustic lug. An operating mechanism is
adapted to open and close the separable contacts. An acoustic sensor is
coupled to the second acoustic lug. The acoustic sensor is adapted to
sense an acoustic signal from the second acoustic lug. The acoustic
signal is operatively associated with the fault of the power circuit. A
circuit inputs the sensed acoustic signal and is adapted to detect the
fault therefrom.